Road trip in the south of France along the Mediterranean

We're taking you on a road trip in the south of France along the Mediterranean. From the Calanques of Piana in South Corsica to the Estérel Massif, from the Croisette in Cannes to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, from the paradisiacal beaches of the Hyères islands to the wild beauty of the Camargue, this spring trip in search of the most beautiful coastlines and islands in the south of France will have lived up to all its promises.

In this post of our travel blog OneDayOneTravel, you will find our complete itinerary as well as all the stages with our stories and lots of practical advice to help you organise your road trip in the south of France along the Mediterranean.

1. West Corsica: Visit Corsica between sea and mountains

2. Visit Nice and explore the French Riviera

3. Visit Cannes between urban exploration and nature escapades

4. Staying in the Esterel massif and the Pays de Fayence

5. Staying in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez

6. The islands of Hyères, 3 dream islands to explore

7. The Camargue, the wild side of southern France

Once again, travelling in France proves thatyou don't necessarily have to go to the other side of the world to be transported to distant and exotic lands.

Visiting France in the spring has become a habit for several years. We love to go for several weeks on the roads of France with a different theme. Last year, we had privileged the interior of the Hexagon by making a magnificent road trip from Paris passing by Chartres, the Tarnthe Camargue, the Luberon, the Franche-ComtéAlsace, Lille and the Somme. This year, our playground is in the south-east of France along the Mediterranean.

Without following in our footsteps, you can pick up a few good ideas here, depending on which stage inspires you the most. Finally, you should know that we have tried to get off the beaten track on each stage.

1. West Corsica: Visit Corsica between sea and mountains

It all starts in South Corsica, which we are particularly fond of. 2 years ago we celebrated spring in Ajaccio here by exploring the bay and the surrounding villages.

This time we put our bags in a beautiful Airbnb for the first 2 days. Our accommodation is located in the heights, in Afa. It's an opportunity to overlook the whole Gulf of Ajaccio from the pool and to recharge our batteries before exploring the lesser-known region a little further north, known as West Corsica, during our one-week road trip.

Join Airbnb and get a 25€ discount on your first stay of a minimum of 65€!

A region where nature is king, where the creeks and the beaches rub shoulders with the perched mountain villages, where traditions endure and the inhabitants are more than friendly.

During the Easter week, we also experienced some very emotional moments. We tell you all about it in our dedicated article.

Stay in West Corsica

2. Visit Nice and explore the French Riviera on a road trip in the south of France

After a short flight from Ajaccio, we land at Nice airport. We rented our car, a compact T-Roc Volgswagen crossover, at theSixt agency at Nice airport. As usual, the reception was very nice, fast and efficient, and the car had very few kilometres on the clock.

For our first days on the French Riviera, we start with a visit of Nice, between its historical centre with its flower market cours Saleya and of course the famous Promenade des Anglais. But Nice is too busy for us, especially after a stay in the authentic Corsica. So we quickly escape to the surrounding area. Our favourites: the perched village of Eze and, on the coast, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with its creeks and its coastal path that transports us elsewhere.

We therefore decided to sleep in a quieter place in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, at theBest Western Journel Saint-Laurent-du-Var hotel to be exact. An establishment which opened very recently. Everything is clean, modern and very well thought out. Parking and breakfast are optional. We even had the right to a balcony with a view of the Alps with their still snow-covered peaks. It was so beautiful. It was so beautiful that we forgot to take pictures of the room. Around 100€/night for a double room.

In the evening, we like to go to the marina of Saint-Laurent-du-Var and try out a new address every night.

3. Visit Cannes between urban exploration and nature escapades on a road trip in the south of France

3.1. The must-sees in Cannes

Continuing westwards, we reach the city of cinema, Cannes. This theme really sticks with us! We were in Los Angeles only 6 months ago, a city that we also love and that we were able to find during a road trip in the American West.

We all know Cannes for its Croisette and its Festival, but the city has other facets that we revealed live on our Instagram stories. Here is a summary of what you should not miss.

The visit to Cannes starts on the Croisette, the famous seaside promenade. With an ice cream in your hand, your eyes shine in front of the city's historic hotels and their private beaches. We always imagine that we'll meet Leonardo or Georges as we approach the steps of the Palais des Festivals.

Continuing our walk, we walk along the harbour with its local fishermen in the first line, followed by some of the most beautiful yachts that one can admire on the French Riviera. We reach the departure point of the shuttle buses to the Lérins islands. This is also where you can enjoy, from the rooftop of the Radisson Blu rooftop, you can enjoy the most beautiful view of Cannes. We advise you to come and enjoy a delicious cocktail at sunset. A must when visiting Cannes!

You can't visit Cannes without passing by the rue Meynadier, which is home to numerous restaurants and shops, making a diversion to the Forville market, then taking the rue de la Boucherie to start the visit of the picturesque and pedestrianised Suquet district.

