Known locally as “le Midi”, this region includes the cities of Marseille, Nice, Montpelier, Toulouse, and Bordeaux in France. Southern France is beautiful and famous for its peaceful atmosphere, Mediterranean sun, and gorgeous views.
Some of the world’s most popular attractions can be found here, including historic monuments such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palais des Papes in Avignon. Southern France is also home to Carcassonne, the historic walled town that dates back to medieval times and gives visitors the feeling of stepping back in time.
Other popular attractions in Southern France include visiting some stunning beaches, such as those at Biarritz and Saint-Tropez, or hiking in dense forest areas, like the Pyrenees Mountains.
Keep reading for our list of the top things to do in Southern France
The 99 Most Popular Things To Do In Southern France
99. Marineland
2.5 (17 reviews)
Credit: Adrien Sifre, License, Flickr
Location: 2 Av du Chateau de la Brague Antibes
98. Tour Du Mont Blanc
4.8 (46 reviews)
Credit: www.twin-loc.fr, License, Flickr
Location: 98 Chem du Closet Les Houches
Tel: 1273-256753
Web Address: https://tourdumontblanc.holiday/
97. Porragia Island
4.6 (54 reviews)
96. Lérins Islands
4.6 (63 reviews)
Credit: Florian Pépellin, License, Wikimedia commons
95. Cours Saleya
4.6 (72 reviews)
94. Boulevard de la Croisette
4.6 (100 reviews)
93. Alpilles
4.7 (120 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
92. Port-Cros
4.5 (152 reviews)
91. Île Saint-Honorat
4.7 (221 reviews)
Credit: Florian Pépellin, License, Wikimedia commons
90. Lac Blanc
4.8 (239 reviews)
Credit: Philip Milne, License, Flickr
89. Les Carroz
4.6 (373 reviews)
Location: 1 5 Rte du Serveray Araches la Frasse
88. Gorges du Tarn
4.8 (484 reviews)
Credit: Krzysztof Golik, License, Wikimedia commons
87. Les Portes du Soleil
4.6 (494 reviews)
Credit: Richard Wright, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1401 Rte de Vonnes Chatel
Web Address: http://portesdusoleil.com/
86. Massif des Calanques
4.7 (596 reviews)
Credit: Merlijn Hoek, License, Flickr
85. Mer de Glace
4.3 (613 reviews)
84. Castle of Nice
4.5 (636 reviews)
Credit: Tjflex2, License, Flickr
83. Île Sainte-Marguerite
4.6 (681 reviews)
Credit: User:Guillom, License, Wikimedia commons
82. Col du Tourmalet
4.7 (799 reviews)
81. Chauvet Cave
4.2 (810 reviews)
80. Cirque de Gavarnie
4.8 (873 reviews)
79. Col du Galibier
4.8 (1,052 reviews)
Credit: muneaki, License, Wikimedia commons
78. Lac du Bourget
4.7 (1,087 reviews)
Credit: Florian Pépellin, License, Wikimedia commons
77. Pic du Midi de Bigorre
4.4 (1,296 reviews)
76. Lascaux
4.3 (1,508 reviews)
Credit: Wolfgang Staudt, License, Wikimedia commons
75. Lac de Serre-Ponçon
4.7 (1,540 reviews)
Credit: ijzerman, License, Flickr
74. Fondation Maeght
4.6 (1,745 reviews)
Location: Fondation Maeght 623 Chem des Gardettes Saint Paul de Vence
Tel: 4-93-32-81-63
Web Address: https://fondation-maeght.com/
73. Mount Ventoux
4.7 (1,840 reviews)
Credit: Celeda, License, Wikimedia commons
72. CERN
4.4 (1,882 reviews)
Location: Espl des Particules 1 Meyrin
Tel: 22-767-84-84
Web Address: https://home.cern/
71. Aiguille du Midi
4.8 (2,166 reviews)
Credit: Jacek Rużyczka, License, Wikimedia commons
70. Musée des Augustins
4.4 (2,443 reviews)
Location: 21 Rue de Metz Toulouse
Tel: 5-61-22-21-82
Web Address: http://augustins.org/
69. Lake Annecy
4.8 (2,549 reviews)
68. Musée Granet
4.4 (2,671 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl Saint Jean de Malte Aix en Provence
Tel: 4-42-52-88-32
Web Address: http://museegranet-aixenprovence.fr/
67. Lake of Sainte-Croix
4.7 (2,703 reviews)
Credit: Olivier Cleynen, License, Wikimedia commons
66. Musée de Grenoble
4.5 (2,748 reviews)
Location: 5 Pl de Lavalette Grenoble
