5 Days In Provence Itinerary: My Ultimate Provence Road Trip For You

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Provence has a special place in my heart. From the first sounds of cicadas chirping to the charm of wandering through vibrant markets in quaint little towns, Provence is a place that sticks with you. 

I first visited this area of the world a few years ago and knew immediately that the short time I spent there was not enough. So, I extensively planned this 5 days in Provence itinerary to enjoy this place even more.

I added a road trip in Provence onto a trip to the Cote d’Azur for an amazing 2-week South of France trip (which I’ll definitely be writing about later). And let me tell you, coming back to Provence made me so happy. 

This place is full of sunshine, lavender fields in the summer, and olive groves. There are craggy mountains, hilltop villages, and beautiful culture and history. 

So if you want to spend 5 days in France, I’ve got the best itinerary for Provence that you’re going to love. 

What is Provence?

I talk about this in my 7-day South of France road trip article too. And the answer can be a little fuzzy. Provence is part of the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur region of France which borders the Mediterranean sea. 

However, while Provence is kind of looped in with the “South of France” including the Cote d’Azur, Provence itself is actually considered historically and even culturally different from the French Riviera. 

While the South of France conjures up images of beaches and cities like Nice, Antibes, and St Tropez, Provence is actually more hilltop villages and quaint cities like the villages of the Luberon, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, etc. 

In fact, just to drive from a place like Nice to St-Remy-de-Provence (where this itinerary begins) is about a 2.5+ hour drive! 

So, Provence is less beach clubs and vibrant coastal towns and more stunning countryside with lavender fields, olive groves, and delicious wine. 

5 Days in Provence, France Summary

This is a quick Provence, France road trip run-down for you. For more detailed information including where to stay, details on things to do/eat, etc. keep reading below! 

Day 1: Drive to Saint-Remy-de-Provence

• Arrive and wander the streets of Saint-Remy-de-Provence
• Visit Musee Estrine
• Explore Hotel de Sade
• Have drinks on a perfect terrace
• Dinner in Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Day 2: Saint-Remy-de-Provence

• Van Gogh Route
• Visit Saint-Paul de Mausole
• Explore the ruins at Glanum
• Admire Baux-de-Provence
• Dinner in St-Remy-de-Provence

Day 3: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to Avignon

• Go to the market at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
• Find unique antiques 
• Lunch at Au Chineur
• Go to Avignon and explore
• Dinner and drinks at La Salle a Manger

Day 4: Road Trip to Gordes via Lavender Fields

• Opt between Sault or the Luberon lavender fields and take photos OR just visit the Luberon villages (if visiting outside of the lavender season)
• End in Gordes
• Dinner at Le Mas

Day 5: Gordes

• Gordes Market
• Senanque Abbey
• Village des Bories
• Relax at your hotel
• Dinner at Le C

Day 6: Back to the Cote d’Azur

• Stop at Valensole Plateau
• Stop at Gorge du Verdon

5-Day Provence Road Trip Itinerary

Prepare for a sun-soaked, dreamy time as you road trip through Provence, France in this itinerary. 

I’ll note that this Provence itinerary focuses primarily on the Alpilles and Luberon areas of Provence versus the bigger towns like Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. We’ll be stopping in Avignon for a night during this trip, but Aix-en-Provence is too far south for this itinerary. 

So enjoy more of the smaller towns and countryside during your time in Provence!

And because of market days, for purposes of this Provence road trip itinerary, you’re going to want to start this on a Friday! 

Day 1: Drive to Saint-Remy-de-Provence

First things first you have to get to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. This all depends on where you flew into and/or are starting in France.

Saint-Remy-de-Provence is a smaller town and doesn’t have a train station. So, if you’re flying into a place like Paris, Nice, or Marseille, you could take a train to Avignon and rent a car from there.

Avignon does have a bus that goes to St-Remy-de-Provence, but, as this is a Provence road trip, you’ll need a car. 

I like checking OuiSNCF for trains and then AutoEurope for rental cars. 

Or, if you’re like me, I flew into Nice and spent the night here before going to the train station and renting a car. I was planning to end my trip in Nice anyway so it made sense. I ended up driving from the Nice train station to St-Remy-de-Provence and arrived around early afternoon. 

