Family vacations in southern France: These are the best travel destinations

Diversity in southern France: Tips for your family vacation

The south of France impresses with its diversity: turquoise bays on the Côte d’Azur, impressive landscapes in the Camargue or lavender fields in Provence. There are also unique cities such as Nice, Cannes or Marseille. The south of France has something to offer for everyone – and is therefore becoming increasingly popular with families. In recent years, the offer for children has increased significantly. In the following we present four regions that will make your next family vacation unforgettable.

Cote d’Azur: Holiday like the stars

The Côte d’Azur – or French Riviera – is particularly popular with celebrities and stars. In addition to classic holiday strongholds, well-known cities such as Saint Tropez or Cannes offer celebrities a home during the holiday season. The regions around the cities of Fréjus and Antibes are particularly suitable as travel destinations for your family vacation. In addition to a number of family-friendly hotels, there are a number of amusement and water parks where the children can let off steam while the parents can relax on the beach.

• Around Fréjus there are the amusement parks “Fun City”, “Aqualand Saint-Maxime” or the “Azur Park”. In Antibes, in addition to “Kid’s Island” or “Aquasplash”, the “Marineland” with dolphin shows and shark tanks stands out.
• The Côte d´Azur offers ideal destinations for day trips with some cities. Nice, Cannes or even the independent state of Monaco can be reached within a short time and offer exciting impressions and beautiful promenades for strolling.

Provence: Historic port city of Marseille

A little further west from the Côte d’Azur, you can quickly reach Provence. The historic port city of Marseille is located directly on the sea. With over 800,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in France and has a lot to offer for all ages.

• In the center of the city, the old port of Marseille and the Notre-Dame de la Garde are the most important sights. A visit to the stadium – the Stade Vélodrome – should also be worthwhile for all kids who are enthusiastic about football. Olympique Marseille will play their home games in this new stadium with impressive architecture.
• Right next to the city you will find the Calanques: cliffs up to 300m high, which run directly on the Mediterranean Sea and thus guarantee a wonderful view. A hike followed by a visit to the pool is a suitable day trip for both children and parents.

Montpellier: Between Camargue and Carcassonne

Continuing west along the coast we come to Montpellier – one of the most livable cities in France. It offers a wide range of nature, culture and relaxation.

• There are kilometers of sandy beaches around Montpellier that guarantee a relaxing “beach day”. The beaches of Villeneuve-les-Maguelonne and Palavas-les-Flots are particularly recommended.
• The Camargue National Park is particularly suitable for day trips. Impressive landscapes and free-roaming flamingos and wild horses guarantee an exciting time. The famous Carcassonne Fortress is also not far from Montpellier.

From the gentle Mediterranean to the rough Atlantic: Bayonne and Biarritz

Southern France doesn’t just have the Mediterranean Sea. The Atlantic coast is also a suitable holiday destination for families. The region around Bayonne and Biarritz in particular has steadily increased in popularity in recent years. The reason for this, in addition to family-friendly hotels and a large offer for children, is also the comparatively strong waves, which offer optimal conditions for various water sports.

• In the immediate vicinity of Bayonne there are various amusement parks that allow children to have an exciting day. “Airfly64”, “Grenadine and Crayonnade” or “Base de Pop” are the best known and most popular leisure and bathing parks.
• If you have sports-loving children, the region is ideal for first experiences with surfing or other water sports. There are a number of surf schools in and around Biarritz where children can learn to surf under professional supervision.

This is how your family holiday in southern France will be unforgettable

Southern France has something to offer for every member of the family. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a relaxing holiday, city trip, active holiday or a mix of everything: in southern France, every family member gets their money’s worth. In order to ensure a smooth holiday, it is advisable to start planning early and to involve all family members in the planning.