Le Suquet is the hill that dominates Cannes and above all where it all began at the time of the Saracens. Don't forget to get lost in the cobbled streets of the medieval village and admire the facades of the historic buildings. Go up to the entrance of the castle to enjoy the most beautiful view of Cannes and the Croisette. Climbing to the top of its tower, you won't be able to go any higher ^^

There are of course many other visits and activities to do in Cannes but as we said in the preamble, we want to focus this road trip in the south of France on the islands. Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat islands are perfect examples of not so well known islands that we really want to introduce you to. When we were in Cannes for the first time, we didn't even notice their presence. And yet, they deserve to be discovered. The proof is in the following.

3.2 Cannes, more unusual and more natural: The Lerins Islands

3.2.1. Visit the island of Sainte-Marguerite

In this article, we have the impression of revealing the best kept secret of the Côte d'Azur when talking about Sainte-Margueritee.The island is covered in pine and eucalyptus trees, bordered by an azure blue sea and where time seems to have stopped.

The island, which can be visited on foot, awakens all our senses. We love the path that allows you to walk around it, but also the majestic alleys that cross the island from one side to the other.

We start our day by heading west, through a reserve for fauna and flora, the Batéguier pond. As we go around it, we go along a wild and preserved coastline ideal for picnics with a view of Cannes.

We then take the "chemin de la Ceinture" which allows us to explore the south of the island of Sainte-Marguerite. The seaside invites you to stop in the shade of a pine tree while enjoying the view of the neighbouring island of Saint-Honorat.

We reach the small port of the island of Sainte-Marguerite with our heads full of beautiful images along the eucalyptus path that crosses the island. Pleasant scents are still present.

3.2.2. Visit the island of Saint-Honorat

The island of Saint-Honorat is the second island that can be visited by day from Cannes. Easily accessible by river shuttle, this island has more heritage, a vineyard and even an abbey, a chapel and a fortified monastery that can be visited. Beautiful moments that punctuate the day.

We explore the island of Saint-Honorat with Florence, a greeter in love with her region. During the few hours we spent together, she takes the opportunity to give us all the keys to this fascinating island, which is also inhabited by monks. Monks who also produce high-quality wines. We were able to taste a glass by the sea at the restaurant La Tonnelle with our delicious dishes.

We are lucky enough to visit the Abbey of Lérins, a place that invites you to meditate and recharge your batteries. You can stay there to find yourself, to take stock of yourself in a timeless atmosphere. The church is open to the public. The mass times are indicated on the website of the abbey of Lérins.

The fortified monastery of Lérins Abbey is also a must-see on the island of Saint-Honorat. Located on the water, you can go on an adventure, like in a video game, to discover the different rooms of the monastery. The inner and upper cloisters are remarkable, as are all the breathtaking views and panoramas of the island of Saint-Honorat and the abbey on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.

Finally, the island is home to a small cemetery and a few chapels that have survived through history. Thanks to our Greeter, we were able to enter some of them, such as the Chapel of the Trinity of Cannes. Great moments.

The aerial shots you can see in this blog post were taken from a helicopter. This is actually an idea for an activity! Helicopter flight over La Croisette and the Lérins islands.

• More information on the official website of the Office de tourisme de Cannes

3.3 Where to sleep in Cannes?

• Sleeping at the hotel Le Verlaine in Cannes

For our first 2 nights in Cannes, we put our bags at the hotel Verlaine**** . The modern and totally restored establishment is located in a quiet area and 5 minutes walk from the Croisette.

The room is quite spacious and we like the bathroom. And this unusual impression of staying in the heart of the jungle! If the jungle is not your thing, you should know that all the rooms are unique and therefore with their own decoration.

As for breakfast, the buffet is a feast. You can choose to enjoy your coffee inside or under the large glass roof overlooking a small, exotic Mediterranean garden.

• Sleeping at Le Cavendish Hotel in Cannes

We spend our last two nights in Cannes in a listed Belle-Epoque building where we know what the phrase "luxury, elegance and the art of entertaining" means. The Palais des Festivals and the Croisette are only a 5 minute walk away from theLe Cavendish hotel, one of Cannes' institutions.

We are lucky enough to be welcomed by the hotel's management during this stay. In fact, here we are in a house that the owners take care of like an old lady. It is even touching. And it all starts with the lift we take to reach our room, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and reminds us of some Parisian lifts. A pearl in Cannes!

We enjoy the most beautiful room, a unique room in a unique establishment. The Rotonde room is spacious, inspiring and takes us back to the 19th century.

The little plus of the establishment: The snacks and aperitif offered at the end of the day. You really feel like you are part of the family at the Cavendish!

4. Staying in the Estérel Massif and the Pays de Fayence, a road trip in the south of France

From Cannes, we continue our road trip in the south of France along the Corniche d'Or. A scenic road of 51 km that crosses the Esterel massif to Saint-Raphaël, our next stop.

The next few days will give us the opportunity to show you that you should not stop at this sublime road. Indeed, the Estérel-Côte-d'Azur region, in addition to offering activities on the sea side, is also a source of resourcefulness on the land side with these perched villages of the Pays de Fayence.

4.1 Exploring the Esterel massif

We continue our road trip in the south of France and along the Mediterranean with the twin territory of the Calanques de Piana in western Corsica, the Estérel massif. And yes, these 2 grandiose sites are in fact the result of the same massif which split off 250 million years ago.

