3-Day Provence Itinerary

Last Updated on 09/26/2021

There are countless towns scattered throughout Provence, and truth be told, it’s impossible to see it all in just three days. Towns in Provence are so charming with their cobblestoned alleyways, window shutters, ivy covered buildings and stunning views of lavender fields below.

In this itinerary, I’ll show you how to see the best of Provence in three days. We visited Gordes, Aix-en-Provence, Ansouis, Roussillion and Saint-Remy-de-Provence. It might seem like that’s too much, but we didn’t spend more than a few hours at each stop. If you prefer to take things at a slower pace, I’d recommend narrowing it down to Gordes, Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Remy-de-Provence.

From studying Van Gogh’s work in university to reading Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, this region of France has been high on my list to visit. More recently though, I’ve especially been enjoying being transported to Provence through the stunning still life and landscape photography of expat Jamie Beck (a must follow on Instagram if you are interested in Provence).

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How to get to Provence

There are several ways to get to Provence. You could fly into Nice or Lyon and rent a car. If you’re coming from Paris, it would be easy to take the train to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence and rent a car from the train station. Either way, I think it’s best to rent a car to really maximize your time and be on your own schedule. Keep in mind parking is about 20 euros a day at the garages near Aix.

When to Visit Provence

I tend to steer clear of the busiest tourist season and prefer to travel in shoulder season, but for this trip I just embraced it and went in the beginning of July. I really wanted to see the lavender fields, enjoy the best of the outdoor markets in Aix-en-Provence and have nice weather. So, I bit the bullet and went at the peak of summer. If you’re not particular motivated by lavender, Provence would assuredly be beautiful in spring and fall.

Where to Stay in Provence

We chose Aix-en-Provence as our base because the city is centrally located to multiple places on our itinerary. The city feels like a quiet town in some places, but you’ll also have plenty of restaurants, shops and markets to choose from.

Accommodations in Aix -en-Provence:

Luxury Design Hotel Particulier le 28 – Boutique Hotel with an indoor swimming pool.

Maison Du Collectionneur – Charming bed and breakfast in town.

Villa Gallici Hotel & Spa – 5-star luxury on the outskirts of the city center.

If you are visiting with a group, you might want to consider renting a villa. A family vacation sharing this 4 bedroom villa with a pool in Bonnieux would be memorable.

Provence Itinerary: Day 1

Gordes is one of the more popular towns in Provence and on a hot day in July it was packed. Terraces and narrow alleys were full of people eating lunch outside and exploring the small town. I’ll be honest with you though, I’m still a little bitter about a parking ticket I got while I was pulled over (not parked at all and still actually in the car!).

Gordes itself might have left me in slightly grumpy mood, but that quickly faded when we drove to the nearby Sénanque Abbey. This truly is a must see in the area if you’re there when the lavender is in bloom.

Arrive to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening shopping, eating and hopping from one wine bar to the next. I loved the relaxed vibe of Bacchus and all the outdoor restaurants in Place des Cardeurs.

Provence Itinerary: Day 2

Wake up early to get the fountain in Place d’Albertas all to yourself. Then, enjoy a fancy breakfast pastry and coffee at Patisserie Weibel.

Right around the corner you’ll find a market with fresh produce, cheese and meats in Place Richelme. The main market square is going through some construction, so the markets are in different places around the city. I found this website helpful for when and where the markets are held.

Grab some goodies for a picnic lunch and hit the road by noon. Ansouis isn’t quite as well known as Gordes, but it was less crowded and also offered some stunning views. We sat right at the edge of town and ate our picnic under the shaded pathway.

On the way up to Roussillion, stop at a lavender field near Bonnieux. The Luberon region has many lavender fields, but you really have to go to Valensole for the “lavender as far as the eye can see” photo.

Roussillion is one of the more unique towns in Provence, mainly because its buildings are all shades of red. It’s home to one of the largest Ochre deposits in the world. You can also explore the nearby Ochre Trail for a few euros.

Head back to Aix-en-Provence for dinner and of course, more rosé.

Provence Itinerary: Day 3

On your third day, drive a little over an hour to the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. There’s been a monastery there for over 1000 years, but it was made into an asylum in 1807. Van Gogh lived and painted there for about a year towards the end of his life. The asylum today acts as a living Van Gogh museum and is a must see for any Van Gogh fan. It’s a beautiful, yet somber place full of history.

It’s an easy walk from the monastery to the town of Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Grab lunch in one of the many charming outdoor patios.

From there we drove up to Lyon for a night and took a flight back to Naples from there.

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