South of France - recommendations please!
 

Hi all,

My friend and I will be travelling from Montpellier to Nice by car in two weeks. We will be leaving at around noon and will have the rest of the day/evening to reach our destination. We can arrive as late as we would like. We would like to make a stop or two along the way (perhaps for dinner somewhere or some sightseeing) and catch a glimpse of the renowned French Riviera/French countryside.

We originally imagined Marseille would be the city we would stop in. However, after some thought, I'm leaning towards establishing some other options. Marseille seems like it is too large for one day, and there are many other cities/towns that might be preferable on this occasion. However, if anyone can tell me why Marseille is still the best option, I'm all ears!

So with that, if anyone can suggest one town/city they would choose to spend a few hours in, it would be much appreciated. A little about us to help guide your recommendations:
We are both in our late 20s, originally from Europe and well travelled. One is desirous of seeing beaches and more modern cities, while the other is leaning towards vineyards, winding roads, and the countryside. If you can provide suggestions for both "types", that would be ideal!

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Cassis is a lovely little village. I would leave earlier and have lunch at one of the cafes along the harbor. I would then drive The Grande Corniche towards Nice.

http://www.secretearth.com/attractio...rande-corniche

"I would then drive The Grande Corniche towards Nice. "

I think you mean the Corniche d'Or or Corniche de l'Estérel, from Fréjus to La Napoule. The Grande Corniche is between Nice and the Italian border.

Oops. I actually was thinking of Corniche des Crêtes; but now realize that won't get OP to Nice.

Montpellier to Nice is 4 hours if you take the highway. If you want to "catch a glimpse" of the Riviera, I suggest you take the highway to Frejus then follow the coast road to Nice. Days will be getting short in 2 weeks. If you make a detour before or at Marseille, it will be dark by the time you get past Fréjus.