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Provence & French Riviera

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Beach, lavender blooming, and lots of outdoor activities? This is summer, and most people consider it to be the best time to visit Provence. If you are a real lavender lover, you can ignore the crowds and come between June and August to get astonished by the endless purple fields. Summer brings appealing beach season and perfect hiking, just keep in mind packed hotels and higher prices. Warm autumn brings the sweetest grapes and the best olives you've ever tasted. The tourist crowds dissipate, yet in September the days remain long and sunny. December through February is the high time to enjoy extreme price cuts, explore the magnificent Calanques, hunt for truffles, ski in the Southern Alps, and taste great Christmas foods. Spring months are pleasant, villages awaken as it gets warmer, and tourist flocks haven't arrived yet, so you can experience a more authentic life in the region.

54 things to do in Provence & French Riviera

Exotic Garden of Monaco

all year round Nature

Find shelter under the exotic trees of Monaco

Sunflower Fields

late June–July Nature

Bright-yellow sunflower fields provide a beautiful contrast to the lush purple rows of lavender

Fête du Citron (Menton Lemon Festival)

February 15-March 2, 2025 Event

The bright, colourful, and fragrant Lemon Festival is among the most important events of the Riviera

Olive Picking

November–December Food

In Provence you can still experience traditional farming and take part in olive harvesting

Fête de la Saint-Jean​ or St. John Feast

June 21–24, 2024 Event

These beautiful bonfire nights are held in every town and village of Provence

Lavender Fields in Bloom

June–August Nature

One of the first things that come to mind when you think of Provence is a magnificent lavender field

Black Truffle

mid-November–mid-March Food

You'll be able to not just taste some black tr​uffles, but also hunt them, visit the truffle fair, or try out other interesting activities offered by local farmers

Strawberry Harvest and Fête de la Fraise

May 8 Event

Sweet festivals in beautiful old villages are a sign of spring

Christmas

December 4–February 2 Event

Visit Provence during the winter holidays and you won't regret it

Foire Internationale Art et Antiquités

March 29–April 1, 2024 Event

A great opportunity for antiquity lovers to find something special

Cycling around Mont Ventoux

May–October Activity

Explore villages, olive groves, vineyards, and other wonders in the Mont Ventoux region

Les Oursinades

February Food

A perfect place to taste some famous hand-picked sea urchins

Ironman 70.3

May 18, 2025 Event

The home of a famous triathlon, Aix-en-Provence, annualy gathers triathletes from all over the world for a big race

Festival De Cannes

May 14–25, 2024 Event

One of the world's biggest and most important events, the Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera, speaks for itself

Millévin

November 21, 2024 Event

A joyous and epicurean celebration of the arrival of the new Côtes du Rhône vintage

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

October–April Activity

The sea and the wind of Provence make it one of the world's best spots for kitesurfing

Saffron Farms

September–October Activity

A precious spice is made out of the beautiful and tender flowers of saffron in Provence

Les Bravades de Fréjus

April 20–22, 2024 Event

A traditional feast day in the lovely little town of Fréjus

Pétanque World Championship (Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque)

June 30-July 3, 2024 Event

A sport in which the French are the ultimate champions

Le Défi de Monte-Cristo or the Monte Cristo Challenge

June 2–4, 2023 Event

You can either repeat Edmond Dantès' feat or watch the 2-kilometer swimming race and enjoy yourself on the shore

The Long Night of Museums

May 18, 2024 Event

A perfect opportunity to visit the great museums of Provence for free

Exploring the Calanques

October–May Nature

This natural treasure of Provence and cousin to the Scandinavian fjords is an essential highlight of any trip to the region

Cheval Passion

January 15–19, 2025 Event

This equestrian event in Avignon is an elegant and original spectacle

Floating Market

August 4, 2024 Event

In l'Isle sur la Sorgue, you'll find a very unusual way to buy fresh vegetables, fruits, or seafood from the local farmers

Wine Grape Harvest

September Food

September is a very special time of the year which every farmer with a vineyard looks forward to

Saint Tulle's May Day in Cucuron

May 25, 2024 Event

A creative tradition to celebrate the patron of the village of Cucuron

Fête du Costume in Arles

June 30, 2024 Event

What could be better than lovely Arlesian women dressed in gorgeous costumes walking the streets of beautiful Arles?

