After the end of the Eastern France tour, we have two free days before we leave from Marseilles at 10:00 AM. Does anybody have any good ideas on what to do in the area, and where to stay, for those two days?
Is Marseilles worth visiting? Or are there other areas or cities which would be more interesting?
Yes, Marseilles is worth visiting, founded by Greeks in 600BC. Two to three days would be perfect.
Arles, St-Remy-de-Provence, Nîmes, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and the Pont du Gard spring to mind. Spend some time with RS France Guidebook to see what appeals to you. You are on the edge of many great places to visit.
We stayed in Aix another three days or so, and had a wonderful time.
Aix has a commuter train that goes to Marseilles if you want to make a day trip into this big city. The Harbor is picturesque. You can take a boat to Chateau D'If which was featured in the Count of Monte Cristo. They also have some World Class Museums and Galleries in the Harbor area. And Fresh Seafood!
We took this tour when it ended in Marseille. We spent an extra day there then took the train to Arles. I loved Arles—its relaxed pace, its archeology museum and amphitheater and the food. It was then an easy train ride back to the airport in Marseille.
Greetings. We took same tour this past fall. What a fabulous time, with excellent guide Chris. Our advice, stay in Aix. You’ll be finishing a tour - it’s time to relax. There’s so much to enjoy in Aix. Cezanne’s Studio, the many markets, the tourism center is wonderful- full of information and the website has ideas for local bookings, ride the minibus through old town, sit at cafe with a glass of rośe and people watch, go to the Granet Art Museum, visit the Hôtel de Caumont, etc. There’s plenty to see and enjoy. Easy access to Marseilles airport too. Catch the bus #40 right to airport €10. We stayed at Hotel Cardinal.
We also stayed on in Aix for additional days and loved it. Walked to Fouque to purchase some santons one day. Even took a TI arranged tour down to Cassis for the day and from there took a boat tour to visit the Calanques. Highly recommend it!
Can all of you share what you did in Aix as part of the Rick Steves tour? We are doing this tour a would appreciate details that will help with our planning for post-tour on our own.
We did this pre-Covid and I just remember coming into town, getting our hotel rooms and doing a short city walk about with our tour guide that included an open air market where we bought some lavender soap. We then browsed around on our own for awhile. Our farewell dinner was that night which my husband loved because it was a lot of fish. Me, not so much. Normally we extend our time a couple of days but weren’t able to this time. I wish we had because it’s lovely area.
I took a bus to Nice for three days and it was wonderful, I stayed at a hotel recommended in the Steves book. It is a relaxing beautiful place and easy to get around. I took a hop on off bus, walking to many great museums. Then I flew to Paris to fly home.
The hotel I stayed at was Hotel De La Mer in Nice, recommended by Rick Steves in his book.
“Can all of you share what you did in Aix as part of the Rick Steves tour? We are doing this tour a would appreciate details that will help with our planning for post-tour on our own.”
Aix is the end of tour - we arrived before lunch. Had lunch on our own then met up with group for a walking tour with a local guide. Walking tour ended at Cathedral St. Sauveur. Then afternoon free; we went to do laundromat. Group dinner then breakfast next morning .
So, there is much to see in Aix. Stay a couple more days! Visit the magnificent Tourist office, check them out beforehand online - lots of ideas.
This was my first solo RS tour and would do it all over again. Concerned about catching my 2:30 flight from CDG airport three days later I added two days in Lyon, gastronomical capital of France. Easy two-hour high-speed train to airport in the morning, had lunch and flew home. I loved this trip and drinking my favorite wine in the Rhone region it came from.