Either way, you’re going to drive to Saint-Remy-de-Provence and spend the remainder of your day in this adorable town in the Alpilles. 

Wander through the adorable town with stunning cream-colored buildings with lovely shutters, Sycamore-lined streets, and a ton of history. 

Saint-Remy-de-Provence is home to the ancient city of Glanum, the asylum where Van Gogh stayed and painted Starry Night, and was the birthplace of Nostradamus (you can even see a plaque dedicated to him at his birthplace). 

There are a couple of museums to visit during your time in St-Remy-de-Provence. The first is Musee Estrine. This museum has a Van Gogh interpretation center, but sadly, there are no Van Gogh pieces. While Van Gogh painted many works during his time in Saint-Remy, none are left in the village.

But the museum also has art from other painters as well as interesting temporary exhibitions. When I visited, they had a temporary exhibition about AI-created photography which was equal parts interesting and terrifying. 

It doesn’t take long to explore this little museum, and it is cool to see art from other artists who once lived in Saint-Remy for a time. 

After Musee Estrine, I recommend exploring Hotel de Sade. This former Renaissance mansion belonged to the Sade family before becoming a museum filled with artifacts that were uncovered during the excavation of Glanum down the road.

You’ll be visiting the ancient city of Glanum tomorrow, so this is a fun place to visit to learn more about the people who lived in Glanum, the tools they used, and even see former Gallo-Roman baths that were uncovered at this property in the 1940s. 

Pro-Tip: If you plan to see a lot of sights like Musee Estrine, Musee des Alpilles, Hotel de Sade, Glanum, and the Cloisters at Saint-Paul de Mausole, be sure to pick up the Pass Saint-Remy at whichever site you visit first. This will give you discounts on the remaining sites! 

After visiting these interesting museums and exploring the town, it is time for a drink. Thankfully, there are great places to grab a drink before dinner in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. 

The square where Musee des Alpilles and Hotel de Sade are located has plenty of little places to grab a drink. And Provence definitely makes delicious wine. So grab a glass of wine and sit outside on the terrace, which is nice and shady here, and enjoy your first evening in St-Remy.

After that, it is time for a delicious dinner. Thankfully, there is no shortage of great places to eat here. In fact, there are even a couple of Michelin-star restaurants in St-Remy-de-Provence. 

For a Michelin-star restaurant, you could splurge a bit for Restaurant de Tourrel, which specializes in local products, or L’Auberge de Saint-Remy Fanny Rey & Jonathan Wahid, which focuses on Haute French cuisine. 

Or, if you want to save a bit of money, opt for delicious spots like L’Aile ou la Cuisse or La Table d’Yvan. 

After that, it is time to call it a night! 

Where to Stay in Saint-Remy-de-Provence:

Le Petit Hotel: This is where I stayed, and it was so cute! It was right in the heart of town and easy to walk to everything. Plus, it had a nice pool for relaxing, a delightful patio area for breakfast, and the staff were so friendly. 

Book it here!

Hotel Villa Glanum & Spa: This is really close to both Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum as well as the ancient city of Glanum. However, it is within walking distance of the village as well. This place has a cute pool, spa, and bar to relax after a day of exploring. 

Book it here!

Le Chateau des Alpilles: This is a nice, 5-star hotel that is located a little outside the village itself. However, the road leading to the hotel is lined with Sycamores, and I know I’ve definitely seen photos/videos of this place on TikTok and Instagram. It is stunning. There is also a bar, restaurant, and a great pool. 

Book it here!

Day 2: Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Today, you’re going to embark on a walking adventure through some of Saint-Remy-de-Provence’s history. But first, breakfast. 

I had a delightful breakfast at my hotel, Le Petit Hotel. They served coffee, orange juice, eggs, fruits, yogurt, and more. It was perfect to fill me up for a day of exploring. 

After that, I was off to explore the Van Gogh Route. The Van Gogh Route starts in the heart of Saint-Remy and ends at the asylum where he spent a year called Saint-Paul de Mausole. Along the way, there are signs showing famous paintings of his and a description of the art and things going on in his life at the time. 

You could just walk along and do this all yourself, or you could get an audioguide at the Tourism Office. That is what I ended up doing, and it was really easy. It costs €3 to rent and you leave an ID behind, which you’ll get back when you return it (just be sure to return it by the time they close)!

