Provence, the French Rivieria & Catalonia…

Another region of Europe to add to your travel list is southern France and northern Spain.  We have highlighted three of our favorite spots in Provence, the French Rivieria, and the Catalonian region of Spain! Getting here was an easy, direct train ride from Paris.  Exploring Southern Europe, including Provence, the French Riviera, and the Catalonian region in Europe is breathtaking in the summer. Here are some of our favorite experiences and recommendations for the area:

Aix-en-Provence Highlights:

• Stroll the Cours Mirabeau: This main pedestrian street is perfect for a leisurely walk. The beautiful trees and historic buildings make it a delightful place to explore.
• Market Day (Tuesdays): Don’t miss the market in Aix! It’s full of wonderful stalls with fresh produce, local crafts, and delicious treats. Be sure to check out the many little shops and patisseries throughout town – they all have different specialties.  Each town has a different market day, so be sure to check dates and times before heading out to surrounding towns.
• Taste of Provence Tour: This tour is great for first-time visitors. It’s a fun way to get to know the city, its shops, and its history.
• Home Base: We used Aix as our home base and it was perfect. Start your day with a morning coffee and pastry, then head out to explore the magic of southern France. We always pack strategically and leave room for unique items we find in our travels.  Our packing essentials and travel style make packing simple.
• Day Trips: The lavender fields in the surrounding Luberon region are breathtaking when in full bloom in late June/early July. It’s a beautiful experience you shouldn’t miss.

Cassis Highlights:

• Quaint Seaside Center: Cassis is a charming town with a lovely seaside center. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and stunning views.  There are some nice boutiques to explore and waterfront cafes to enjoy a relaxed meal by the sea.
• Hiking and Fjord Exploration: The fjords around Cassis are incredible. You can explore them by boat or on foot – both options offer amazing views and are a fantastic way to spend a day.
• Getting Around: When traveling in Europe, we highly recommend taking the train system, it’s fast, efficient and easy to navigate between cities.  Although using the train is absolutely feasible in southern France, we chose to rent a car so we had a bit more flexibility exploring the region. From Aix we took the train direct to Barcelona.

Barcelona Highlights:

• Las Ramblas: Walking along this famous shopping district is a must. The atmosphere is lively and there’s so much to see.
• La Boqueria Food Market: This market is a food lover’s paradise. We enjoyed the fresh produce, cheese, fish, and especially the chocolate strawberries!
• Park Guell: A relaxing walk through this beautiful park is a great way to spend a couple of hours in an afternoon. The views and architecture are stunning.
• La Sagrada Familia: Touring this incredible basilica was an absolute high point of our time in Spain.  If you only go on one tour, this is absolutely the one we recommend in Barcelona. We have been to a lot of cathedrals throughout Europe and we can honestly say, this one is an absolute must see.  The architecture is breathtaking.

Whether you’re soaking in the charm of Aix-en-Provence, enjoying the seaside beauty of Cassis, or exploring the vibrant city of Barcelona, Exploring Southern Europe is an experience not to miss; it offers something for everyone.  We never regret exploring new places – just go!