Tel: 4-76-63-44-44
Web Address: http://museedegrenoble.fr/
65. Museo Fabre
4.5 (2,779 reviews)
Location: 39 Bd Bonne Nouvelle Montpellier
Tel: 4-67-14-83-00
Web Address: https://museefabre.montpellier3m.fr/
64. Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes
4.7 (2,996 reviews)
Location: 1 Av Mgr Theas Lourdes
Tel: 5-62-42-78-78
Web Address: https://lourdes-france.org/
63. Musée d’Aquitaine
4.5 (3,050 reviews)
Location: 20 Cr Pasteur Bordeaux
Tel: 5-56-01-51-00
Web Address: http://musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr/
62. Calanques de Piana
4.9 (3,179 reviews)
Credit: Myrabella, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 20115 Piana
61. Les Saisies
4.6 (3,243 reviews)
Location: Av des JO Hauteluce
Tel: 4-79-38-90-30
Web Address: http://lessaisies.com/
60. Viaduc de Millau
4.6 (3,405 reviews)
Credit: Clem Rutter, Rochester, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Viaduc de Millau Millau
Tel: 5-65-61-61-54
Web Address: https://leviaducdemillau.com/fr
59. Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC)
4.1 (3,418 reviews)
Location: Place Yves Klein Nice
Tel: 4-97-13-42-01
Web Address: https://mamac-nice.org/
58. Serre Chevalier
4.5 (3,426 reviews)
Location: Le Rte de Pre Long La Salle les Alpes
Tel: 4-92-24-98-98
Web Address: http://serre-chevalier.com/
57. Musée Matisse
3.9 (3,534 reviews)
Location: 164 Av des Arenes de Cimiez Nice
Tel: 4-93-81-08-08
Web Address: https://musee-matisse-nice.org/
56. Château de Peyrepertuse
4.7 (3,689 reviews)
Location: 11350 Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse
Tel: 4-30-37-00-77
Web Address: https://peyrepertuse.com/
55. Cité de l’Espace
4.1 (3,726 reviews)
Credit: Sylvain R., Google Maps
Location: Av Jean Gonord Toulouse
Tel: 5-67-22-23-24
Web Address: https://cite-espace.com/
54. Château d’If
4.5 (3,783 reviews)
Credit: Armand Patoir, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Embarcadere Frioul If 1 Quai de la Fraternite Marseille
Tel: 6-03-06-25-26
Web Address: http://if.monuments-nationaux.fr/
53. Old Port of Marseille
4.5 (3,787 reviews)
Credit: SMU Central University, License, Wikimedia commons
52. Musée Picasso
4.3 (4,017 reviews)
Credit: Billy Wilson, License, Flickr
Location: place mariejol Antibes
Tel: 4-92-90-54-20
Web Address: http://antibes-juanlespins.com/culture/musee-picasso
51. Tignes station de ski
4.6 (4,161 reviews)
Location: Maison de Tignes
Tel: 4-79-40-04-40
Web Address: http://tignes.net/decouvrir/domaine/domaine-skiable
50. Les Menuires
4.5 (4,209 reviews)
Location: La Croisette
Tel: 4-79-00-73-00
Web Address: https://lesmenuires.com/
49. Marc Chagall National Museum
4.5 (4,211 reviews)
Location: Av Dr Menard Nice
Tel: 4-93-53-87-20
Web Address: https://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/chagall/
48. ISOLA 2000
4.4 (4,299 reviews)
Credit: Bachelot Pierre J-P, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Office de Tourisme d’Isola 2000 Isola
Tel: 4-93-23-15-15
Web Address: https://isola2000.com/
47. Teatro Galo-Romano
4.6 (4,356 reviews)
Location: 17 Rue Cleberg Lyon
Tel: 4-72-38-49-30
Web Address: http://museegalloromain.grandlyon.com/
46. La Rochelle Aquarium
4.1 (5,220 reviews)
Location: Quai Louis Prunier La Rochelle
Tel: 5-46-34-00-00
Web Address: https://aquarium-larochelle.com/
45. Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque
4.4 (5,312 reviews)
Location: 84220 Gordes
Tel: 4-90-72-05-86
Web Address: http://senanque.fr/
44. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
4.7 (5,685 reviews)
Location: 1 Av Ephrussi de Rothschild Saint Jean Cap Ferrat
Tel: 4-93-01-33-09
Web Address: http://villa-ephrussi.com/
43. Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice
4.6 (5,759 reviews)
Location: Av Nicolas II Nice
Tel: 9-81-09-53-45
Web Address: https://sobor.fr/
