cloudandsea

Hi!

I will be arriving from Marseille airport on 10 July and then leaving from Nice airport.


I was thinking about this itinerary. Can you give me some advice?

Day 1-3: Avignon OR Aix (my sis is only willing to drive for one day or just follow tour to see lavender). I see websites recommending Avignon but it seems boring with roman structures and all while i prefer to see scenery and quaint towns. Is it a no-no without car?

Day 4: Marseilles. I am quite interested in seeing Cassis! And i thought it would be a waste to not go there since I am around the area.

Day 5-8: Nice



Thanks!

bilboburgler

You might like Arles or Nimes both of which you can reach by train easily.

"Avignon boring with roman structures" (well there is the Pont du Gard, which is out of town) but the city itself is post-roman. It can be a very nice visit especially the Pope's palace. There is a two for one ticket for this and the bridge of the song which is a good combo.

If you want to visit very small towns you either need to take the train or drive. While most train maps show only the large towns there are plenty of little places which you can reach by train. You need to google maps and schedules.

http://www.marvellous-provence.com/t...ignon-by-train may amuse, for me Avignon is all about the food.

traveller1959

>>while i prefer to see scenery and quaint towns<<

But you have only very large cities on your list (Marseilles, Nice).

Actually, your knowledge of the region appears somewhat limited (with mistaking Avignon as a Roman city) - right?

Given your interests, I would rather recommend a different kind of trip.

Firstly, the best way to see scenery and quaint towns and villages would be renting a car. If this is no option for you, you can do something different:

Leave Marseilles as fast as you can (it is the opposite of a quaint town). Skip Cassis and see a better stretch of coastline which is easier to reach by train.

You may take the train to Arles which IS a quaint town (however HAS Roman structures, very impressive ones).

Then take the train to Saint Raphael and base yourself in Agay, Antheor or Theoule-sur-Mer. In this area, you will see the most beautiful stretch of Mediterranean coastline in France, even better than the Calanques near Cassis (because the Calangues at the Esterel are bright red, not grey like near Cassis). And it is easily accessible by a local train with frequent stops where you can get out and walk or hike.

For quaint villages, take buses to Saint Paul de Vence and Èze-Village. Skip Nice, which is another large city.

Can't say much about lavender fields (I have lavender in my garden, so I do not need the fields). Maybe some other Fodorite can help.

And read a guidebook. I recommend the Michelin Green Guides Provence and Côte d'Azur.

StCirq

Well, Arles and Nîmes have those "boring Roman structures" also. Hard to hide from them in that part of the world, actually.

As noted, scenery and "quaint" towns are pretty much inaccessible without a car. And a one-day car rental is expensive, often as much as a three-day rental.

Southam

If you want to go by train to some place like Arles or Avignon without going into Marseille itself, there is regional train service from the airport. Check its website for information: http://www.marseille-airport.com/

bilboburgler

Arles and Nimes do have other buildings than the Roman ones

Whathello

I know, I know, I'm the one with a bad temper here.

But:
'boring with roman structures '

Does it entice you to answer ? Not me. Not at all.

I'm not into Roman vestiges might have worked for me - but 'boring with Roman structure' is a killer.

(I did try not be snarky - did I succeed ?)

cloudandsea

Hi thank you all for your advice! I think i was limiting myself to those big cities because i thought it would be easier to travel without car. Will do more research on the advice given.

And sorry for using the word boring. The pictures i found in blogs mostly showed structures and i wasnt really interested in it but i admit it was a wrong choice of word.

Thanks!!

cloudandsea

And i just checked on europcar on how much it would cost for a auto car.

You are right it is economically not worth to rent it for a day.

1 day - 255
3 days - 455

Whathello

With a car, you'll ahve plenty of small towns / Villages to see, like Tourtour, Gordes, Uzes etc.
Just buy yourself a green michelin guide and they provide some itineraries, which I always found nice.
Do try to see the Pont du Gard if you're in the neigbourhood - I guarantee you will not find these ruins boring.
And thanks for explaining ! I appreciate, for one.

I'd recommend to stop in Antibes if you go to Nice - I love this palce, do the 'sentiers des douaniers' - a small path going along the seaside and stop for a swim when you find a nice spot.

Enjoy France.

Sofi40

Hi, We have already visited this area 3 times and on the 2nd of July we will go to Marseille again. Don't leave the city before visiting it, it is so interresting and beautiful and there is so much to do if you don't want to rent a car for a whole week. The old port, the markets, go up to the Notre Dame and look aroud, walk in the Panier, don't forget the Vieille Charité, the Longchamps,the renovated area around the Mucem, the Vallon des Auffes....etc
If you like scenery make a boat trip to the calanques our to the island Frioul + If. The view to the city is amazing from the boat. However if you don't mind walking then I suggest to make a day trip on foot to Calanque Sugiton. Without a car you can make a coast train ride to Niolon / Carry le Rouet, Aix en Provence is absolutly worth, don't miss it! Cassis is nice, but very small, a half an hour...
Lavande, yes I also have in the garden, but those fields in Provence are so different! You won't be upset! I personelly suggest to rent a car in Marseille for 2 days (we rented from Hertz Rabatau to avoid traffic in the city ...)to visit some villages like Menerbes, Goult, Gordes, Venasque and a must: Roussillon with the okker valley!!! The lavande fields near to Roussillon are the most spectacular.
If you insist to drive only one day then you go by train to Avignon and make a day trip by car from there. This area is much more interresting then Nice...

cybertraveler

Bookmarking for our trip this summer--thank you!

shelemm

I am not a fan of Avignon or Nice, and if you want quaint, you are not going to find it in either place.

I highly agree with Sofi40 about the port of Marseilles, the boat trip to the chateau d'If and visiting Les Calanques. Cassis is near Les Calanques.

shelemm

AIx is cuter than Avignon, and if you can't rent a car, then there are option of bus or train to get to some more remote parts of Provence. Also in Aix, I love the Fondation Vasarely, if you are at all interested in modern art.

traveller1959

Calanque means simply "cove". You have calanques all the way from Marseille to Menton. Those in the Esterel section between Saint Raphael and Mandelieu are the most scenic ones. Believe me, I know them all.