Paris and Southern France

Posted by LeisurelyCanadian on 06/01/25 11:13 PM

My husband and I are in France for about 3 weeks late September into October. We arrive and depart from Paris. The plan as of now is to spend 3-4 days in Paris, train to Lyon where we will spend about 3 nights and then do a bit of a driving holiday in the south to visit small towns and specifically see Pont du Gard. Arles, Nimes, Avignon are all contenders.

I'm looking for some recommendations of hotels (mid-range under $400ish per night) in Lyon, as well as favorite small towns/sites that can't be missed! Where to stay in those towns would also be welcomed.

Our main drive to heading to France is history, art, and cultural exhibits and museums and of course the marvelous food and drink we find almost anywhere in Europe. We aren't afraid of heading off the beaten path for something unique to see, either :)
Thanks!

Posted by natur.elle

Nimes,France

06/05/25 07:12 AM

18 posts

Stay downtown Lyon, where you can do all your visits walking. There are lots of hotels, so it’s a bit difficult to give you advice. From Lyon, you can take a train to Avignon and stay again downtown you can train a train to nimes too. You definitely need a car to go to Pont du Gard. When there, go to Uzes. It’s beautiful. Check on Grau du Roi. It s worth visiting. The walled city is great and you have salt fields to walk by

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

06/05/25 08:00 AM

11279 posts

I'd stay in Nîmes, do a day trip to wonderful Uzès and Pont du Gard, another to Montpellier and perhaps Sète or Saint Guilham, a day in Aigues Mortes and visit the Salines du Midi nextdoor. The other poster likes Grau du Roi. Then move over to Arles and go to the Camargue, visiting a Manade where bulls and horses are raised. Have lunch at the Manade. Manade trips are found on the Office of Tourism site. You can also visit a Manade from Nîmes.

You have Roman museums in both Arles and Nímes. If you go north of Arles less than an hour you are in Aix-en-Provence with the large Cezanne retrospective at the Musée Granet into the fall this year. Musée Fabre in Montpellier is having a large Pièrre Soulages retrospective this year. Arles is filled with exhibition spaces such as the Fondation Van Gogh and LUMA.

Posted by Tocard

06/05/25 08:33 AM

3020 posts

You could easily spend 10 days to 2 weeks just in western Provence (and eastern Languedoc). The Michelin Green Guide has all the information you might need, including driving itineraries. It does get cool in October, and some seasonal activities will be concluded, but much will remain to explore.

Posted by hiredman

San Diego, California, USA

06/05/25 11:26 AM

1633 posts

Stay on the isle part of Lyon near the old town. Really good public transportation and everything is walkable just denpeding on how far you feel like walking versus bus, tram, metro. Traffic really plays second fiddle to pedestrians and bikes in the city so it is not car dominant in the old section and makes walking and exploring fun.

The Roman museum in Lyon is exceptional along with the theaters it is a good morning or afternoon. Les Halles du Lyon is full of some of the most remarkable food stuffs and products - go early since it usually closes by 1pm.

I find St Remy to be the most "charming" Provence town but public transportation is limited and is best with a car. The Van Gogh asylum is just outside of town along with the Gallo-Greek-Roman ruins at Glanum. If you are in the area Les Beaux makes interesting exploring, but again access from Saint Remy is limited without a car.

The theater at Orange is worth a visit if you're in the area and if you want to go all in on Roman ruins visit Vaison-la-Romaine (bus from Orange) and arrive before market day to experience a rural Provencal market day.

Have a great trip,
=Tod