How to Plan a Road Trip in the South of France
Planning a road trip to the South of France, but stuck on how to get started? I have gathered a comprehensive guide on all the best places to visit in Southern France. In this guide you will find everything you need to know before getting started.
Prepare your car for a road trip in France
When & Where to visit
Best Routes for South of France
Everything you Need for your Road Trip
If you want to drive in France, you will need to adhere to quite a few rules. The country has one of the most extensive rules and requirements for foreigners to drive. I have listed some of the most important ones.
General Rules
When driving in France, the alcohol limit is very low (between 0.2 -0.5 grams per litre, depending on how long you've had your license). My personal advice is do not drive after having an alcoholic beverage in France.
It is illegal to drive with headphones for any reason.
Some cities have a low emission zone, make sure to check in advance if your car is suited to drive in these cities.
Required Documents
There are a few documents that you always need to have in your car when driving in France:
Your driving licence + passport
Your registration + insurance documents
Safety Requirements
Other than your typical documents, you will also need some safety items. These are not optional, but required by law. If you do not have these items, and get stopped by a police officer, you will be fined a lot.
Warning triangle + safety jackets (reflective)
Breathalyser
Beam deflectors
If you have any more questions relating driving in France, be sure to check out these websites:
| Greenflag | Eurotunnel |
When should you take a road trip in the South of France?
The south of France is known for its warm climate all year round. In the winter, temperatures remain mild (7-15*C) and in summer it can get pretty hot (~30*C). When planning a road trip, it is important to take these temperatures into consideration.
The perfect time to visit the South of France when on a road trip is May - June and September for mild temperatures which are great for driving. If you really want to enjoy the summer heat, then July-August would be a good time to go.
Climate South of France
How Long Should you stay in the South of France?
When you are looking at where to go, and which road to take it might be good to start thinking about how long you have for this trip. Are you planning a 1 week trip or a longer 3 week trip where you can truly see a lot that this area has to offer?
A few things you might want to consider is:
How much do you want to see?
Will you ever go back, or is this a once in a lifetime trip?
How comfortable are you with driving in foreign countries?
Best Places to Visit in the South of France
Where to visit?
If you are planning on visiting the South of France, these are some places you must visit. First and foremost, there are a main cities in the south of France worth visiting:
Avignon
Saint Tropez
Nice
Cannes
Also, if you are looking at visiting one of the micronations in Europe, then Monaco should definitely be on your list.
Where to stay?
When you are on your road trip, you will want to avoid spending the night in one of these towns meant above. They are beautiful towns, but also known to be expensive. Therefore I recommend staying in smaller towns and villages in the area.
Antibes
Eze
Port Grimaud
Saint Paul de Vence
Gordes
Airbnb and regular Bed and Breakfasts are great ways to explore what local living looks like in the south of France.
Best Routes in the South of France
These 3 routes are the best routes to follow when you are planning a road trip in the South of France. Depending on your personal interest and the amount of time that you have the routes may change.
1 Week Road Trip in South of France
https://goo.gl/maps/GdEi74U2gyeQkY798
10 Day Road Trip in South of France
https://goo.gl/maps/9bHVJ3jCkrFmwX4z9
3 Week Road Trip in South of France
