A Natural Paradise, Discover the South of France by Car

“The hotel being slightly outside the city meant we could avoid the stress of driving into the centre and then having to find parking. It took around 30min by tram to get into the city centre.”

Check in at the Double Tree by Hilton Eurexpo & Spa situated just outside the city, freshen up and head out for some exploring in the town. Start in Vieux Lyon, one of the city's historic quarters, with its Renaissance buildings, cobbled streets and hidden passageways known as traboules. Wander along Rue du Bœuf, explore the Presqu'île or head towards Croix-Rousse for a more artistic atmosphere. For one of the best views of Lyon, take the funicular from Vieux Lyon up to Fourvière Hill. From the top, you'll discover panoramic views over the city's terracotta rooftops and the rivers Rhône and Saône. 

Grab a bite to eat in one of Lyon’s many little restaurants. At Café des Fédérations, Raphaela and Darren enjoyed a traditional Lyonnais menu, from œuf meurette, a poached egg in red wine sauce, to quenelle de brochet served with langoustine sauce and local cheeses including Saint-Marcellin. 

Head back to DoubleTree by Hilton Lyon Eurexpo & Spa, with its Terra Vita Wellness & Spa, cosy rooms and views of the surrounding landscape, it's a lovely place to unwind after a long drive. It’s also conveniently located just outside the A43 motorway!

Off the A43, take the Autoroute du Soleil  and check in at Hotel Ventura Saint-Tropez, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton. 

Just moments away from Place des Lices and the Old Port, this boutique hotel features Mediterranean-inspired interiors, retro-chic design and sun-drenched terraces: “It had that feeling of stepping into a glamorous Saint-Tropez hotel from another era, almost like the world of Brigitte Bardot, but with a contemporary finish… and the steamer was genuinely the best hotel steamer I've ever used,” said Leupsek. The hotel's restaurant, La Table, also offers a delicious menu for those wanting to enjoy a relaxed evening in.

Saint Tropez is an ideal town by foot. Despite its reputation for luxury yachts and celebrity culture, it retains this charm and authenticity of a traditional fishing village. During their guided tour they came across historic doorways, a former nougat shop turned restaurant, wooden doors brought back from Zenzibar and old pathways designed to protect houses from flooding. There’s also a distinctive local dialect and fascinating stories behind the village’s buildings which have very strict regulations to help maintain the town's historic character. 

Just outside Saint-Tropez, near Grimaud, Raphaela and Darren joined Beyond the Wine for a horseback-riding experience with Sonia through the Provençal countryside. The sound of cicadas took centre stage, then the smell of grass and hay lingering in the background all with the surrounding hills covered in vineyards as the horses moved along the trails was a picturesque and feel good moment for the couple. 

And what better way to follow a countryside adventure in the vineyards than with a wine tasting? A short distance away from the horse-back riding, Domaine Les Clos Servien welcomed them to its family-owned estate, offering an intimate, boutique and quaint experience, to discover a selection of local wines. With around 11 hectares of vineyards, some vines over 50 years old and grapes still harvested by hand, the estate offers a lovely introduction to local winemaking with many varieties including white,  rosé and red which residents stop by to buy their wine directly from them. We recommend you try a Shiraz and Grenache Blend. 

Leave the car at the hotel and head into the old village on foot and head to Maison ST for a perfume-making workshop in the heart of the old village. Here, you can create your own fragrance by experimenting with top, heart and base notes, learning how even the smallest change can completely transform a scent. Raphaela chose bergamot and verbena for her top notes, ylang-ylang and fig for the heart, and amber and GAIAC wood for the base. The ylang-ylang was particularly meaningful to her, as it reminded her of a fragrance her grandmother loved. A lovely way to bring home something a little more personal than the usual souvenir.

Awaken your other senses now at La Bouillabaisse, for a Mediterranean lunch by the beach. During their visit they had the chance to taste their set menu which included fish carpaccio and fried octopus to start followed by a choice of sea bream of beef. They chose the sea bream , served with aubergine and black olive tapenade which was particularly memorable. For a final sweet treat before we head off to Cannes, the famous Tarte Tropézienne with its soft brioche filled with cream is a local speciality, and Raphaela particularly loved the raspberry version. 