To begin this trip, we take the scenic route of the Corniche d'Or, the most beautiful in the south of France. Indeed, admiring the red cliffs of the massif and plunging into a sea with soft turquoise reflections leave you speechless and you want to stop at every turn.

And you can enjoy these magnificent landscapes on foot, by car, by boat and even by helicopter! We tell you more in the dedicated article.

Staying in Esterel-Côte d'Azur

4.2. Visit the Pays de Fayence

After the coast, you have the chance to enjoy the hinterland of the Esterel between the authentic and perched villages of Callian, Seillans and Fayence.

On the nature side, it is the Saint-Cassien lake which allowed us to recharge our batteries, but we must admit that the region is so vast that we are far from having seen everything! It is also in the Pays de Fayence that Richard tested paramotoring for the first time.

Callian is our favourite village in the Pays de Fayence. Built in a spiral around its medieval castle, the perched village can be visited under different themes, which we will talk about in the dedicated article.

Visit Callian, Seillans and Fayence

5. Staying in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez on a road trip in the south of France

After all these adventures and kilometres covered in a road trip in the south of France, we put our bags down for a few days in a villa in Sainte-Maxime managed by Madame Vacances, at Les Restanques du carré Beauchêne.

The swimming pool was barely filled, so we couldn't resist taking a dip and enjoying our breakfast under the sun. It must be said that after a hellish winter and a timid start to spring, what a joy to feel summer coming!

As far as visits are concerned, we can't help but pass by Saint-Tropez, its port, its historic centre and of course its mythical gendarmerie. The port of Saint-Tropez at sunset, where small fishermen's boats rub shoulders with the huge yachts of billionaires, remains a mythical scene. Don't hesitate to have a drink on the terrace or to dine in one of the restaurants in the port to enjoy it longer.

And to think that in another life, we were doughnut sellers on the beaches of Pampelonne located a few kilometres away. As students, this summer job had allowed us to spend a few weeks of holiday in the region. Good memories.

For the amateurs of perched villages, we advise you a visit of the village of Grimaud between its impressive castle and the beautiful points of view on the gulf of Saint-Tropez which it makes it possible to benefit from since its ruins.

6. The Hyères islands, 3 dream islands to explore

Bermuda, Philippines, Bahamas, Thailand? No, welcome to the Golden Islands, off the coast of Hyères in the Var. It is very easy to get there by river shuttle with the Tlv-Tvm company.

Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant, 3 heavenly islands that are really in France!

Each of the 3 islands that make up the archipelago has its own personality and it would have been a pity to stop only at the best-known, Porquerolles , which nevertheless has the most beautiful beaches...

6.1. Porquerolles, the most paradisiacal island of Hyères

We only spent one day on Porquerolles to explore some of its splendid beaches by renting a mountain bike at the port. Our favourite is the perfectly proportioned Plage d'Argent with its soft white sand.

The rest of our day of exploration is in our article dedicated to thePorquerolles Island.

6.2. Port-Cros island, the wildest island of the Hyères islands

It is the wild side of Port-Cros that we will remember and its hiking trails in the heart of a preserved nature offering sumptuous viewpoints on a turquoise sea which has nothing to envy to the Caribbean islands orSoutheast Asia.

Except for the water temperature if you come like us in spring! In our article dedicated to the Hyères islandsyou will find our stories and a lot of practical information to explore the island of Port-Cros.

6.3. Staying on Levant Island, the most bohemian of the Hyères islands

Far from the clichés that we may have of Le Levant Island, we will remember its gentle tranquillity, its bohemian atmosphere that we discover in the simplest of ways. Here, no one is judged and tolerance is the rule. Naturism, on the Ile du Levant, is a philosophy of life, a way of communing with Nature. More information on a stay like no other in our article dedicated to the Levant Island.

If you wish to discover Le Levant and the islands of Hyères more widely, we advise you to come in the off-season. Especially avoid the peak of the summer season when these fragile paradises are already being put to the test.

More information in our dedicated article:

Which island of Hyères to choose? Porquerolles, Port-Cros or Le Levant?

7. The Camargue, the wild stage of the road trip in the south of France

The Camargue is the destination where we enjoy the last days of our road trip in the South of France along the Mediterranean. We already know this wild region well, but we always find new tracks, new hiking trails as many opportunities to admire Nature, with as a highlight the pink flamingos.

This year, we put down our bags in one of the bungalows of the Yelloh Village Les Petits Camarguais. We like its location just a stone's throw from the Espiguette beach.

Last year, the Camargue was also a stage of our spring road trip in France. We tested thehome exchange with Home Exchange. A good plan to travel for cheap. It was also the occasion to meet a beautiful manade and its bulls seen from very close.

To conclude this road trip in the south of France along the Mediterranean,

This road trip in the south of France in spring will once again give us the opportunity to live new experiences in dream settings along the Mediterranean Sea but also to meet very nice people. Between cities and nature, there is no lack of activities and visits, whether on land or sea, in the air or in the water.

Would you like to return to these beautiful parts of France? Yes, and why not in the autumn?