From there, I walked to the various signs and learned more about Van Gogh, his art, his mental illness, and what led him to Saint-Remy. 

But the coolest part was that some signs literally show you the art he painted, and then you literally look up and can see the actual scene he saw when he was painting it! The biggest example of this was near the asylum at the sign of the Olive Trees. It was incredible to see the actual scene he painted in person! 

Anyway, the Van Gogh Route ends at the Saint-Paul de Mausole, where he lived and painted. This was a monastery and then was converted into a mental health institution. And part of the facility is a working mental health care center today!

But the area you’ll be visiting is for tourists and it is set up to look as it did when Van Gogh lived here. 

There are dorms, a kitchen, other rooms, and then Van Gogh’s rooms. Van Gogh had both a bedroom and a studio for working, and the bedroom overlooked the garden outside. It was here where he painted Starry Night.

During your visit here, you can also walk through the old cloisters which are lovely, as is the garden in the back, which had lavender when I visited. 

The pathway into the asylum is also flower-lined and has copies of Van Gogh’s work hung up as well as a statue of Van Gogh holding sunflowers. 

The whole place is well worth visiting and taking your time, as it is a beautiful spot. 

After that, though, you’re going to go back in time even further as you walk toward Glanum. 

Glanum is an ancient city that began somewhere around the 6th century BC. This city was made by the Salyens, a Gallic Celtic-Ligurian tribe, who created the town around a spring. Then, as trade increased with the Greeks, they had a lot of Greek influence in their town, especially in regard to their architecture.

After that, they were conquered by the Romans and this was a Roman city before being abandoned in 270 AD on account of Germanic invasions. 

It was all but lost to time and rumored to exist before it was rediscovered in 1921. 

Before it was rediscovered, it was buried under an olive orchard. So while Van Gogh was living next to Glanum, he didn’t even know it! 

Now this is a place where you can walk through the town, learn about its history, admire its architecture including evidence of Celtic, Greek, and Roman styles, and learn about the people who lived here. 

After going to Hotel de Sade the day before, it was nice to have some context to start. But I recommend getting an audioguide at the entrance. It was helpful to have a bit more context at what exactly I was looking at as it is a city in ruins. 

Just be sure to pack sunscreen while you’re here and lather it on- most of this place is in direct sunlight! 

And if you’re hungry before you visit, I recommend the cafe at Glanum. I had lunch here and it was surprisingly really good. 

After exploring the history of Van Gogh’s time in Saint-Remy-de-Provence and visiting the city of Glanum, head back into the city. 

And I recommend hopping in your car and driving about 20 minutes to the Viewpoint of Baux-de-Provence. Baux-de-Provence is a stunningly beautiful hilltop town in the area with a chateau. 

So even just going to the Viewpoint will give you amazing views of the city and surrounding area. 

And if you have the time/energy, you can go and visit Baux-de-Provence too. Here you can visit the Chateau des Baux-de-Provence, go wine tasting nearby, or head to the Carrieres des Lumieres. This is a place with multimedia art shows located in a former quarry. 

After time around Baux-de-Provence, head back to Saint-Remy-de-Provence for a relaxing evening and dinner before you continue on your Provence trip. 

Day 3: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to Avignon

Today, you’re back in the car and ready for an adventure in Provence! I want to point out that you’ll want to time your trip where this day falls on a Sunday. 

Because you’ll be driving about 35 minutes to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for market day! This place is honestly the cutest town. 

It is full of little canals and waterwheels as the La Sorgue River flows through the town. And the market is set up all over the town but it is particularly charming along the canals! 

One thing to point out, though, is that you’ll want to get here at a good time for parking. The market typically opens around 7 am, but it doesn’t tend to get super crowded until 10 am. 

But if you want parking, you’ll want to show up at 9 am at the latest. I know, that isn’t super early, but it is a good idea to show up just before 9 am to get good parking in town and not have to park super far away. 

I got in just before 9 am and was able to find plenty of parking at the train station here. However, it fills up so quickly! 

Once you’re in town, I recommend grabbing a coffee and a croissant or something at a bakery. Because shopping on an empty stomach isn’t a great idea, trust me. 

