7 days in Provence-French Riviera: Nice, Cannes, Aix, Avignon, Marseille

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival in Nice — Promenade des Anglais and Old Nice

   Land at Nice-Côte d'Azur (NCE, France's 3rd airport) — free T2 tram to the centre (20 min). Settle into Old Nice (colourful Italian lanes, ideal to walk everywhere). Afternoon: walk along the Promenade des Anglais (7 km along the Bay of Angels, created in 1820), then climb to Castle Hill (free, iconic panoramic view). Dinner on cours Saleya or Place Rossetti — socca at Lou Pilha Leva (chickpea pancake, €4) or pissaladière (caramelised onion tart).

   Tips

   • · Free T2 tram airport-centre — avoid taxis (€30-35)
   • · Sleep in Old Nice or on the Promenade: everything is walkable
   Nice →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Nice: Matisse + Chagall museums + Èze excursion

   Morning Matisse Museum (Cimiez, in a Genoese villa, €5) + Chagall Museum (€10, 17 paintings of the Biblical Message). Bus 15 or 17 from the centre. Lunch ratatouille or salade niçoise at Liberation market. Afternoon: Èze excursion (15 min by bus n°82, €1.50) — medieval village perched at 427 m above the Mediterranean, Exotic Garden at the top (exceptional view), ancestral lanes. Return to Nice for dinner at Lympia port (fish restaurants).

   Tips

   • · French Riviera Pass: €28/24h (museums + Èze + cruise) — pays off from 3 visits
   • · Lignes d'Azur buses €1.50/trip, Vélo Bleu bike-share available
   Nice →
3. 3

   Day 3

   TER Nice → Aix-en-Provence + Cours Mirabeau

   Morning: TER Nice → Aix-en-Provence (2h30 with change at Marseille, €35-50). Settle in central Aix (compact, all walkable). Afternoon: stroll on Cours Mirabeau (avenue shaded by centennial plane trees, fountains, 17th-century mansion houses), Place d'Albertas, Cézanne studio (route de Cézanne, €6.50). Dinner in a central trattoria or Provençal tapas at La Mado.

   Tips

   • · Aix Provençal market: Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday morning (Place Richelme + Place des Prêcheurs) — essential
   • · Cézanne in Aix: don't miss the Sainte-Victoire Mountain (30 min by car)
   Nice →Marseille →
4. 4

   Day 4

   TER Aix → Avignon — Palace of the Popes and Avignon Bridge

   Morning: TER Aix → Avignon (1h, €18-25). Settle intra-muros. Visit the Palace of the Popes (€12 with audioguide, 1h30 — Europe's largest Gothic fortress, UNESCO, papacy 1309-1377). Lunch on Place de l'Horloge. Afternoon: Pont Saint-Bénézet (€5, 30 min — the bridge of the song), walk on intact ramparts (4 km, free), climb to Rocher des Doms (free, exceptional panoramic view of the Bridge and the Rhône). Dinner Place de l'Horloge or rue des Teinturiers.

   Tips

   • · Palace of the Popes at 9am (opening) to avoid groups, or with HistoPad (€14) to reconstitute furnished rooms
   • · If possible, add a day to Pont du Gard UNESCO (25 min by car) or Châteauneuf-du-Pape (vineyards, 20 min)
   Avignon →
5. 5

   Day 5

   TER Avignon → Marseille — Old Port and MuCEM

   Morning: TER Avignon → Marseille Saint-Charles (35 min, €15-25). Settle at the Old Port or in Le Panier. Afternoon: MuCEM (Rudy Ricciotti's spectacular architecture, 2013, Mediterranean exhibitions — €11), walkway to La Major Cathedral (19th-century neo-Byzantine), Le Panier (oldest district, colourful lanes). Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde ("la Bonne Mère", 19th-century basilica at the top, free 360° panoramic view) at sunset. Bouillabaisse dinner at Vallon des Auffes (Chez Fonfon or Le Miramar, €60-90/person — reservation 24h ahead).

   Tips

   • · Traditional bouillabaisse: order 24h ahead at Chez Fonfon or Le Miramar (long cooking)
   • · Notre-Dame de la Garde: tourist little train from Old Port (€8, 50 min) or bus n°60 (€1.80)
   Marseille →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Marseille: calanques (on foot or by boat)

   Nature day at the Calanques National Park (20 km of limestone coast between Marseille and Cassis, classified since 2012). Two options: on foot from Luminy (Castellane metro terminus + bus 21) — hike to Sugiton (1h30) or En-Vau (3h, the most iconic, white pebble beach between cliffs). Or by boat from the Old Port (€15-30/person, 2-4h, multiple calanques visited). July-August regulation: Sormiou and Morgiou require free booking (calanques13.com). Return to Marseille late afternoon for pastis aperitivo on the Old Port. Dinner Cours Julien (street art, trendy restaurants).

   Tips

   • · En-Vau hike: water and walking shoes mandatory (slippery limestone terrain)
   • · Boat alternative: Cassis by TER from Saint-Charles (35 min, picturesque port, calanques accessible from port)
   Marseille →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Last Marseille morning + Saint-Charles departure

   Free morning: Old Port fish market (Quai des Belges, every morning) to buy fresh produce, last walk in Le Panier or on the banks. Lunch navettes (orange blossom biscuits) at Le Four des Navettes (since 1781) or pizza panisses at the market. Return to Saint-Charles station for TGV Marseille → Paris (3h10) or flight from MRS. If evening flight: possible afternoon excursion to Aix-en-Provence (30 min by bus, Provençal market if Thursday/Saturday) or Cassis (45 min by train).

   Tips

   • · Luggage: left-luggage at Saint-Charles (€5-9/bag depending on size, 8am-8pm)
   • · Flight from MRS: airport-Saint-Charles shuttle €8.30, 35 min
   Marseille →

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