42. Dune of Pilat
4.8 (6,674 reviews)
Credit: Dennis Jarvis, License, Wikimedia commons
41. Grand Massif Domaines Skiables
4.5 (6,729 reviews)
Location: 8 rue du Chateau Samoens
Tel: 4-50-90-40-00
Web Address: https://grand-massif.com/
40. Château des Milandes
4.7 (6,892 reviews)
Location: 24250 Castelnaud la Chapelle
Tel: 5-53-59-31-21
Web Address: http://milandes.com/
39. Gran Teatro de Burdeos
4.6 (7,457 reviews)
Location: Pl de la Comedie Bordeaux
Tel: 5-56-00-85-95
Web Address: https://opera-bordeaux.com/
38. The Marqueyssac gardens
4.6 (9,118 reviews)
Location: Les Jardins de Marqueyssac Vezac
Tel: 5-53-31-36-36
Web Address: http://marqueyssac.com/
37. Bordeaux Cathedral
4.6 (9,199 reviews)
Credit: MJJR, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl Pey Berland Bordeaux
Tel: 5-56-44-67-29
Web Address: https://cathedrale-bordeaux.fr/
36. Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse
4.6 (9,409 reviews)
Credit: Didier Descouens, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl Saint Sernin Toulouse
Tel: 5-61-21-80-45
Web Address: http://basilique-saint-sernin.fr/
35. Castelnaud-la-Chapelle Castle
4.5 (9,914 reviews)
Credit: Diego Martínez, License, Flickr
Location: 24250 Castelnaud la Chapelle
Tel: 5-53-31-30-00
Web Address: http://castelnaud.com/
34. Cathédrale La Major
4.6 (10,661 reviews)
Credit: Joel Bradford, License, Flickr
Location: Pl de la Major Marseille
Tel: 4-91-90-52-87
Web Address: https://marseille.catholique.fr/La-Major-cathedrale/
33. Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
4.6 (10,830 reviews)
Credit: Clem Rutter, Rochester,, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl Saint Jean Lyon
Tel: 6-60-83-53-97
Web Address: http://cathedrale-lyon.cef.fr/
32. Maison Carrée
4.4 (11,660 reviews)
Credit: Colindla, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl de la Maison Carree Nimes
Tel: 4-66-21-82-56
Web Address: http://arenes-nimes.com/
31. Palais Longchamp
4.5 (11,965 reviews)
Credit: SMU Central University, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Bd Jard Zoologique Marseille
Tel: 4-91-55-25-51
Web Address: https://marseille.fr/culture/patrimoine-culturel/le-palais-longchamp
30. Mercantour National Park
4.7 (12,046 reviews)
Credit: Harvic06, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: France
Tel: 4-93-16-78-88
Web Address: http://mercantour-parcnational.fr/
29. Château de Beynac
4.6 (12,101 reviews)
Credit: Diego Martínez, License, Flickr
Location: Route du chateau Beynac et Cazenac
Tel: 5-53-29-50-40
Web Address: http://chateau-beynac.com/
28. Arles Amphitheatre
4.4 (12,542 reviews)
Credit: Bokeby, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Roadpt des Arenes Arles
Tel: 891-70-03-70
Web Address: https://arenes-arles.com/
27. Place de la Bourse
4.6 (12,853 reviews)
Location: Pl de la Bourse Bordeaux
Tel: 5-56-10-20-30
Web Address: http://bordeaux.fr/l3293
26. Écrins National Park
4.7 (14,081 reviews)
Credit: DevAnubis, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: France
Tel: 4-92-23-58-08
Web Address: http://ecrins-parcnational.fr/
25. Pyrénées National Park
4.7 (15,265 reviews)
Location: France
Tel: 5-62-54-16-40
Web Address: http://pyrenees-parcnational.fr/fr
24. Palace of Festivals and Congresses of Cannes
4.3 (15,361 reviews)
Location: Palais des Festivals et des Congres 1 Bd de la Croisette Cannes
Tel: 4-92-99-84-00
Web Address: https://palaisdesfestivals.com/
23. Pont d’Avignon
4.2 (15,770 reviews)
Location: Bd de la Ligne Avignon
Tel: 4-32-74-32-74
Web Address: https://avignon-tourisme.com/decouvrir/voir-lessentiel/avignon-patrimoine-unesco/le-pont-saint-benezet/
22. Vanoise National Park
4.7 (16,773 reviews)
Credit: Florian Pépellin, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: France
Tel: 4-79-62-30-54
