Provence Day Trip: Cannes, Grasse Perfumery & St Paul de Vence

4.61

(612 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I nearly missed our minivan outside the hotel in Nice because I was distracted by a stray cat licking its paw in the morning sun. Our guide, Luc, waved me over with a grin — “Don’t worry, happens all the time.” He had that easy French warmth I can’t quite describe. First stop was Cannes. I’d always pictured it as untouchable, but walking along the Croisette (with its palm trees and shops I couldn’t afford), I realized it’s just a beach town with extra sparkle. Luc pointed out celebrity handprints near the film festival palace; my own hand looked tiny next to Sophia Loren’s. The sea air had this salty-sweet smell that stuck to my skin.

After Cannes, we wound up into the hills toward Grasse — apparently the world capital of perfume. I didn’t expect to like the Fragonard perfumery tour as much as I did. There’s something about watching someone swirl rose petals in copper vats that makes you forget about your phone for a while. The air inside was thick with jasmine and something powdery I still can’t name. We could wander Grasse’s old town too, which felt almost silent after the buzz of Cannes — just shutters creaking and someone somewhere baking bread (I swear I smelled it). Onward through twisty roads and valleys, we reached Gourdon perched high above everything — they call it the “Balcony of the French Riviera” for good reason. My stomach dropped looking over those cliffs but wow, what a view.

We rolled through Gorges du Loup (windows down, wind everywhere), then stopped for photos at Tourrettes before ending up in Saint Paul de Vence. It’s one of those villages where artists seem to outnumber locals — little galleries tucked into stone walls, old men playing pétanque under plane trees. By then my legs were tired but I didn’t want to leave; there’s a quiet magic here that doesn’t care if you’re a tourist or not. Luc told us stories about Chagall living here — half-whispered like secrets meant only for this place. Honestly, if you’re thinking about a Provence countryside day trip from Nice, this is it.