Welcome to Provence, one of the most beautiful regions of France, where picturesque hilltop villages overlook endless lavender fields, where the French fairytale comes true. Drive among beautiful roads, winding between olive groves, vineyards and vibrant lavender and sunflower fields. Wander the streets of some of the most beautiful villages in the world, jump in the refreshing canyon rivers, sip on traditional Provencal wine, and of course, enjoy the culinary delights of the South of France. Follow this ultimate Provence itinerary and discover the best things to do in Provence, France!
Provence: the Ultimate 10-day Road Trip Itinerary
With a perfect blend of stunning landscapes, charming villages, delicious cuisine and rich history, Provence has a lot to offer and it will take you far more than a week or so to cover the entire region. I’ve curated (and experienced!) for you what is my ultimate Provence itinerary. It will take you to the most picturesque Luberon villages, the elegant city of Aix-en-Provence and of course the magical lavender fields, in just 10 days. I’m giving you all my tips, from where to stay to where to eat and extra trip ideas, so you can plan your best trip in Provence!
Day 1: Aix-en-Provence
When exploring Provence, you’re most likely to land in Marseilles if coming by plane, or arriving in Aix-en-Provence if coming by train. Aix-en-Provence actually makes for the perfect start of your Provence road trip!
Also nicknamed “the City of a Thousand Fountains”, Aix-en-Provence feels like it has stopped in time. The hometown of Paul Cézanne and Emile Zola is known for its elegant streets and fountains, squares, museums, galleries and historical sites. If you come on a Saturday, you’ll experience the famous market spreading everywhere in the old town.
The best photo spots include Place d’Albertas, Fernand Dol street, Loubon street, Fontaine de la Rotonde, Jardins du Pavillon de Vendôme and of course Aix-en-Provence city hall with the fantastic flower market. There’s so much to see in Aix-en-Provence, you can easily spend two full days there! It’s also a good idea to do a guided tour to learn everything about this beautiful city! And if you’re feeling sporty, the stunning Sainte-Victoire mountain is just behind the city and easily reachable with an e-bike tour!
Day 2: Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Lacoste
Lourmarin
Your first glimpse of the unique villages of Luberon, Provence, is the enchanting village of Lourmarin. Known for its Renaissance château and artistic vibes, it’s a little different from the majority of the Luberon villages due to its sea level location, rather than perched.
Bonnieux
This medieval village with breathtaking valley views is definitely one of the prettiest villages in Provence. With ivy-covered façades and houses cascading down the hill, it’s a village straight out of a fairytale.
Lacoste
Lacoste is one of those places that makes you feel like time has stopped. This hilltop village is pretty much the same as it would have looked like during the 18th century, when the Marquis de Sade lived there. With its enchanting cobblestone streets and beautiful views over the Luberon, it is one of my 5 most beautiful villages in Provence.
Day 3: Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux
Ménerbes
Ménerbes is one of the most-preserved villages, both a beautiful place to visit and to live. The medieval streets are awash with a rugged beauty that’s accentuated by the lanscapes that surrounds it.
Oppède-le-Vieux
One of the lesser-known yet nicest villages in Provence, Oppède-le-Vieux is straight from the pages of a storybook. It’s like stepping back in time with houses from the 15th, cobblestoned streets (“les Calades”), stone-walls covered in climbing roses and painted shutters. Last but not least, this wonderfully preserved village only has two eateries and a couple of chambres d’hôtes. Don’t miss the castle ruins and the 12th century Notre-Dame d’Alidon chapel.
Day 5: Gordes & Abbaye de Sénanque, Joucas
Gordes
This picture-perfect hilltop town is one of the most photographed village in Provence, and it’s easy to see why. Named one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France and featured in the iconic movie A Good Year, Gordes has all the old-world charm you’d expect of Provence. It’s undoubtedly a must-visit and one of the 5 most beautiful villages in Provence. with cobbled lanes and narrow passageways remaining much as they have through the ages.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque
Nearby Gordes you’ll find the Sénanque Abbey, a peaceful monastery surrounded by blooming fields of lavender from mid-June to mid-July.