After a quick coffee, it is time to shop! The market here consists of over 300 stands so you’ll find anything from fresh fruits and veggies to cheeses, lavender, lavender products, olive and olive products, baked goods, and even things like clothes, straw market bags, jewelry, and more. 

Many shops are also open and spill out into the market too selling clothes and bags.

I actually purchased my straw market bag while at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue! 

Pro-tip for market bag shopping: It helps to be a little discerning. There are bags that only cost between €10-15 and all look alike. Chances are those are mass-made. Look, if you want a cheap and cute market bag, that is totally fine! But if you want something that’ll be a great piece to use over and over, it helps to find more unique pieces that aren’t mass produced and may cost a little more. 

My bag was around €50 and I absolutely love it! It has nice leather straps on it and was perfect for my trip and for the beach later on. I ended up purchasing it at a shop along the market.

I also purchased a few things to snack on (like delicious black cherries) as well as an olive wood spatula. There are some great finds if you just wander around the market. 

And, aside from the market itself, there are plenty of places to purchase antiques! There are antique shops everywhere, and some are even along the canals, making it all the more charming. So if you want to shop for unique antique pieces, you can do that here too! 

Antique shops sell anything from vintage furniture and artwork to random garden supplies and textiles. 

Once you’re finished shopping, be sure to make lunch reservations along the canal at Au Chineur. This place was fantastic and super fresh. I loved the tomato and mozzarella salad as well as the ribs with polenta. 

After lunchtime, it is a good idea to head to Avignon for the remainder of the day. It is only about a 40 minute drive from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Avignon is a really cool city to explore between the Pope’s Palace (where the popes lived between 1309-1377), the iconic Pont d’Avignon (a Medieval bridge over the Rhone River), and many charming squares. 

Depending on when you arrive, you could go explore the Pope’s Palace and/or the Pont d’Avignon. And depending on what time of year you’re here, you may be in town for the Festival d’Avignon. 

This occurs during the month of July and is a big art and cultural festival, kind of like the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. 

There are street performers and tons of events both free and paid to attend. You can book several events online here! 

On my recent visit during this Provence road trip, I was there during the Festival d’Avignon, and ended up running into someone who was passing out flyers for a play, so I went. It was great and a fun way to enjoy the festival! There were also so many great street performers doing anything from singing and dancing to acrobatics and more! 

Even if you visit Avignon outside of the festival, it is a great place to go. My first visit here was in September and I loved it then! I have a whole guide on spending a day in Avignon here! 

Anyway, so take the time to enjoy Avignon and have dinner at La Mirande hotel at La Salle a Manger. 

While this hotel has a fancy Michelin-star restaurant, I really like the more affordable La Salle a Manger restaurant. I went here on my first visit to Avignon and loved the aesthetic (it felt like dining at Downton Abbey!). Plus, you can grab a drink at the bar afterward which is equally as beautiful. 

After that, it is time to get a good night’s sleep! 

Where to Stay in Avignon:

This Airbnb: This is where I stayed on my first visit, and it was great! This place is an apartment in Avignon with a bedroom, bathroom (with laundry), and a great kitchen and living room. 

Book it here!

Aux Augustins: This boutique hotel is in the city center and built on a former Augustinian monastery and church. It has a great mix of historic influence with modern amenities. 

Book it here!

La Mirande: This is a 5-star hotel, and this is actually where I stayed during this visit to Avignon. After having dinner here a couple of years ago, I fell in love and knew I wanted to come back to stay. It did not disappoint. I had views overlooking the Pope’s Palace, the room was super cute and charming complete with a bathtub and shower, and it was an overall lovely stay. I also loved their breakfast spread (albeit a bit pricey) and their tea service. 

Book it here!

Day 4: Road Trip to Gordes Via Lavender Fields

Now this part of your road trip through Provence, France can go 1 of 2 ways. If you’re here during the lavender season, you can choose to explore the lavender fields of the Luberon or up near Sault and end in Gordes for the evening. 

If you choose to visit outside of the lavender season, you could use this day to just explore the many villages of the Luberon and end in Gordes. 

During this road trip, I was here for the lavender fields! However, it was mid-July at this point. Which means most of the fields were harvested in the Luberon. So I decided to go up to Sault where they harvest a little later and checked out those lavender fields. 

