Overlooked by towering cliffs and an old castle, Cassis is a quaint fishing port with old quarters and a charming harbour. Life here is unhurried. Boats bob about, fathers and sons play pétanque in the town square, lively chatter rises from the surrounding terraces.

The town on the French Riviera makes for a lovely visit in its own right, but the real attraction is the Calanques, a national park of breathtaking sea inlets with overgrown canyons and sparkling waters. 

Pick up your campervan in Marseille and head to your first French Riviera road trip destination, Cassis. Here you can tune your senses to the Côte d’Azur: stroll the sloping streets and the lively marina, challenge the locals in a 2v2 game of pétanque, and eat the day’s catch for dinner.

The next morning, explore the Calanques to find a secluded beach for two. Either hike along the trails the park has to offer, or hire a kayak and take to the water — a fun addition to your romantic itinerary!

A somewhat forgotten hillside town of palm trees and extravagant mansions, Hyères became the first resort on the French Riviera for the rich and famous in the 19th century. Its terraced mix of medieval houses and Renaissance mansions is an alluring sight.

And while, around 4 km inland, the sloping town can claim a particularly exquisite coastline — the Giens Peninsula, a lush green headland with 39 km of sandy beaches.

From the Calanques, take the Route des Crêtes between Cassis and La Ciotat for a breathtaking coastal campervan road trip in the south of France. Arrive in Hyères for a wander through the old town and a climb up the Templar Tower. Visit the strikingly modernist Villa Noailles for a contemporary take on Hyères.

Next (or skip the town altogether), add Giens to your itinerary for a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean. Bring two snorkelling kits to catch a glimpse of the rich marine life. The peninsula also makes for a great hiking spot.

This chic city is the epitome of jet-set glamour, steadily attracting the rich and famous since before a scantily clad Brigitte Bardot made Saint-Tropez her playground. Here you’ll spot yachts as big as cruise ships and cars worth as much as houses.

Needless to say, Saint-Tropez is a pricey addition to your south of France road trip itinerary — camping in a campervan cuts costs and makes the town much more accessible! Another way to save a little is by eating out at lunchtime when menus are cheaper.

A good way to get your bearings when you arrive in Saint-Tropez is to head up to the citadel overlooking the town and the Mediterranean. Then head down to the harbour to go boat-spotting and people-watching, or to nearby Escalet Beach for a seriously stunning sea view.

For a casual date, grab a table on a terrace for an apéritif. For a très exclusive dinner, La Vague d’Or is the cream of the crop of Saint-Tropez’s already exclusive gastronomic scene.

Bordering Italy to the east and often overlooked, Menton is France’s finest frontier commune. The incredibly charming town has Italian looks to match its French finesse, is as glamorous as Saint-Tropez but without the glitter, has gardens greener than Giens, overlooks a coast strewn with secluded beaches, and supposedly benefits from a microclimate that boosts local temperatures by about three degrees Celsius.

Heading to Menton on your French Riviera road-trip itinerary, pick one of three romantic Corniche Routes (and choose another on the way back!). The Lower Basse Corniche hugs the coast, the Moyenne Corniche combines cliffside vistas with modern roads, and the Grande Corniche is a vertiginous ride reserved for daredevils.

On arrival, calm your nerves in a botanical garden. Or find refreshment in a glass of chilled lemon wine or local limoncello, crafted from the fruits d’or Menton is famous for.

Next, get to know the celebrated artist Jean Cocteau, who lavished his limitless creativity on Menton. Finally, stroll the streets of Menton at sunset for an unforgettable memory together!