60 days in South of France Itinerary

The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.

Get in touch with nature at Plage d'Argent and Parc National des Calanques. You'll get in some beach time at Plage des Oursinieres and Calanque d'En-Vau. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Marseille: Trolib (in Cassis), Plage de la Courtade (in Porquerolles Island) and Aix-en-Provence (Paul Cezanne’s Studio, Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence, &more). There's much more to do: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, get engrossed in the history at Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, kick back and relax at Plage du Capelan, and take a stroll through The Panier.

To see traveler tips, reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Marseille trip itinerary builder website.

Brisbane, Australia to Marseille is an approximately 28-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 9 hours traveling from Brisbane to Marseille. Traveling from Brisbane in July, expect Marseille to be a bit warmer, temps between 36°C and 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Fri) to allow enough time to fly to Porto.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Torra d'Omigna and Les Calanche Cliffs. Take a break from the city and head to Boat Tours & Water Sports and D81. Step out of Porto with an excursion to Plage de Ficajola in Piana--about 34 minutes away.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, reviews, and more tourist information, read Porto day trip planning tool.

You can fly from Marseille to Porto in 2.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of ferry and taxi; or do a combination of train, ferry, and bus. Expect a daytime high around 34°C in July, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Mon) early enough to drive to Porto-Vecchio.

Porto-Vecchio is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. Bonifacio Citadel and Cimetiere Marin de Bonifacio are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Plage de Palombaggia and Plage de Santa Giulia. Venture out of the city with trips to Bonifacio (Plage du Grand Sperone, Iles Lavezzi, &more), Porto Pollo Plongee (in Serra-di-Ferro) and Pianottoli-Caldarello (Sentier Littoral des Bruzzi & Plage de San Giovanni). There's more to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Plage de Tamaricciu and enjoy the sand and surf at Plage De Roccapina.

To find other places to visit, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read Porto-Vecchio tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Porto to Porto-Vecchio takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In July in Porto-Vecchio, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 22°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Sun) early enough to fly to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.

Chateau de Castelnaud and Chateau des Milandes are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Chateau de Beynac and Eglise Saint Barthelemy will appeal to history buffs. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Castelnaud-la-Chapelle: Plan d'eau le Lac Vert (in Catus), Chateau de Bonaguil (in Saint-Front-sur-Lemance) and St-Pierre-Toirac Church (in Saint-Pierre-Toirac).

Plan trip to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.

Fly from Porto-Vecchio to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry, train, and taxi. Traveling from Porto-Vecchio in July, expect Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to be a bit cooler, temps between 32°C and 17°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (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.

Take a break from the city and head to La Voile Verte and Mount Perdu. Get some cultural insight at Cité de Carcassonne and Chateaux de Lastours. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Carcassonne: Toulouse (Church of Les Jacobins & Basilique Saint-Sernin), Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile (in Albi) and Cathedrale St-Jean (in Perpignan). Next up on the itinerary: do a tasting at O'Vineyards, explore the historical opulence of Chateau Comtal, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Carcassonne Cathedral, and see some colorful creatures with Belouga Plongee.

To find other places to visit, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Carcassonne trip planner.

Traveling by car from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to Carcassonne takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Plan for somewhat warmer nights when traveling from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in July since evenings lows in Carcassonne dip to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sat) early enough 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.

Palais des Papes and Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Get some historical perspective at Amphitheatre (les Arenes) and La Maison Carree. Venture out of the city with trips to Bertrand Bosc (in Montpellier), Roussillon (Art Gallery Contemporary Tapiezo & Le Sentier des Ocres) and Les Baux de Provence (Chateau des Baux de Provence & Carrieres des Lumieres). There's much more to do: snap pictures at Pont d'Avignon, contemplate the long history of Eglise St-Trophime, sample the fine beverages at Distillerie A. Blachere, and look for all kinds of wild species at Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau.

For photos, reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Avignon trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Carcassonne to Avignon takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 36°C in July, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sat) so you can drive to La Croix-Valmer.

La Croix-Valmer is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Geographythumb La Croix-Valmer is at the foot of the Massif des Maures hills in the Bay of Cavalaire-sur-Mer, halfway between Le Lavandou and Saint-Tropez.HistoryThe Emperor Constantine the Great, on the way to wage war against his brother-in-law Maxentius in 312 AD, is said to have had a vision of a cross in the sky stating "in hoc signo vinces" (by this sign you will conquer) at the location where La Croix-Valmer is now situated. Escape the urban bustle at Plage de Gigaro and Heraclee Beach. You'll get in some beach time at Plage Des Brouis and Plage de Sylvabelle. Explore La Croix-Valmer's surroundings by going to Le Lavandou (Grande Plage du Lavandou, Plage de La Fossette, &more), Plage de l'Estagnol (in Bormes-Les-Mimosas) and Plage du Pellegrin (in La Londe Les Maures). There's more to do: enjoy the sand and surf at Plage de Vergeron and stroll through Plage du Debarquement.

For more things to do, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, use the La Croix-Valmer day trip app.

Getting from Avignon to La Croix-Valmer by car takes about 2.5 hours. In August, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) early enough to drive to Saint-Raphael.

Saint-Raphael vacations have so much more to offer than an indulgent splurge on a beach.

Popular historic sites such as Chateau de la Napoule / Musee Henry-Clews and Sac A Main En Liege are in your itinerary. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Calanque de Maubois and Plage de la Nartelle. Explore Saint-Raphael's surroundings by going to Saint-Tropez (La Ponche Beach, Plage des Canebiers, &more), Plage de Guerrevieille (in Grimaud) and Forcerie Vial (in Tanneron). There's much more to do: kick back and relax at Abel Baliff Beach, tour the pleasant surroundings at Plage de la Baumette, see majestic marine mammals with TakSea, and explore the stunning scenery at Les Gorges du Verdon.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Saint-Raphael trip itinerary builder website.

Getting from La Croix-Valmer to Saint-Raphael by car takes about 1.5 hours. In August in Saint-Raphael, expect temperatures between 38°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Fri) to allow time 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.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Old Town and Rue d'Antibes. You'll get in some beach time at Castel Plage and Paloma Beach. Change things up with these side-trips from Nice: Azur Wine Tours (in Vence) and Cannes (Marche Forville, La Croisette, &more). There's lots more to do: get great views at Colline du Chateau overlook, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice, don't miss a visit to Promenade des Anglais, and contemplate the long history of Palais Lascaris.

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Traveling by car from Saint-Raphael to Nice takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Saint-Raphael in August, expect nights in Nice to be a bit warmer, around 25°C, while days are slightly colder, around 32°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 28th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly back home.