It did NOT disappoint. I got so lucky because it was mid-July and while I was there the tractors had started to harvest. But so many fields were still full of lavender, perfect for many photo ops! 

I even happened upon a beautiful field with a mountain in the background. It was so stunning I had to take a bunch of photos and videos here! 

Most of the Sault lavender fields are near the town of Sault itself, so you can drive there and find a bunch. However, I will write a full guide about Sault lavender fields so you can even have my GPS coordinates of the fields for your trip soon! 

However, if you’re here earlier in July, you can likely see many lovely lavender fields in the Luberon! So that means you can just drive around the villages of the Luberon and spot some stunning fields! 

Either way, be prepared for stunning fields and the smells are honestly incredible. 

Now, the other option is to just explore the villages of the Luberon if you’re here outside of lavender season. 

During my South of France road trip a couple of years ago, we spent a day exploring the Luberon and loved places like Roussillon for the Ochre Trail, Bonnieux for wine tasting, Lourmarin for its beautiful views of olive and fruit orchards and the Medieval and Renaissance castle, and Cucuron for its stunning water basin lined with restaurants and towering trees. 

I also like Oppede-le-Vieux for its iconic preserved Medieval city. These are all great places to potentially visit. Then, you’ll end in Gordes for the evening. 

Once you’re in Gordes, you can check into your hotel and then head to dinner that evening. I recommend making reservations at Le Mas.

This farm-to-table restaurant sits in a little courtyard under several trees outside of Gordes and is just stunning. Here I got the tasting menu with some wine and had a delightful evening under the trees as the sun went down. 

After an incredible dinner at Le Mas, it is time to head back to your hotel for bed.

Where to Stay in Gordes:

Le Verger Guesthouse: I stayed here during my recent visit and loved it! Now it is a guesthouse outside of the main hilltop city of Gordes, but it was no less adorable. It abuts an olive orchard and the views of it and sounds of the cicadas here were incredible. Plus, the rooms here were lovely with either a terrace or balcony, the breakfast is absolutely delicious, Daniele (the host) is so friendly and kind, and the pool was honestly perfect on the second day after exploring in the heat. 

Book it here!

La Borie en Provence: This is another guesthouse just outside of town with cute rooms, gorgeous views, and a stunning pool. This is also a bed and breakfast full of charm.

Book it here!

Airelles Gordes, La Bastide: This 5-star hotel is located in the hilltop village part of Gordes and is stunning. This place feels like you’re staying in a castle complete with gorgeous rooms with views, a spa, a couple of restaurants and a bar, and a perfect swimming pool.

Book it here!

Day 5: Gordes

For your last full day in Provence, you’ll be exploring Gordes and the surrounding area. And again, if you time your trip as I suggest above, today will be a Tuesday which is Gordes market day! 

So you’re going to be going to the Gordes Market. Gordes Market is open on Tuesday mornings from 8 am-1 pm. 

My earlier suggestion of arriving early for parking still applies, especially if you’re staying outside of the main hilltop village part of town. Now, there are some pricier hotels in the village itself, and if you’re staying there you can show up at any time the market is open. 

But if you’re not, like I wasn’t, you’ll want to arrive before 9 am for parking. Luckily, there is a large parking lot at Place de la Charles de Gualle. So get here before 9 am and you can find parking and enjoy the market. 

Before you go, however, you’ll want to enjoy some delicious breakfast at your hotel! 

Then, at the market, be sure to bring your market bag with you, as you’ll definitely want to buy some goodies here! 

Pro-tip: Get cash out before coming to the Gordes Market. There isn’t an ATM open during the market in the village, so you’ll have to go to a village nearby to get cash out (preferably the day before). Many vendors in this market do not accept credit cards so cash is necessary! 

Anyway, the market here is quite large and there are stands selling fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, lavender, soaps, art and photography, clothes, jewelry, olives, etc. I grabbed some tapenades while here as well as a cute photography print from a local photographer that I met at the market!

I also got an adorable bee bracelet. 

Take your time visiting this epic market and wandering around the town of Gordes as it is seriously so charming. The stone buildings are made even more enchanting with views of the nearby hills and valleys. 

