22 days in South of France, Lyon & Paris Itinerary

Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.

Keep things going the next day: get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Marineland.

To find traveler tips, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, use the Nice trip maker site.

New York City, USA to Nice is an approximately 12-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is 6 hours. When traveling from New York City in July, plan for a bit cooler days and about the same nights in Nice: temperatures range from 81°F by day to 71°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Fri) so you can drive to Castellane.

Castellane is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Take a break from Castellane with a short trip to Route des Cretes La Palud in La Palud sur Verdon, about 46 minutes away. The adventure continues: push the limits with an extreme tour, see the interesting displays at CitroMuseum, shake up your sightseeing with a climbing tour, and take in breathtaking views at Les Gorges du Verdon.

For ratings, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Castellane visit planner.

Traveling by car from Nice to Castellane takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Traveling from Nice in July, you will find days in Castellane are a bit warmer (89°F), and nights are a bit cooler (64°F). Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Mon) so you can drive to Marseille.

The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.

Here are some ideas for day two: take a leisurely stroll along Le Vieux Port, take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, then walk around Le Palais de Justice, then tour the pleasant surroundings at Parc National des Calanques, and finally contemplate the long history of Maison de l'Echevin de Cabre.

To find traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, read Marseille day trip site.

Drive from Castellane to Marseille in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 88°F in July, and nighttime lows around 68°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Arles.

Remote, uneventful, but definitely not a waste of time, Arles is absolutely steeped in Provençal culture.

On the 9th (Thu), snap pictures at Pont du Gard, then admire the striking features of Chateau des Baux de Provence, and then explore the world behind art at Carrieres des Lumieres. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 10th (Fri): look for all kinds of wild species at Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau, pause for some serene contemplation at Notre Dame de la Mer - Église fortifiée, look for all kinds of wild species at Parc Naturel Regional de Camargue, then explore the ancient world of Amphitheatre (les Arenes), and finally contemplate the long history of Eglise St-Trophime.

To see photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Arles trip app.

You can drive from Marseille to Arles in 1.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. In July in Arles, expect temperatures between 86°F during the day and 66°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Fri) early enough to drive to Saint-Raphael.

Saint-Raphael vacations have so much more to offer than an indulgent splurge on a beach.

Explore Saint-Raphael's surroundings by going to Plage de Pampelonne (in Ramatuelle), Port Grimaud (in Grimaud) and Chapelle Sainte-Anne (in Saint-Tropez). There's much more to do: don't miss a visit to Massif de l'Esterel, make a splash at Aqualand Frejus, enjoy the sand and surf at Abel Baliff Beach, and see some colorful creatures with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

To see where to stay, ratings, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Saint-Raphael vacation planning website.

Traveling by car from Arles to Saint-Raphael takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus; or take a bus. In July in Saint-Raphael, expect temperatures between 84°F during the day and 66°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Thu) early enough to fly to Lyon.

Lyon is a historical city with a vibrant cultural scene as the birthplace of cinema, the silk capital of the globe, and the second biggest Renaissance city following Venice.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Fri): explore the ancient world of Théâtre gallo-romain, then make a trip to Traboules du Vieux Lyon, and then walk around Parc de la Tete d'Or. On the 18th (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get to know the fascinating history of Vieux Lyon, see the interesting displays at Musee Miniature et Cinema, shop like a local with Secrets d'Apiculteur, then make a trip to Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Colline de Fourviere.

For ratings, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Lyon road trip tool.

Getting from Saint-Raphael to Lyon by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect a daytime high around 84°F in July, and nighttime lows around 63°F. On the 19th (Sun), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly to Paris.

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Paris is known for museums, sightseeing, and historic sites. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, admire the striking features of Arc de Triomphe, stroll around Luxembourg Gardens, and contemplate the long history of Sainte-Chapelle.

To see ratings, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Paris trip site.

You can take a train from Lyon to Paris in 3 hours. Other options are to fly; or take a train; or drive. When traveling from Lyon in July, plan for a bit cooler days in Paris, with highs around 79°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 60°F. On the 22nd (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.