How To Plan A Sublime South Of France Vacation, According To Insiders
The South of France never loses its appeal – from charming villages to beguiling beaches and utterly spectacular hotels. Here, three travel insiders – from some of the region’s most outstanding hotels – with an expert knowledge share their secrets for a South of France experience like no other. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Lucie Weill, owner of Lily of the Valley
My favorite spot in the South of France…
My heart will always belong to Saint-Tropez peninsula. It’s where I spent every summer growing up and where four generations of my family have created memories. One of my favorite spots is the wild and peaceful beach of Gigaro, just a few steps from Lily of the Valley. It’s untouched, intimate and framed by the protected Cap Lardier reserve. It’s the kind of place that stays with you.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience…
Go out of season. Lily of the Valley is open all year round, so you can come when the light softens, the crowds vanish and the rhythm of life returns to something beautifully authentic. Wake up to the scent of pine and salt air, hike along the coastal paths and reconnect with yourself.
The local delicacies to try…
Start with a glass of chilled rosé from Château Minuty or Domaine de la Madrague – wines that truly capture the terroir of the peninsula. For food, I love the simplicity of a Provençal vegetable tian or freshly grilled spiny lobster. And, of course, you can’t leave without tasting a real tarte tropézienne. For a quieter side of Saint-Tropez, the restaurants at Lily of the Valley serve refined, seasonal cuisine, designed to nourish both body and soul.
To see the best views…
The Sentier des Douaniers, or Customs Officers’ Path, is just minutes from Lily of the Valley. This hidden coastal trail is only accessible by foot, which means it remains beautifully preserved and peaceful year-round. As you walk along its winding path, suspended between land and sea, you’ll discover secret coves, untouched Mediterranean flora and sweeping views over the turquoise waters of the Riviera. It’s one of the rare places where the Côte d’Azur still feels wild – where nature, silence and beauty reign.
Something that only insiders know…
Saint-Tropez has a secret rhythm that only reveals itself if you’re patient. The real charm isn’t in the beach clubs or the parties – it’s in the morning markets, the artisans in Ramatuelle and the quiet coves you reach by foot. Also, locals know that the best swims happen in November, when the sea is still warm and the beaches are yours alone.
Why is there such an enduring love of the South of France?
It’s a place where time slows down. The South of France offers a rare blend of natural beauty, heritage, elegance and sensuality. The light, the scent of the maquis, the food, the art of living: it speaks to all of the senses. And once it touches you, it never really lets you go.
Valérie Muller, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Château Saint-Martin & Spa
My favorite places in the South of France…
The Lérins Islands (Saint-Honorat and Sainte-Marguerite), Porquerolles island, and Gorges du Verdon.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience…
View the coast on a boat trip to enjoy the iconic landscape and see the beautiful private houses perched on the rocks. You should also visit the countryside villages of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Eze.
The local delicacies to eat and drink while you’re there…
Try tarte tropézienne in Saint-Tropez; les farcis [stuffed vegetables] in Nice, as well as salade niçoise and bouillabaisse. And drink a Pastis while playing a game of boules.
To see the best views…
The best views are from Château Saint-Martin & Spa in the stunning French countryside in Vence, including phenomenal 180-degree views over the Mediterranean. And also the Fort Carré [a 16th-century fort] in Antibes.
Why do you think there is such an enduring love of the South of France?
I would say the historical side of the region with hundreds of medieval villages, the proximity between the Mediterranean Sea and beauty of the countryside, and the thousands of local artisans. Renowned artists have long been writing, painting and creating after being inspired by the area: F. Scott Fitzgerald with Tender Is The Night, Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Slim Aarons, Stefan Zweig, and many others.
To see the best views in the South of France…
Head to Vence, specifically the restaurant Le Saint-Martin at the Château Saint-Martin & Spa.
Something only insiders know about is…
Les beignets de poutine – the poutine is a small fish caught in the waters of Nice. There are very few of them because fishing is limited. Also les oursinades: the sea urchin is in the spotlight in March and April, so this is the time to organize a sea-urchin lunch with friends.
Why is there such an enduring love of the South of France?
Its blue sky, its unique light, its proximity to the sea and the feeling of freedom that you can feel in front of its nature… You can experience the dolce vita: with its sunsets, its villages illuminated on summer evenings, the music on every street corner… you can let yourself stroll. Life is smooth in the South.
“The Cap d’Antibes is still the jewel in the crown of Antibes, with its wild side and magnificent views over the Mediterranean Sea
”
Kimberley Cohen, co-owner and artistic director of Hôtel Crillon Le Brave
My very favorite spot in the South of France…
Le Bistrot de L’Oustalet, in Gigondas. It’s such a delicious restaurant.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience…
Go vintage-furniture shopping at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, rent a classic car, and see the lavender fields.
“There is this je ne sais quoi… the scent, the light, the noise of the cicadas, the food, the wine. It is like time stops and allows you to refill your batteries
”
The local delicacies to eat and drink while you’re there…
Drink pastis or rosé, and eat a pissaladière [flatbread with anchovies] and a beignet de courgette [zucchini fritter] – and la fougasse [Provençal bread], of course.
To see the best views in the South of France…
At Hôtel Crillon Le Brave, you’ll see a beautiful view of the valley of Ventoux, facing the vineyards from the rooms or our two restaurants: the bistronomic La Table du Ventoux and gastronomic La Madeleine.
Something that only insiders know is…
The wonderful Synagogue de Carpentras – a monument not to be missed.
Why is there such an enduring love of the South of France?
There is this je ne sais quoi… the scent, the light, the noise of the cicadas, the food, the wine. It is like time stops and allows you to refill your batteries.