Four Days in the South of France: A Relaxed Travel Guide
A long weekend (or four days) in the South of France might not sound like much, especially as there are SO many beautiful spots you could visit — but because of the relaxed pace of life, it’s actually a good amount of time to slow down and unwind. I visited for the first time earlier this month and completely fell in love with the area. I’d highly recommend it for a European summer getaway. We spent time in Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Antibes so keep reading for my recommendations in each spot.
At the end of this post, I’ve also included ideas for extending your trip if you’re lucky enough to have more time!
Day 1 - Arrive in Nice
Nice is a great spot to base yourself for your South of France trip for two reasons: it’s home to the region’s main airport, and it’s well-connected by public transport, making it easy to explore the surrounding coastline. On your first day, try to arrive as early as possible so you can make the most of the day. After dropping off your bags, I recommend heading straight to the Old Town. You can easily spend a few hours wandering the narrow, winding streets without much of a plan (my favourite way to explore).
A few recommendations I have:
Nice Beach - it’s hard to miss it! It’s a really busy spot but it still has a laid-back and chilled feel in the evenings. It’s a great spot for a casual dinner picnic with takeaway food and drinks as you watch sunset.
Bocca Nissa - a really great rooftop spot for dinner or cocktails. I recommend booking in advance and specify you want the rooftop. The tiramisu was especially great.
La Favola - this place had a LONG queue, and while I’m not sure it fully lived up to the hype, the pasta was still delicious and an ideal spot if you’re in the mood for Italian in the Old Town. The pizzas looked really good too.
Cours Saleya - there is a daily flower market here except on Mondays when it turns into a huge antiques market. Give yourself time to properly explore as there a lot of stalls and it’s easy to get lost browsing. If you can, I’d recommend planning your trip around being in Nice on a Monday as the market had a great mix of clothes, paintings, homeware etc. Also note most vendors will accept cash only.
Find more Nice recommendations on Day 4 of this itinerary.
Find accommodation in Nice
We stayed a little bit further out from central Nice (c.10 min drive) which on reflection, was quiet and calm but meant we spent a lot of money on Ubers going back and forth as buses often took a lot longer. A few hotels I’ve shortlisted for a future stay are:
Browse more options on the map below - I’ve added all my Nice recommendations (the stars) on this map as reference points!
Day 2 - Villefranche sur Mer
The best part about the South of France is how easy it is to explore the smaller coastal towns in one trip. On your second day, I’d highly recommend heading to Villefranche Sur Mer, just 10 minutes away from Nice by train. It ended up being my favourite stop of the whole trip. It’s quaint with lots of charming alleyways, colourful buildings and has a super relaxed but lively buzz.
We spent most of the day at Baia Bella beach club, which was lovely overall. If you’re looking to save money, Petite Afrique beach (next door) is a great option. That said, the sea in this particular cove was unexpectedly dirty the day we visited - slightly disappointing but it didn’t ruin the beach club vibe. Sunbeds at Baia Bella were €25 for a full day or €20 for a half day, and the setting is beautiful.
Another great option is Plage des Marinieres (pictured below), a long, accessible stretch of beach with clear water and a more laid-back feel. It’s ideal if you’re not fussed about a beach club and just want to relax by the sea.
In the evening, there are plenty of restaurants along the waterfront if you want a sit-down meal. We grabbed takeaway pizzas from TOSCA and sat by the beach in the evening which was the ideal way to end the day.
It’s also worth noting that Villefranche’s train station is right by the beach and the walk back up into town can be steep. Wear comfy shoes if you're planning to explore more or walk to viewpoints!
Day 3 - Antibes
On the third day, I recommend heading to Antibes, another beautiful spot along the coast. It’s about 30-40 mins by train from Nice and the town centre is a short walk from the station. Antibes has a slightly different vibe compared to Nice and Villefranche but is still so beautiful.
Start your day in the Old Town where you’ll find lots of cute alleyways, independent shops and a huge food market. We had breakfast at Copenhagen Coffee Lab and also stopped by NOMADS coffee for a drink - both great options! There’s also Musée Picasso (which we didn’t actually stop by but art lovers might appreciate!) located in a seaside spot where Picasso actually worked.
If you’re up for bit of a walk or mini adventure, I highly recommend exploring a stretch of the Cap d’Antibes coastal path - the views are so stunning and the coves are quieter than the main beaches. You can walk there from Old Town or take a taxi closer to Billionaires Bay - one of my favourite spots on the whole trip. It was pretty busy when we arrived so I’d recommend getting there early to secure a sunbathing spot! Take a picnic with you, go for a swim and enjoy the slower pace here!
Day 4 - Nice
On the final day, I recommend staying local and spending more time enjoying Nice. You can start with a slow morning with breakfast at Brume or Clay Coffee - for great coffee, relaxed vibes, and a lovely place to sit and ease into the day. From there, take your time exploring some of the shops and streets around the Old Town.
Here are a few more Nice spots worth checking out:
Tresors Publics - a really charming boutique shop with locally made homeware, gifts, and souvenirs.
Flashback Secondhand or Caprice Vintage - a couple of great vintage shops if you're in the mood to browse and maybe find a one-of-a-kind piece to take home.
La Claque Coffee or Fournil Zielinska – both lovely coffee and bakery spots for an afternoon pick-me-up or a quick bite. Ideal for a relaxed final wander or if you’re waiting to head to the airport later on.
La Marjorel - a beautifully curated shop with a mix of clothing, accessories, and ceramics.
You can also spend some time walking the Promenade des Anglais or visiting Parc de la Colline du Château if you missed them earlier in the trip.
Extend your South of France itinerary
If you’re lucky enough to have an extra day or two, there are a few other nearby towns that you could add to your itinerary. I really wanted to visit Eze - a tiny hilltop village with incredible views over the coastline but didn’t get time to fit it in! It’s accessible by bus or Uber from Nice. Another great option is Cannes, which is just a short train ride away and offers a more glamorous feel with a lovely old town and sandy beaches.
If you have time, you could take a slightly longer journey to Saint-Tropez - best reached by ferry or car for a classic and glamorous French Riviera experience.
To summarise, my recommended 4-day South of France itinerary is as follows:
Day 1 - Nice
Day 2 - Villefranche Sur Mer
Day 3 - Antibes
Day 4 - Nice