After you’re finished with the market, you can head back to your car and drive to the iconic Gordes Lookout Point for a photo. This is on a hill across the way from Gordes and has a stunning view of the town on the hill. 

Then, you’re going to want to check out Senanque Abbey. This abbey has been around since 1148 AD when it was founded by Cistercian monks. 

It is still a working abbey, and you can actually go inside and visit it with a fun histopad. A histopad looks like an iPad but you can hover it over things to see how it looked back in time and learn more information about the rooms you’re in. 

This place is gorgeous to visit year-round, but during the lavender season, it is even better. I’ve actually been here twice, and on my recent visit I was lucky enough to see it surrounded by lavender fields. 

Many fields are actually blocked off from visitors to walk through, but there are a few little fields you can take pictures in too. But this gives you a chance to see the abbey with pristine lavender in front of it with nobody in your photo or view. 

I will say that this time around, it was much more crowded and parking was so hard to find than it was when I went in September a couple of years ago. It was practically empty then. So be patient as parking can be tough and there will be a lot of people if you’re here during lavender season. 

After visiting Senanque Abbey, I recommend learning more about the history of the area by visiting the Village des Bories. This is an open-air museum full of bories, or little stone huts, where farmers would live and store farming implements as well as house animals while working in the area. 

It is really cool place to wander around and learn more about how bories were used in Provence, and there is an exhibit discussing borie-like structures used all over the world! 

Pro-Tip: Parking for the Bories is past the parking off the road. Just turn where the sign says to and follow the signs for the Bories until you find the actual parking.

Once you’ve explored the Village des Bories, I actually recommend taking time to relax at your hotel. 

You can break into some of the goodies you purchased at the market like olives or tapenade and perhaps purchase a bottle of wine on the way back to the hotel to enjoy a nice late lunch by the pool here.

Honestly, when I went in July it was so hot that I was incredibly thankful to just sit by the pool and unwind. You’ve seen a lot during this 5-day Provence itinerary. 

However, if you do not want to just relax by the pool, you can also opt to check out more of the nearby villages of the Luberon if you haven’t done that already the day before. I recommend Roussillon, particularly for its unique ochre trail and colorful buildings! 

Also nearby is Oppede-le-Vieux with its historic ruins and church on the top of the hill with great views of the Luberon Valley. 

But if you’re like me, it is totally fine to just chill by the pool with some baguette, a little tapenade, and some wine to unwind after exploring Provence. 

Then, for dinner that evening, make reservations for Restaurant Le C. This place specializes in homemade and traditional cuisine with products mostly from this region. They had stuffed zucchini flowers when I went as well as delicious seafood and a killer olive tapenade. 

After that lovely meal, you can head to bed.

Day 6: Back to the Cote d’Azur

This day is completely optional, but if you’re driving to the Cote d’Azur after your 5 days in Provence road trip, this is a great way to spend the day. 

When I visited, I drove back to the Cote d’Azur and ended in Grasse. 

This is a great day for some sightseeing on the way back down to the French Riviera. 

And I recommend going to the Valensole Plateau. Now I only really recommend doing this during lavender season. If you’re visiting outside of the lavender season, then you can probably skip this. 

But if you’re here during the lavender season, then Valensole is a must-visit. This place has some of the most picturesque lavender fields I’ve ever seen, especially the ones with mountains in the background! 

Now, if you’re crazy like me and want to go for sunrise, you’ll be in for a super early day. I ended up leaving my hotel at 4:15 in the morning to get there just before sunrise at 6 am. The Valensole plateau is about an hour and a half away from Gordes. 

You do not need to do this at all, but I really enjoyed watching the sunrise over the mountains and honestly, the lighting was incredible! 

However, you can also just visit to see the lavender fields in Valensole and then be on your way. I’ll be writing a whole other article just about the lavender fields in Valensole with GPS coordinates and everything so stay tuned!

After Valensole, I also recommend stopping by Gorge du Verdon for iconic photos or even a chance to swim or rent a paddleboat in the canyon! To rent paddleboats and take photos of the canyon, you’ll want to park next to Pont du Galetas. The famous photo spot of Gorge du Verdon is on this bridge. 

