We are arriving in Cannes (via Nice) on a Tuesday in June for a Friday wedding. On previous trip we visited Canne, Eze, Grasse, Monaco, Antibes, St Tropez, Marseille. After landing in Nice we are stopping ( we rented a car) in Antibes to go to the Picasso museum. After the wedding we plan on leaving Cannes and staying in Avignon for 3 nights. Would it better to just take a day trip to Avignon or stay someplace else. We do want to visit Pont du Gard. Suggestions for where to stay and see would be appreciated. Then we want to go to Lyon for 4 nights, and someplace ( not sure where) for 2 nights, and end up in Nice for one night to fly home. We made a last minute decision to go to this wedding but elbow deep in wedding plans for our own sons wedding! We love food, churches, history, beautiful countrysides and wine! Hope to see some lavender fields. Recommendations for a restaurant on a Friday in Lyon - something special for my 60 th birthday? Would love your favorites places for this part of France
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
754 posts
You can daytrip from Avignon pretty easily, going to Nimes and the Pont du Gard. If you are into wine, I recommend a trip to Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas, plus others if you have time (Orange makes a good stop for the theatre there). You can also take a wine tour -- Olivier Hartman's comes recommended. Avignon will take a day, really, or part of two. You can also add a trip to Arles and St. Remy/Les Baux if you would like.
June is early for lavender. Is it later in the month? You may need to hit the fields in the Luberon on your return trip. The fields in the lowlands hit first, and a stop in Luberon valley might be worthwhile for those later two nights. Villages like Gordes, Roussillon, Menerbes, Bonnieux, La Coste, Joucas, etc. There are some very good restaurants in this area as well. You can also cut over the hills and go to Lourmarin and then Aix (or hit that on your way to the airport hotel).
Unless you need the car for the wedding, going the Picasso museum is easy enough by train. It is at the edge of Old Town and parking can be a bit of a hassle depending on your weekend. It seems like you may have two days available. If you have not been into Nice itself yet you should go, and go to the Chagall Museum. Another trip can be to St. Paul de Vence (and the Fondation Maeght), Vence (for the Matisse Chapel) and then on to the villages of Tourettes-sur-Loup and Gourdon.
Posted by
OP
30 posts
thanks for your reply
any recommendations on where to stay for a night in Nice before we fly out. We will still have our rental car.
Posted by
36 posts
Golden Square is probably the most convenient for a day. You are close to old town, beach and train station if leaving that way. Stayed at Best Western Plus Hôtel Masséna Nice last year and loved it.