My daughter and I will be arriving in Provence from Lyon by train, to spend five days in the region. We don't want to rent a car--so any suggestions for a base destination from which we can explore by bicycle or bus? Or a picturesque village in which to spend the whole five days?
Thanks, Sharon from Seattle
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I spent several nights in Nimes (near Provence), good transportation by train and bus, but it's not a village. I also spent a few nights in Nice but I preferred the towns of Vence and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I have spent a number of weeks in St. Remy on various occasions, but I always had a car. If I were going to be in Provence without a car that is still where I would stay. It has everything a village can offer... great shopping, a variety of restaurants, a fabulous market to get food for picnics... etc. It is located very close to the hospital where VanGogh spent time and that is a place we would walk in the morning. It has a wonderful ambience and would be a perfect place to relax and enjoy French village life. Not sure if there are any bus tours you could take for a day trip, but more than likely there are. I think the Wed. market is the bigger one with gifts as well as food.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I have stayed in Arles, which has direct buses to Les Baux, among others, but the bus service to Pont du Gard is better from Nimes or Avignon.
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has both bus and train service from Avignon, and Rick's Provence & Mediterranean book indicates that "hardy bikers" can ride from there to Luberon towns such as Gordes and Roussillon (30 miles roundtrip).
Around Nice, smaller towns such as Villefranche-sur-Mer (smallest), Menton, Antibes, etc. all have pretty frequent bus and train service, although in some directions you may make a connection in Nice.