Resist the temptation to take the quick road, and instead take a scenic route. Winding roads around the Gulf of Saint Tropez, where umbrella pines and Mediterranean vegetation frame glimpses of blue water.  Look right, then left, roll down the windows, put a soundtrack worthy of the scenery and give yourself that French-film moment. 

Check in at Canopy by Hilton, a prime seafront hotel located between the Old town and La Croisette with a contemporary design inspired by the town's culture and coastline. Freshen up at the hotel and for lunch or an evening dinner, enjoy a delicious meal at Scalini located right on the beach.

It’s time to slow things down to a more rural and laid-back side of the Riviera towards Nice in Antibes. Think charming old streets, authentic local character and exceptional food!

Check in at the Marina Baie des Anges Hotel, a curio collection by Hilton. With a scenic arrival, the hotel features relaxing suites with the marina just outside with the stunning outdoor restaurant the Marea, perfect for sunrise and sunset meals with the soft background noise of waves lapping against the hulls, and the occasional clinking of rigging against masts of boats coming in and out of the marina while you eat.  

Raphie and her partner had the chance to experience some stunning activities including the Casemates de la Creation, an exhibition space open all year round. During their visit around the museum,  they stumbled across one of the artists creating a piece and saw the craft happening in real time. A fascinating watch that looked so effortless and natural.

Known for its street art, Antibes has an annual street-art festival around October/November time attracting artists from around the world. Away from its streets, the town inspired Pablo Picasso, who spent time working here in 1946 and was greatly inspired by the Mediterranean landscapes, Greek mythology and celestial imagery. His work took on a new creative direction from recurring owl imagery and abstracted portraits of women to pottery and plates he painted. 

Just across from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is the picturesque seaside town of Beaulieu -sur-mer, home to the Kerylos Villa. Designed at the beginning of the 20th century from the Hellenistic period, it stands on a rocky promontory facing the Mediterranean and brings to life the world of ancient Greece through its architecture, interiors and intricate details. 

“ What makes it so special is learning about the story behind the villa and the vision of Théodore Reinach, who commissioned it as a recreation of an ancient Greek residence. Walking through the different rooms and seeing how carefully everything had been designed made the experience even more fascinating.” said Leupuscek.

Situated between Monaco and Nice, don’t miss out on the opportunity to climb up to one of the best views in the Cote D’azur from the mediaeval  hilltop town of Eze in Nice. 

Perched 429 metres above sea level on the site of an ancient fortress, the Exotic Garden of Èze is home to an impressive collection of cacti and Mediterranean plants, with spectacular views stretching across the coastline. Wander through the garden and look out for the mysterious earth goddesses sculpted by Jean-Philippe Richard, each accompanied by a short poem, and on a clear day, gaze out towards the sea, you might catch a glimpse of Corsica on the horizon! As well as the exotic garden, we recommend you explore its mediaeval hilltop village and stroll through its narrow streets. And finally, for a bite to eat, we recommend Bocca Nissa where they offer a selection of tapas including chorizo croquettes, tuna carpaccio, aubergine confit, barbecue prawns with pineapple-chilli sauce, hummus and for a sweet treat, taste the dark chocolate mousse for dessert! We recommend you book in advance as it can get very busy during peak season. 

It’s a lot of information to process, so many things to explore, sights to see, restaurants to try, small streets to walk around and quaint little details about each town that deserves its attention. But this is why we’re here. We’ve tailored such a trip for you. We hope this roadtrip across the south of France proved that it has so much more to offer and communicates a more intimate feel to it rather than a promotional reel you’ll scroll past on your social media that’ll potentially lead to nowhere but just a mere idea of what this beautiful part of France has to offer. Perhaps, the greatest discovery of this article was the freedom of traveling by car. No strict timetables, plenty of room for local finds and countless opportunities to take the road less travelled. And with so many places still left to explore, we hope this won’t be their last trip, or who knows, it won’t be your last trip to France either. 

So go ahead, book it. The open road is calling, and France is yours to discover.