Le Village des Bories
Also very closed to Gordes is this hamlet of stone dwellings, not dissimilar to the better-known trulli of Puglia. This small dry stone huts village dates back to the 17th century, when peasants from Gordes were making a living out of the land. In a need of lands for crops, they were extracting stones from the ground and slowly became masters at stacking stones into cabins, terraces, walls etc. The Village des Bories opens every day from 9am to 7pm (8€/adult and 4€/children)
Joucas
Completely out of the beaten path (yet only 10min away from Gordes), Joucas is one of the most beautiful villages of Provence. This traditional and authentic village is picture-perfect, far from the touristic ones.
Day 4: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Fontaine de Vaucluse
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a wonderful town for antique shopping, and is famous for the river Sorgue surrounding the town center, actually making it an island.
Fontaine de Vaucluse
This medieval town is known for its clear blue-green water and its giant spring, one of the largest in France. It is best seen in winter as the river is pretty low in summer. The spring emerges into the river down the village, turning it in a beautiful emerald green color.
Walk along the river through the village and stop for a coffee break at one of the lovely riverside cafes to soak it all in. Overall it is very touristic and definitely not one of my favorite but it’s still worth a pit stop!
Day 6: Roussillon, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
Roussillon
Officially named one of France’s most beautiful villages, the “red town” of Roussillon is one of the most unusual villages in Provence.
The village has a unique colour scheme of rusty reds and terracotta oranges, due to the rich ochre deposits found in the canyon next to the village. From mining to tourism, this ochre canyon was and still is the village main economic source.
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
On the northern part of the Luberon, the delightful village of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt is slightly off the main tourist road, giving all the authentic Provence village’s feeling we love. Don’t miss the castle’s ruins up the hill nor the dam on the other side.
Day 7: Colorado Provençal
A former ochre quarry, like Roussillon but less developed, the Colorado Provençal offers you the chance to explore the rust-coloured canyons and pillars on your own time. Make sure to check their website before you go as in summer, they often open only in the first hours of the morning before it gets too hot.
Day 8: Valensole
This Ultimate Provence Itinerary couldn’t be complete without a stop in Valensole! While Valensole itself is a small and charming village, it is mostly used to refer to the lavender region of Provence. In June and July, you’ll get the fantastic opportunity to see the surrounding valley covered in bright purple flowers. July and August also have a lot of sunflower and poppy fields! The lavender isn’t flowering the rest of the year, but Valensole is still a top thing to do in Provence.
My favorite lavender fields spots are Lavandes Angelvin and the fields around it, and around Puimoisson, including the one with the famous little hut. I recommend you to come very early to avoir the crowd, or around sunset and play with angles.
Please respect nature, do not fly drones during the day when bees are around, and respect the farmers work by not stepping on the flowers and just sticking to the designated paths. I know this is common sense but every year I go there, I still see people climbing over the lavender rows … Lavender are usually in full bloom from mid/end of June to beginning/mid of July.
Day 9: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Gorges du Verdon
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Near the northern tip of the Lac de Sainte-Croix, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is an ancient Provençal town tucked up against the towering limestone cliffs of the Verdon Natural Regional Park. The village itself is picture-perfect, although a bit over-touristy compared to most of the Luberon villages. It’s famous for its faïence ceramics and you’ll find many boutiques selling these traditional wares. Overlooking the village, tucked into the folds of the mountain, you’ll find the Notre-Dame de Beauvoir Chapel. You can climb an ancient pathway (and a lot of stairs!) to reach it and be rewarded with breathtaking views over the village.
