Start at Cours Saleya in Vieux Nice. Monday is generally the antiques-market day, not the usual flower and produce market, so browse the stalls with that in mind; hours can vary, but mornings are the liveliest. Allow about an hour, then walk a few minutes to Colline du Château. Climb the steps for the views over the Old Town and Baie des Anges, or check whether the lift is running that day; allow around 1½ hours for the climb, viewpoints and a breather.
Walk back down into the Old Town for Chez Acchiardo, a family-run spot for Niçoise cooking. Budget roughly €25–40 per person and reserve if possible, especially for a Monday lunch. Give yourself about 1½ hours rather than rushing through the meal.
From the Old Town, take a taxi or local bus up to Musée National Marc Chagall in Cimiez; allow roughly 15–25 minutes each way, depending on traffic. The museum is generally open on Mondays, but check current hours and any special closures before setting out. Plan about 1½ hours inside; admission is typically around €10, subject to current pricing. Later, return toward the seafront for an easy hour-long stroll along Promenade des Anglais. In October, sunset is around 6:45 pm, so head down in the late afternoon for softer light over the water.
Leave Nice early; the drive to Aix-en-Provence via the A8 takes about 2–2.5 hours, plus any stops, and includes tolls. Check your accommodation’s parking and check-in arrangements before setting off; it’s easier to leave the car parked and explore the center on foot. If you arrive by late morning, head to Place Richelme for its produce market, usually busiest early and winding down around lunchtime. Allow about 45 minutes to browse, and have a coffee nearby if you arrive before the stalls are fully set up.
From Place Richelme, walk roughly 20 minutes north, uphill, to Atelier de Cézanne, the preserved studio where Cézanne worked. Allow about an hour; opening days and hours vary seasonally, and advance booking may be required, so check the studio’s current schedule before you go. Then walk back toward the Old Town—about 15–20 minutes—to Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur. Give yourself around an hour for the cathedral’s layered architecture and peaceful cloister; entry to the cathedral is generally free, though access to particular areas can vary.
Finish with dinner at Le Petit Verdot in the historic center. Expect roughly €35–55 per person, depending on what you order, and reserve ahead, especially for a Tuesday evening. It’s an easy walk from the cathedral, so you can leave the car where it is and enjoy a relaxed end to the day.
After the morning drive from Aix-en-Provence, park at the edge of the center—Parking des Italiens is a practical option, with a shuttle into town—or use a central car park if you’ve arranged one. Head to Les Halles d’Avignon on Place Pie for a relaxed first stop: browse the counters and put together a snack of cheese, fruit, bread or tapenade (budget around €10–25 per person). The covered market generally opens in the morning and closes around 2 p.m.; individual vendors’ hours vary, so aim to arrive before lunch.
Walk through the historic center to the Palais des Papes and allow 2–2.5 hours, including time for entry and security. Admission is roughly €12–15, but check current hours and book ahead—especially if you want a particular visiting time. From the palace, it’s a short walk to Rocher des Doms for a breather among the gardens and broad views over the Rhône; allow about 45 minutes. The garden is usually free to enter, though hours can vary by season.
For dinner, the plan is Restaurant Christian Étienne, near the palace, known for refined Provençal cooking in a historic setting; expect roughly €60–100 per person and reserve ahead. Important: its operating status may have changed, so confirm directly before building your evening around it. If it is taking reservations, stroll over from Rocher des Doms; otherwise, use the palace-side area for a nearby dinner rather than relying on an outdated listing.
After you arrive, leave the car at your accommodation or a signed car park on the edge of the center; Arles is easiest to explore on foot, and the old streets can be awkward with luggage. Start at the Arles Amphitheatre, allowing 1–1½ hours to walk its tiers and passageways. It’s usually open daily, though October hours can be shorter than summer hours; check the day’s schedule before setting out. Budget roughly €9 for an individual monument ticket, or compare with a combined monuments pass if you plan to visit several sites.
A short walk brings you to the Théâtre Antique d’Arles. Give the surviving stage and stone seating about 45 minutes, then continue through the historic center to the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles for its changing exhibitions (1–1½ hours). Opening days and hours vary by season, so check the current schedule and exhibition before you go; admission is typically around €10–12. Leave a little breathing room between visits—the center’s lanes and small squares are part of the pleasure.
Reserve ahead for L’Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel, where the cooking is creative and led by seasonal produce; expect about €60–100 per person before drinks. Because restaurant operations and menus can change, confirm that it’s open on your date when booking. It’s a walk from the central sights, so you can leave the car parked for the evening.
Start at Espace Van Gogh, the former hospital whose courtyard Van Gogh painted. Allow about 45 minutes to explore; opening hours can vary by season, so check before setting out. Then walk around 15 minutes southeast to Alyscamps, Arles’s atmospheric Roman necropolis, and give yourself about an hour for its tree-lined avenue and ancient tombs. Entry is generally a few euros, with reduced or combined-ticket options sometimes available.
Walk back into the historic center for Le Café La Nuit on Place du Forum. Allow about an hour for coffee or an early lunch; budget roughly €15–30 per person, and check the day’s menu and service hours. Afterward, spend about 30 minutes taking a last relaxed look around Place du Forum before collecting the car.
Leave Arles early enough to cover roughly 3–3½ hours behind the wheel, plus a break and extra time for tolls or traffic. The usual route is the A54 toward Salon-de-Provence, then the A8 east toward Nice; check live traffic before leaving, especially near Aix and the approaches to Nice. Confirm your car-return location and deadline in advance, and allow a buffer for refuelling and the return process.
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