Provence-Alpes–Côte d’Azur blends Mediterranean light with deep history—from Greek Massalia (Marseille) and Roman ruins in Cimiez to Belle Époque seaside promenades in Nice. Great painters chased this sun: Matisse and Chagall in Nice, Cézanne in nearby Aix. Today, it’s equal parts culture and coast—fresh seafood, perfumed hill towns, and cliff-lined creeks called the Calanques.

Expect long golden hours and market mornings: socca hot off the griddle in Nice, bouillabaisse in Marseille, rosé-filled lunches, and swims between cliff walks. Summer brings festivals (and crowds); spring and fall are gentler with warm seas and clear trails. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and good walking shoes for cobbles and coastal paths.

Trains stitch the region together—glide along the sea from Nice to Antibes and Monaco, or inland to Aix. Book regional trains and European flights on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Wildfire restrictions can close parts of the Calanques in peak season; always check same-day advisories locally. Tipping is modest (service is included), reservations are wise, and the mistral wind can make clear days extra bright—perfect for those coastal views.

Nice

Nice is the French Riviera’s sunlit stage: pastel facades in the Old Town, the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, and alfresco markets perfumed with basil and citrus. It’s ideal as a base, with quick TER trains to Antibes and Monaco, and buses climbing to the eagle’s-nest village of Èze.

Top sights span art and sea: climb Castle Hill for sunset, savor socca at a century-old counter, and browse MAMAC, the Chagall Museum, and the Matisse Museum in Cimiez. Evenings are for apéritifs by the port or waves lapping beneath cliffside restaurants.

• Where to stay: Old Town (Vieux Nice) for market mornings and bistros; Carré d’Or for beach access; Port Lympia for a calmer, local vibe. Search stays on VRBO and Hotels.com.
• Getting there: Fly into Nice (NCE) and compare fares on Omio. The L2 tram runs airport→city (~25 minutes).
• Local flavor: Try Niçoise classics beyond the salad—pan bagnat (tuna-sardine sandwich), pissaladière (onion-tapenade tart), and chickpea-flour socca fired in a copper pan.

Marseille

France’s oldest city is a mosaic of peoples and ports: buzzing markets in Noailles, the vast Vieux-Port, and the gleaming MuCEM framing centuries of Mediterranean exchange. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for a 360° sweep of islands and sea.

Marseille pairs maritime grit with creativity—street art in Cours Julien, seafood institutions serving real-deal bouillabaisse, and the Calanques National Park just beyond town for hikes, swims, and boat trips out of Cassis.

• Where to stay: Vieux-Port for first-timers; Le Panier for lanes and galleries; Cours Julien for nightlife and murals. Browse VRBO and Hotels.com.
• Getting there: Fast trains from Nice take ~2h40–3h; compare routes on Omio (trains) or budget buses on Omio (buses).
• Don’t miss: A Calanques hike or boat tour, seafood platters at an old-school hall, and the Le Corbusier Cité Radieuse for modernist architecture fans.

Optional Paris Stopover (Pre/Post-Trip)

Many international flights route via Paris. If you have a spare evening or day, these curated experiences pair beautifully with your Provence trip:

• Paris Seine River Dinner Cruise with Live Music by Bateaux Mouches

  

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access (Top or 2nd floor)

  

• Paris Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef

  

Day 1: Arrive in Nice, Old Town and Castle Hill

Morning: Fly or train to Nice. Compare options on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). From NCE, take the L2 tram to the center (~€1.70, ~25 minutes).

Afternoon: Check in near Vieux Nice or the Carré d’Or via VRBO or Hotels.com. Wander the Old Town: Cours Saleya’s flower and produce stalls, Baroque gems like Sainte-Réparate, and narrow lanes lined with soap and spice shops.

Evening: Climb (or elevator) to Castle Hill for a golden-hour panorama. Dinner at Bistrot d’Antoine (reservations recommended; hearty Provençal), or Peixes (Mediterranean ceviche and crisp wines). Nightcap at Babel Babel on the seafront for natural wines and a sea breeze; finish with gelato at Fenocchio (try fig or olive).

Day 2: Art, Markets, and the Promenade des Anglais

Morning: Coffee and a flaky croissant at La Popote d’Ondine (cozy, house-baked pastries), then the Matisse Museum in leafy Cimiez and the nearby Roman amphitheater and gardens. Alternatively, the Chagall Museum’s luminous mosaics and biblical canvases.

Afternoon: Lunch at Chez Pipo for classic socca and panisses (chickpea fries), then stroll MAMAC’s rooftop terrace for views of Old Nice. Walk or bike the Promenade des Anglais past Belle Époque facades and the famous blue chairs.

Evening: Sunset apéritif at Le Plongeoir (perched on old diving platforms above the sea; book ahead) or a beach club like Blue Beach for toes-in-sand rosé. Dinner at Restaurant Acchiardo (family-run Niçoise) or Jan (Michelin-star, refined South African–Mediterranean tasting menu near the Port).

Day 3: Antibes and the Cap d’Antibes Coastal Path

Morning: Hop a TER train to Antibes (~20 minutes, ~€6; check times on Omio). Browse the Marché Provençal (morning market) for cheese, olives, and socca; then the Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi.