Then, after these big stops on this long day, you can head to wherever you’re going next. For me, that was to Grasse, the Perfume Capital of the World, to start my 1 week journey through the Cote d’Azur. 

This wraps up your amazing Provence road trip including visits to Saint-Remy-de-Provence, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Avignon, and Gordes. 

5 Days in Provence Map

How to Get Around Provence

I will say that the easiest way to get around Provence is with a car. I like checking out rental car prices on AutoEurope. Just be sure to budget for things like parking, tolls, etc., which can really add up. 

Also, it helps to familiarize yourself with local driving laws before your visit. I like this article to refresh my memory before driving in France and this one for French road signs. 

It is also useful to have an International Driving Permit. I got this at AAA here in the US. 

While having a car is great for convenience in Provence, there are other options if you choose not to do this. 

The first would be to base yourself in Avignon and take day trips. You could take the bus from Avignon to Saint-Remy-de-Provence for a day. 

But there are other day trip ideas you could take from here like:

• Best of the Luberon in an Afternoon
• Full Day Luberon Tour
• Provence in One Day From Avignon
• E-Bike Tour of the Luberon
• Essence of Provence including Avignon, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Baux-de-Provence, and Arles
• In the Footsteps of Van Gogh From Avignon
• Chateauneuf-de-Pape Wine Tasting from Avignon

There is also the option of visiting places like L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Cavaillon via train. Check train times/prices on OuiSNCF. 

When to Visit Provence

Honestly, you could visit Provence year-round. I will note that some places do close down in the winter months, though. So if you visit in the winter, you may have to research hotels and restaurants well ahead of time to figure out what is open. 

And if you’re coming for a certain event or thing, such as the Festival d’Avignon or the lavender fields, then you’ll want to time your visit accordingly. For example, the lavender fields tend to be in bloom in this area in early July and begin being harvested by mid-July. 

This changes yearly based on the weather, but you get the idea. Also, the Festival d’Avignon is in July. 

But if you just want to visit Provence for fun, then I’d opt out of the more crowded and very hot summer months. Instead, opt for April-May and September-October for fewer crowds and better weather. 

Other Tips For Visiting Provence

Before you head to Provence for a road trip getaway, here are some helpful things to know!

1. Parking. The cities and towns have parking, but you may need to get there early (especially on market days) to get a spot. I will note that many parking spots that aren’t in a garage are payable via app. In Gordes, the ParkMobile App was widely used and I found myself using this app a lot while in the South of France. Note that in some other towns, like L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, you just pay at the pay station.
2. Sunscreen is necessary! With 300 days of sunshine a year, the sun shines brightly here. Wearing sunscreen and having sun protection is necessary including sunglasses and/or hats. You can bring your own sunscreen or honestly get a bunch at a French pharmacy! I love La Roche-Posay sunscreen!
3. Learn a little French. While you’ll likely be fine in more touristy spots like Gordes and Avignon, there will be times when it helps to know a few phrases. It also is just nice to learn a few keywords/phrases ahead of time. I have a guide to 17 useful French words/phrases.
4. Always say “Bonjour/Bonsoir.” When you enter in a shop, or have any kind of interaction with someone, it is important to start with “bonjour” or “bonsoir.” It is considered rude not to. I typically start saying “bonsoir” around 5 pm or just closer to sunset depending on the time of year. 
5. Always have cash on you. There are many places, especially at markets, where credit cards won’t be accepted. Just have cash on you regardless so you can pay and enjoy the markets and such. 
6. Enjoy the local products. Some of my favorite French markets are in Provence. Why? Because I love all the great products made here! There are lavender products including soaps and oils, spices, fresh fruits (if you have the chance to try a melon from Cavaillon-do it!), other scented soaps, olives, tapenades, olive oils, olive wood products, and more! Plus the veggies are so good! 
7. Enjoy the relaxed pace. Life moves a little slower in Provence. You’re not in the city anymore and it just feels nice to take your time. Linger over your coffee, wander through markets, and enjoy the slower pace of life! 

This is the ultimate 5-day Provence itinerary and guide. I hope after your trip to Provence you’ll fall head over heels with this place like I did! Between the chirping sounds of cicadas to the vibrant markets, you’ll defintely find something to love here. 

Would you like to visit Provence? What would you like to see? 

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