Gorges du Verdon
Les Gorges du Verdon is one of the most breathtaking nature spots in the whole of Provence! This epic canyon was formed naturally over thousands of years, making a beautiful turquoise river with limestone cliffs above. It’s a very popular spot for watersports where you can hire kayaks or paddle-boats and enjoy the views from the river.
Make sure to check out the viewpoint from the famous bridge, and if you have a car, drive the loop roads on the top of the gorge. My favorite spot is actually just before the bridge when coming from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
More Options
Provence is one of the most beautiful region of France with countless things todo. If you have more time, I suggest you to consider adding those few spots along the way:
- Other beautiful villages such as Venasque or Sirmiane-la-Rotonde,
- Marseille & the Old Port: stroll through the Vieux Port, visit Le Panier and enjoy a Bouillabaisse dinner.
- The Calanques National Park & Cassis: Take a boat trip through stunning limestone coves and relax in the charming port town of Cassis.
- Avignon & Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Explore the Palais des Papes, walk along the Pont d’Avignon and taste world-class wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
- Les Baux-de-Provence & Saint-Rémy: visit the medieval fortress village of Les Baux, experience the Carrières de Lumières and explore Saint-Rémy, where Van Gogh created some of his masterpieces.
Where to stay
Because the region is quite vast, I suggest to have two or three “bases” during those 10 days, one or two in the different areas of the Luberon (such as l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Joucas or Apt) and one near Valensole so that you can explore the Gorges du Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie after enjoying the lavender fields.
- 5 stars: Le Phébus & Spa – Joucas
- 4 stars: Grand Hôtel Henri – l’Isle sur la Sorgue
- Budget friendly: Camping les Chênes Blancs – St Saturnin les Apts
- Around the lavender fields: La Maison dans l’Olivette – Oraison or in Allemagne-en-Provence
Where to eat
- La Table de Xavier Mathieu – Joucas: a delicious gastronomic restaurant overlooking all the Luberon valley
- La Bastide de Pierres – Gordes: an italian trattoria on a stunning terrace
- Du côté de chez Charles – Roussillon
- Le petit café des jeanne – Oppède le Vieux
- Le Petit Henri – l’Isle sur la Sorgue: the perfect place to enjoy a delicious provencal cuisine on its beautiful terrace
- Chez Piat Pizza – Gargas: the most delicious pizza to take away and enjoy one of those epic Luberon sunsets!
How to get there
Whether you’re landing in Marseilles or arriving by train in Aix-en-Provence, I recommend you to rent a car. It is by far the best way to experience Provence. The region is vast and very remote with limited public transportation, meaning you’ll have greater freedom to reach all of the villages and lavender fields. If you are unable to rent a car, there’s a number of tours you can book to still explore the region:
- 4 Luberon villages from Aix-en-Provence (Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Gordes)
- 3 Luberon villages from Avignon (Fontaine de Vaucluses, Gordes, Roussillon)
- Lavender fields & Gordes from Aix-en-Provence
- Lavender fields, Gordes & Roussillon from Avignon
Best time to visit
If you wish to see the endless lavender fields as far as your eyes can reach, then head for end of June beginning of July. This is not hard science and obviously it depends on the weather the year you’re visiting but lavenders are usually in peak bloom between mid-June and mid-July, before being harvested. However don’t expect to be alone there! If you go before the first weekend of July, when school holidays usually start, you’ll probably be able to enjoy Provence’s villages without too much people. Keep also in mind that it can be very very hot at this time of the year so you might want to explore the villages early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and relax somewhere in the shade at mid-day.
Provence is my favorite regions in France and definitely one of my favorite places in Europe! I hope this Ultimate Provence Itinerary will inspire you to explore this magical region! I’ve put everything I thought would be useful for you to plan your best trip there. As always, feel free to ask me anything via the comments on this page or DM! Don’t forget to tag me in your stories and posts if this article inspired you!
With love,
Marina
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I would LOVE to see the lavender rows, they are stunning! Beautiful pictures!
Author
It’s magical and SO worth it! Highly recommend!