Husband and I are planning a 12 day trip to France in April for our 30th birthdays / anniversary. Thinking of going to Paris / Versailles, Beaune, Arles, Villefranche-sur-Mer / Nice / Monaco.
I believe the average high in Nice is only 64°F in April. I feel like much of the Riviera's attraction is the beachside promenade and people watching. I know there will be plenty to do without going to the beach (and I doubt my husband would've tolerated going to the beach for that long anyway), but will we be wishing we were there in beach weather to have taken full advantage of experiencing the area?
We're also interested in wine. Should we spend more time in Burgundy or Provence, or visit somewhere else (planning to rent a car), and hope we make it to the Riviera on another trip to experience it a little more at its prime?
Thoughts? Thanks!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I think this is fine, and April is a great time in France. I had mid 20s Celsius in Paris once in April.
Paris - 4 nights
Burgundy (Beaune) - 2 nights
Provence (Arles) - 3 nights
Cote d'Azur (Nice) - 3 nights
With your limited time a car will be of minimal benefit in Provence and Cote d'Azur where local trains are good.
By all means get one for a few days in Burgundy and return it in Lyon, then by TGV south.
Posted by
4 posts
Hello Linds and Dave,
The French Riviera is one of the most beautiful parts of the world and at any given time its beauty never fails to charm its visitors. The sun is almost always out and the sky is seamlessly blue! The good thing about visiting on April is that you still get a bit of the chilly breeze while enjoying the warmth of the approaching summer.
Also, between Nice and Monaco are several small, historic villages; Eze Village being one of the most famous among all of them. You can easily take a bus from Nice and it will drop you right in front of the medieval village. The ride is about 20 minutes and you get to have a bird's eye view of Nice while on the bus. Going back, you take the same bus from the same stop, just be careful with the time as in the afternoon they have limited buses. There's a small castle in the hills of Nice (in the area of rue de Bellet( and they produce really good wine, worth a visit if you have extra time.
Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip to the Riviera :)