13 days in South of France Itinerary

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.

On the 28th (Wed), pause for some serene contemplation at Tour Pey-Berland, don't miss a visit to The Water Mirror, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, then get to know the fascinating history of Place de la Bourse, and finally contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Andre Cathedral.

To find other places to visit, reviews, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Bordeaux trip itinerary planner.

New York City, USA to Bordeaux is an approximately 13.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time is 6 hours. December in Bordeaux sees daily highs of 50°F and lows of 38°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Wed) so you can drive to Toulouse.

On the Garonne River, Toulouse is on the site of an ancient Roman settlement, and even today, many of the smaller streets follow their Roman counterparts, while many of the red brick buildings are built in a pseudo-Roman style.

Start off your visit on the 29th (Thu): test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Saint-Sernin, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Church of Les Jacobins, then soak in style at Le Riad du Bien etre, and finally make a trip to Le Capitole. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 30th (Fri): do a tasting at Cave de Labastide, then walk around Chateau Foucaud et parc, then admire the striking features of Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile, and finally admire the landmark architecture of Place Savene.

For photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Toulouse trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Bordeaux to Toulouse takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. December in Toulouse sees daily highs of 52°F and lows of 37°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) so you can go by car 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.

On the 31st (Sat), take in the architecture and atmosphere at Carcassonne Cathedral, then wander the streets of Cité de Carcassonne, then get engrossed in the history at Musee De L'ecole, and finally learn about winemaking at O'Vineyards.

For ratings, photos, and other tourist information, read our Carcassonne online travel route planner.

You can drive from Toulouse to Carcassonne in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 52°F in December, and nighttime lows around 38°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Montpellier.

"Montpellier is a modern, compact, and fast-growing city about 10 km (6 mi) inland from the Mediterranean coast with an active, youthful vibe.

On the 1st (Sun), stroll around Maison de la Nature, then wander the streets of Place de la Comedie, and then test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms.

For where to stay, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Montpellier journey maker tool.

You can drive from Carcassonne to Montpellier in 1.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train; or take a bus. In December in Montpellier, expect temperatures between 56°F during the day and 40°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Sun) to allow time 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.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Mon): indulge your senses at some of the top wineries in the area, then take in the views from Pont d'Avignon, and then don't miss a visit to Palais des Papes.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Avignon trip planning tool.

You can drive from Montpellier to Avignon in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Montpellier in January since evenings lows in Avignon dip to 34°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Mon) so you can go by car 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.

Start off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): wander the streets of The Panier, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, then take in the waterfront at Le Vieux Port, and finally test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 4th (Wed): steep yourself in history at Paul Cezanne’s Studio, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence, then take a stroll through Cours Mirabeau, and finally see the interesting displays at Musee Granet.

For photos, ratings, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Marseille holiday planning site.

Getting from Avignon to Marseille by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. In January, daytime highs in Marseille are 54°F, while nighttime lows are 39°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Wed) early enough to drive to Nice.

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.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Nice: Cannes (Rue d'Antibes, La Croisette, &more). There's still lots to do: visit Old Town, stop by Atelier Galerie Sylvie T, make a trip to Place Massena, and examine the collection at Musée Marc Chagall.

For other places to visit, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, read our Nice sightseeing planner.

You can drive from Marseille to Nice in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. In January in Nice, expect temperatures between 56°F during the day and 43°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Sun) so you can fly back home.