Road Trip along the French Riviera in 10 Days
Last Updated on 19 June, 2026 by Veronica
Thinking about driving the French Riviera? This is one of the most complete road trips you can do in the south of France: medieval villages, historic cities, the glamour of the Riviera, and mountain scenery, all in one itinerary.
Here’s the route we took, starting from Madrid — towns and cities along the French Riviera, what to see, where to stay, practical tips, and what we’d do differently. Ideal for planning without surprises.
Practical information before you go
Best time to go: June or September. July and August are busier and hotter, especially in Monaco, Cannes, and St Tropez. In June the weather is perfect and prices drop significantly.
Tolls: the south of France has a lot of toll roads. For a Madrid–French Riviera–back trip, budget around €80–120 total depending on the route. Card payment is accepted on every lane. If you’re driving through often, a télépéage badge (Sanef or similar) saves time, though not money.
Parking in Nice: your best bet is the Saleya parking in the old town or Parking Masséna (covered). Avoid driving along the Promenade des Anglais in high season — it’s chaos. Average rate: €2–3/hour, €15–20/day.
Parking in Monaco: the Casino parking (the most central spot) gives you the first hour free if you spend something at the casino or nearby shops. In high season, arrive before 10am. Public parking runs about €4/hour.
Where to stay on the French Riviera: book months in advance if you’re going in July-August. Nice is the most practical and affordable base for exploring the area. See accommodation on the French Riviera →
10-day French Riviera itinerary: overview
| Day | Stop |
|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid → Girona + Peratallada |
| 2 | Perpignan + Castelnou |
| 3 | Lagrasse + Carcassonne |
| 4 | Minerve + St Guilhem le Désert + Montpellier |
| 5 | Montpellier + Nîmes |
| 6 | Orange + Avignon |
| 7 | Marseille |
| 8 | St Tropez + Cannes |
| 9 | Nice |
| 10 | Monaco + St Agnès + Eze + Grasse + Les Baux de Provence |
Day 1 – Madrid › Girona › Peratallada
We left Madrid and spent the first night in Girona, where we also visited friends. If you haven’t been to Girona, it’s worth dedicating an afternoon to it: the Jewish Quarter, the medieval walls, and the Call neighborhood are among its must-sees. We cover it in detail in our Girona guide.
Peratallada is just over 30 km from Girona and is one of those villages that leaves you speechless. It feels like something out of a medieval novel: stone streets, arched houses, and a castle that dominates the village. We visited in the afternoon and had dinner right there — highly recommended.
See accommodation in Girona (the outskirts are cheaper and the drive to France is easy from there)
Day 2 – Perpignan › Castelnou
TOur first French stop: Perpignan. A very pleasant city to explore on foot, with a mix of Catalan and French influence that shows in its architecture and atmosphere.
Don’t miss:
- Casa Xanxo
- The Loge de Mer
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral
- The Castillet and Casa Pairal (museum of Catalan folk art and traditions)
- The city walls
20 km from Perpignan is Castelnou, a tiny village where time seems to have stopped. Cobbled lanes, a castle on the hill, and very few people. Take it slow and enjoy it.
Stay in Perpignan or in Carcassonne if you want to get ahead for the next day
Day 3 – Lagrasse › Carcassonne
Lagrasse is one of the official “most beautiful villages of France” (plus beaux villages de France) — and it earns the title. It’s surrounded by vineyards and hills, and the contrast when you enter the village is striking. Medieval architecture, an impressive abbey, and, if you’re not driving, a glass of local wine.
Carcassonne is different: big, imposing, with a walled citadel straight out of a fairy tale. It’s touristy — very touristy — but worth it. Our tip: get there early to avoid the crowds, and stay until sunset when the stone turns golden. The bridge over the Aude River is the best viewpoint.
Read more about Lagrasse and Carcassonne →
Day 4 – Minerve › St Guilhem le Désert › Montpellier
Minerve is one of those places you don’t expect and that leaves you speechless. The village sits in a natural canyon carved by the Brian River — as you approach by car you already sense something special, but the view from inside is on another level. There’s paid parking at the top of the village (cheap, around €3) and it’s a 3-minute walk from there.
St Guilhem le Désert was our favorite stop on this stretch. It sits in a green valley surrounded by mountains, with a peaceful vibe and medieval streets full of charm. A light drizzle, like we had, gives it an extra-special feel.
Montpellier: we arrived late, so we just had dinner and a short walk. Fair warning: it deserves more time than we gave it.
See the most beautiful villages of southern France →
Day 5 – Montpellier › Nîmes
We spent the whole morning in Montpellier and it still wasn’t enough. The city has great energy — university town, Mediterranean feel, lots of life on the streets. The must-sees:
- The historic center with its 17th- and 18th-century mansions
- Place de la Comédie
- The Arc de Triomphe
- Saint-Pierre Cathedral
- The modern Antigone district (designed by Ricardo Bofill)
- The narrow lanes of the Écusson
Our recommendation: at least a day and a half.