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

September 28-October 6, 2024 Event

The sun, the breeze, the Bay of Saint-Tropez and, of course, the beautiful yachts. All this creates an unforgettable​ spectacle

L'entre-Deux Biennales Circus Festival

January 9-February 9, 2025 Event

This contemporary circus brings true aesthetic pleasure

The Rencontres d'Arles

July 1–September 22, 2024 Event

During this festival, you'll be able not only to admire ​photography but also the architecture of the festival's venues

Beach Season

June–October Activity

Provence is famous not only for wine and lavender ​but also for the beautiful beaches and the bright-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea

Mimosa Route

January–March Nature

Travel from town to town, visiting the festivities dedicated to the beautiful mimosa blossom

Oyster Season

September–April Food

Even if you don't like oysters, you'll love them in France!

Pain, Amour et Chocolat

February 14 Event

If you have a great love affair with chocolate, you have to visit Bread, Love, and Chocolate Fair in Antibes for the Valentine's Day weekend

The Gitan Pilgrimage

May 24–May 25 Event

Watch a small sleepy seaside town of Saintes Maries de la Mer turns into a noisy and wild carnival with Gypsy dancing and music

Traditional Fishing with Nego-Chin Boats

July 16, 2023 Event

The people in Provence are very protective of their traditions and this annual event is a good examp​le​

The Thirteen Christmas Desserts

December 24–December 25 Food

The sweetest Provençal tradition—lei tretze dessèrts

Carnaval de Nice

February 17-March 3, 2024 Event

The most important winter event in the French Riviera and one of the largest Carnivals in the world​​

Le 14 Juillet​ or Bastille Day

July 14 Event

This National Holiday is the largest and most important annual celebration in France

Monaco Grand Prix

May 25, 2025 Event

Formula One race time is nothing but speed, glamour, passion, noise, and a hint of danger because the cars are never too far away from the barriers

Birdwatching in Camargue Natural Park

March–May | September–November Nature

Admire thousands of pink flamingos and other migrating birds on the waters of Camargue

Chestnut Season and Fête de la Châtaigne

October Food

A little province in the South of France is the chestnut capital of the world

Fiesta des Suds

October 10–13, 2024 Event

This international music festival is an essential part of Marseille's cultural identity

Centifolia Rose and Jasmine Harvest

May–mid-June | August–early October Activity

Take a tour into the gardens of Grasse to find out just what it takes to make some of the important ingredients for your favourite fragrances in the capital of the perfume industry

Diving

May–September Activity

Plunge into clear turquoise water and explore the unique marine life of the Blue Coast

Feria du Melon and Melon Season

July 6-7, 2024 Event

Visit Cavaillon's most fragrant and sweet festival and taste some Charentais melons—a local speciality

Tour de France

June 29-July 21, 2024 Event

The world's biggest, most challenging, and beautiful cycling event

Snowattack

January 25-February 1, 2025 Event

A week-long snowboarding and music extravaganza

Tourrette-Levens Medieval Festival

April 5, 2020 Event

Discover the medieval world of Tourrette-Levens

Col du Lautaret

all year round Activity

The highest year-round pass in France

Col d'Izoard

mid-June–October Activity

An iconic high mountain pass featured in the iconic Tour de France race

New Year's Eve in France

December 31 Event

Welcome the new beginning shouting out "Bonne année!" at midnight

The Cave of Saint-Marcel d’Ardèche

all year round Nature

One of the largest caves in France offers an exceptional show

Festival Jazz à Juan

July 8–18, 2024 Event

Europe's oldest jazz festival at an iconic Mediterranean seaside location

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