15 days in South of France Itinerary

Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.

Venture out of the city with trips to Cannes (Rue d'Antibes & La Croisette). And it doesn't end there: get to know the fascinating history of Vieille Ville, don't miss a visit to Place Massena, take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, and explore the world behind art at Musee d'Art Moderne Et d'Art Contemporain.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Nice trip maker tool.

Hammamet, Tunisia to Nice is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of taxi, ferry, and train; or do a combination of car and ferry. Traveling from Hammamet in November, things will get little chillier in Nice: highs are around 20°C and lows about 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Hyeres.

Hyères, Provençal Occitan: Ieras in classical norm, or Iero in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.The old town lies 4km from the sea clustered around the Castle of Saint Bernard, which is set on a hill. On the 5th (Sat), walk around Parc Olbius-Riquier, walk around Parc Sainte-Claire, and then get a dose of the wild on Dune La Londe.

To find reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and more tourist information, refer to the Hyeres trip maker site.

Traveling by car from Nice to Hyeres takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. In December, daytime highs in Hyeres are 17°C, while nighttime lows are 6°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Sat) early enough to drive to Avignon.

An ancient town center surrounded by medieval ramparts, Avignon is a major city of Provence and a Mediterranean city in the Vaucluse department on the left bank of the Rhône River.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Sun): delve into the distant past at La Maison Carree, take an in-depth tour of Musee Calvet, then contemplate the long history of Pont d'Avignon, and finally explore the historical opulence of Palais des Papes. On the 7th (Mon), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: contemplate the long history of Amphitheatre (les Arenes), then admire the masterpieces at Carrieres des Lumieres, and then hike along Le Sentier des Ocres.

For maps, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Avignon trip maker tool.

Drive from Hyeres to Avignon in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Hyeres in December: high temperatures in Avignon hover around 11°C and lows are around 1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Mon) early enough to drive to Carcassonne.

Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Tue): pause for some serene contemplation at Carcassonne Cathedral, make a trip to La Porte D'aude, wander the streets of Cité de Carcassonne, then take in the views from Le Pont Vieux (The Old Bridge), and finally do a tasting at O'Vineyards. On your second day here, stroll around Place Gambetta, take an in-depth tour of Musee De L'ecole, then pause for some serene contemplation at Eglise Saint-Nazaire, then steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles, and finally explore the world behind art at Musee des Beaux-Arts.

To see maps, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Carcassonne tour builder website.

You can drive from Avignon to Carcassonne in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In December in Carcassonne, expect temperatures between 13°C during the day and 3°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) early enough to drive to Bordeaux.

With a long history of producing regional wines since the Romans brought grapevines here during the first century, so many people consider Bordeaux to be the wine capital of the world.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): admire the landmark architecture of La Cite du Vin, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Tour Pey-Berland, and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Andre Cathedral. Keep things going the next day: make a trip to The Water Mirror, make a trip to Place Parlement, then don't miss a visit to Place de la Bourse, then don't miss a visit to Pont de Pierre, and finally browse for treasures at La Petite Galerie de Bordeaux.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Bordeaux online tour planner.

Traveling by car from Carcassonne to Bordeaux takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In December, daily temperatures in Bordeaux can reach 11°C, while at night they dip to 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) to allow time to travel to Marseille.

The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Marseille: Trolib (in Cassis) and Aix-en-Provence (Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence, Musee Granet, &more). There's still lots to do: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, visit The Panier, explore the world behind art at Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, and take a leisurely stroll along Le Vieux Port.

To see reviews, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Marseille driving holiday planner.

You can fly from Bordeaux to Marseille in 3.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. Traveling from Bordeaux in December, expect nights in Marseille to be about the same, around 5°C, while days are a bit warmer, around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.