Nîmes is all about its Roman heritage. The Arènes amphitheater is the best-preserved Roman arena in the world, and the audio-guided visit takes about an hour — well worth it. Also visit the Maison Carrée, a perfectly preserved 1st-century temple, facing which Norman Foster built the Carré d’Art, a contemporary culture center, in 1993.
Day 6 – Orange › Avignon
Orange‘s star attraction is its Roman Theatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world — the audio-guided visit takes at least an hour. There’s also an Arc de Triomphe and a small museum of art and history.
Avignon deserved more time than we gave it. The City of the Popes, on the banks of the Rhône, was the capital of Christianity for nearly a century. The Palace of the Popes, the Saint-Bénézet Bridge (the bridge from the song), and the city walls are all UNESCO World Heritage. The historic center within the walls is lovely to wander through.
Full Avignon guide on Travel France Blog →
Day 7 – Marseille
With over 2,600 years of history, Marseille was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Give it at least two days if you can — if you only have one, pick what interests you most and don’t try to see everything.
Must-sees in Marseille:
- The fish market at the Vieux Port (mornings)
- The old port and the life around it
- Le Panier, the city’s oldest neighborhood
- Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica (the views from up there are incredible)
- ÃŽle d’If (from The Count of Monte Cristo)
- Les Goudes, for a quieter side of Marseille
- Calanques National Park, if you have time
In summer, the calanques are a must — turquoise water, accessible by boat from the port.
Everything to see in Marseille →
Day 8 – St Tropez › Cannes
St Tropez revolves around its harbor: colorful, lively, full of yachts of every kind and restaurants with terraces. We started there and then went up to the citadel for a panoramic view. It’s a city to look at more than to do — very photogenic.
Cannes has the Promenade de la Croisette, the bay, the Le Suquet neighborhood (the oldest and most authentic part), and the famous Palais des Festivals. If you go outside Film Festival season (May), the city is much calmer and more enjoyable.
Being honest: both are pretty, interesting cities, but not the ones we remember most fondly from the trip. France has places we find more compelling — though St Tropez outside of August has its charm.
What to see in St Tropez → | What to see in Cannes →
Day 9 – Nice
Nice wasn’t a priority when we planned the trip, and it turned out to be one of the best surprises. The city has a lot more personality than we expected — a mix of Italian architecture, Mediterranean atmosphere, and street life that’s hard not to love.
What not to miss in Nice:
- The old town (Vieille Ville) and its colorful lanes
- Place Masséna
- Cours Saleya Market (flowers and food, mornings)
- The Albert I Gardens
- Castle Hill for the views
- The Promenade des Anglais at sunset
- Nice Cathedral and St Nicholas Church (Orthodox)
- The Lascaris Palace
Nice is also the best logistical base for exploring the French Riviera: well connected, with a wider range of accommodation at better prices than Cannes or Monaco.
Day 10 – Monaco › St Agnès › Eze › Grasse › Les Baux de Provence
The final stretch of the road trip was our favorite overall, mostly because of the villages.
The route: we recommend doing it via Les Corniches — mountain roads with incredible views over the Mediterranean. On the way there, take the Basse Corniche (along the coast); on the way back, the Grande Corniche (from up high). You can’t go wrong, and the views are some of the best of the whole trip.
Monaco is exactly what you’d imagine: small, luxurious, and expensive. Walking the F1 circuit live was the biggest surprise — the chicanes and the tunnel on foot have a certain magic. The Casino de Monte-Carlo, La Condamine, and Le Rocher (old town) round out the stops. First hour of parking at the Casino is free. Get there early.
St Agnès is the highest inhabited village on the French Riviera (almost 800 meters) and you can see all the way to Corsica on a clear day. Very peaceful, very authentic.
Eze sits just below — a medieval village perched on a rock with absolutely extraordinary sea views. Go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds.
St Agnès and Eze: full guide →
Grasse is the world capital of perfume — this is where Grenouille, the protagonist of Perfume, comes to create his perfect fragrance. A medieval city dating back to the 7th century, with mansions, narrow lanes, and an imposing cathedral. Visit the Fragonard Museum (open until 6pm) and the International Perfume Museum.
Les Carrières de Lumières (Les Baux de Provence) was the perfect closing note. A 19th-century quarry turned into an immersive art space: works by renowned artists projected onto the rock walls, set to music. Genuinely impressive. When we went, the centerpiece was Hieronymus Bosch — the exhibit changes every year.
Plan your road trip through the south of France
Looking for more detail on specific stretches? Here are all the related guides:
- Most beautiful villages of southern France – Part 1
- Most beautiful villages of southern France – Part 2
- Visiting Nice in 1-2 days
- What to see in Marseille
- Driving the French Riviera Corniche route
- 4-day road trip through Alsace
- The most beautiful villages of the Dordogne Valley
See accommodation on the French Riviera for your dates →
Doing this road trip yourself? Tell us about it in the comments!