Web Address: http://vanoise-parcnational.fr/fr
21. Mucem – Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean
4.4 (17,100 reviews)
Location: 1 Esp J4 Marseille
Tel: 4-84-35-13-13
Web Address: http://mucem.org/
20. Musée des Confluences
4.5 (17,163 reviews)
Credit: Ismoon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 86 Quai Perrache Lyon
Tel: 4-28-38-12-12
Web Address: https://museedesconfluences.fr/
19. La Ciudad del Vino
4.2 (17,219 reviews)
Location: 134 Quai de Bacalan Bordeaux
Tel: 5-56-16-20-20
Web Address: https://laciteduvin.com/fr
18. Place Bellecour
4.4 (19,196 reviews)
Credit: Elliott Brown, License, Flickr
Location: Pl Bellecour Lyon
Tel: 4-72-77-69-69
Web Address: https://lyon-france.com/je-decouvre-lyon/sites-et-monuments/Sites-et-monuments-remarquables/La-Place-Bellecour
17. Gouffre de Padirac
4.7 (23,589 reviews)
Credit: Gouffre de Padirac, Google Maps
Location: Le Gouffre Padirac
Tel: 5-65-33-64-56
Web Address: http://gouffre-de-padirac.com/
16. La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière
4.7 (24,695 reviews)
Location: 8 Pl de Fourviere Lyon
Tel: 4-78-25-13-01
Web Address: https://fourviere.org/
15. Zoo La Palmyre
4.3 (24,794 reviews)
Location: 6 Av de Royan Les Mathes
Tel: 5-46-22-46-06
Web Address: http://zoo-palmyre.fr/
14. Amphitheatre of Nîmes
4.5 (27,668 reviews)
Credit: Anonymous, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Bd des Arenes Nimes
Tel: 4-66-21-82-56
Web Address: http://arenes-nimes.com/
13. Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
4.7 (29,863 reviews)
Location: Rue Fort du Sanctuaire Marseille
Tel: 4-91-13-40-80
Web Address: http://notredamedelagarde.com/
12. Palais des Papes
4.5 (35,250 reviews)
Credit: Jorge Láscar, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pl du Palais Avignon
Tel: 4-32-74-32-74
Web Address: http://palais-des-papes.com/
11. Parc de la Tête d’Or
4.6 (49,375 reviews)
Credit: AMADOU BAHLEMAN FARID, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 69006 Lyon
Tel: 4-72-69-47-60
Web Address: https://lyon.fr/lieu/parcs/parc-de-la-tete-dor
10. Futuroscope
4.3 (58,986 reviews)
Location: Av Rene Monory Chasseneuil du Poitou
Tel: 5-49-49-30-80
Web Address: https://futuroscope.com/
9. Cité de Carcassonne
4.6 (64,851 reviews)
Location: 1 Rue Viollet le Duc Carcassonne
Tel: 4-68-11-70-70
Web Address: http://remparts-carcassonne.fr/
Our Top picks
8. Les 3 Vallées
4.5 (528 reviews)
Credit: Jules Duclos, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 318 Av de Belleville Moutiers
Tel: 4-79-24-07-77
Web Address: https://les3vallees.com/
7. Promenade des Anglais
4.7 (596 reviews)
Credit: Lamiot, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Avoriaz
4.4 (1,310 reviews)
Location: 44 Prom du Festival Morzine
Tel: 4-50-74-02-11
Web Address: http://avoriaz.com/
5. Verdon Gorge
4.8 (3,551 reviews)
Credit: Sun2Shine, License, Wikimedia commons
4. Les Arcs
4.6 (4,135 reviews)
Credit: Benoit Gineste, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 73700 Bourg Saint Maurice
Tel: 4-79-07-12-57
Web Address: http://lesarcs.com/
3. Alpe d’Huez
4.5 (4,313 reviews)
Location: Pl Joseph Paganon Huez
Tel: 4-76-11-44-44
Web Address: https://alpedhuez.com/
2. La Plagne
4.5 (6,556 reviews)
Credit: Andreas Eichler, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Rue du Telemetro La Plagne Tarentaise
Tel: 4-79-09-02-01
Web Address: https://la-plagne.com/
1. Pont du Gard
4.6 (24,565 reviews)
Credit: Mike McBey, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 400 Rte du Pont du Gard Vers Pont du Gard
Tel: 4-66-37-50-99
Web Address: https://pontdugard.fr/fr
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Southern France! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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