Afternoon: Picnic along the ramparts or lunch at La Taille de Guêpe (flower-stuffed zucchini blossoms; local favorite). Walk the Sentier du Littoral around Cap d’Antibes—turquoise coves, pine scent, and villas—then swim at Plage de la Garoupe. Train back to Nice.

Evening: Wine bar crawl near the Port: La Part des Anges (biodynamic selection) or Les Distilleries Idéales (venerable brasserie). Dinner at Le Bistrot du Port (seafood platters) or Oliviera (all-things-olive-oil menu; intimate).

Day 4: Èze Village and Monaco Day Trip

Morning: Bus 602 or 82 winds up to Èze Village (30–45 minutes). Explore cobbled lanes, then the Jardin Exotique for cliffside cacti and sweeping Riviera vistas. Tour Fragonard’s perfume workshop for a quick primer on the region’s scents.

Afternoon: Walk down the Nietzsche Path to Èze-sur-Mer (steep; good shoes) or bus down. TER train to Monaco (~8–12 minutes). Visit the Prince’s Palace quarter, the Oceanographic Museum (great rooftop), and peek at the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s Belle Époque glam.

Evening: Return to Nice for a casual dinner: Peixes for fresh catch; or Lou Balico for raviolis niçois and daube. Finish with a seaside stroll on the Promenade.

Day 5: Nice → Marseille, Vieux-Port and Le Panier

Morning: Train Nice→Marseille Saint-Charles (~2h40–3h; €25–€45). Book seats on Omio. Grab coffee to go from Emilie’s Cookies & Coffee Shop before departure.

Afternoon: Check in near Vieux-Port via VRBO or Hotels.com. Lunch at Toinou (since 1956; choose your oysters, whelks, and prawns by the counter). Wander Le Panier’s steep streets, artisan boutiques, and the Vieille Charité. Cross the MuCEM footbridge to Fort Saint-Jean for harbor views.

Evening: Ride or taxi up to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sunset over islands and the Corniche. Dinner in Vallon des Auffes: Chez Fonfon for bouillabaisse (book) or L’Épuisette for a special-occasion sea-to-table tasting menu. Digestif at La Caravelle (tiny bar with jazz nights and port views).

Day 6: Cassis and the Calanques (Hike and Boat)

Morning: TER train or bus from Marseille to Cassis (~35–45 minutes; check Omio). Coffee at Bar de la Fontaine on the square, then hike to Calanque de Port-Miou and on to Port-Pin or En-Vau if you’re fit (bring water, grippy shoes; trails can be rocky).

Afternoon: Lunch on the port—Le Grand Large (grilled sea bream, aioli) or pick up a pan bagnat from a local bakery for a picnic. Join a 45–90 minute boat tour of 3–9 calanques from Cassis harbor for towering limestone cliffs and cobalt water (sails more reliably outside high fire-risk closures).

Evening: Back in Marseille, explore Cours Julien’s murals and indie shops. Dinner at La Cantinetta (homemade pasta, leafy patio) or Ourea (modern Provençal, seasonal). Treat yourself to a scoop at Vanille Noire (famous “black vanilla”).

Day 7: Aix-en-Provence Morning, Depart from Marseille

Morning: TER train to Aix-en-Provence Ville (~35 minutes, ~€6; times on Omio). Espresso at Mana Espresso (third-wave favorite), then browse the daily market at Place Richelme—honey, goat cheese, herbs de Provence. Visit Atelier Cézanne (his preserved studio) to glimpse jugs, skulls, and that north light that shaped Montagne Sainte-Victoire on canvas.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Le Bidule (casual, local crowd) or Chez Grand-Mère (Provençal comfort), then return to Marseille for your afternoon departure. If time remains, stroll the Corniche Kennedy or pop into Maison Empereur (France’s oldest hardware store, full of curios).

Evening: Train or flight home. For long-haul options, compare connections on Omio (flights).

Where to Eat and Drink (At-a-Glance Favorites)

• Nice: Breakfast at La Popote d’Ondine; oysters at Café de Turin (since 1908); socca at Chez Pipo; refined tasting at Jan; bistros like Bistrot d’Antoine and Oliviera; sundowners at Babel Babel or Blue Beach.
• Marseille/Cassis: Seafood platters at Toinou; bouillabaisse at Chez Fonfon; modern plates at Ourea; pizza at La Bonne Mère (wood-fired, neighborhood gem); gelato at Vanille Noire; Cassis harbor lunches at Le Grand Large.

How to Get Around

• Local trains (TER): Fast, scenic, and frequent between Nice, Antibes, Monaco, Marseille, and Aix. Plan and book on Omio.
• Buses: Handy for hill towns like Èze; check schedules on Omio (buses).
• Driving: Not essential; parking is tight in old centers. If you rent, keep coins/cards for meters and watch for summer closures near Calanques.

Seven days in Provence-Alpes–Côte d’Azur gives you the Riviera’s sparkle and Provence’s soul: cliff walks, market tastes, and sunlit museums. You’ll leave with sea salt in your hair and a phone full of blue-on-blue horizons—already plotting your return for lavender fields or winter’s clear skies.