Where to Stay in Provence: Best Provencal Villages for Nature, Culture and Breathtaking Views

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where to stay in provence

If you’re currently planning a trip to Provence and wondering where to base yourself, this post is for you!

The great thing about Provence is that it is a diverse region, offering varying experiences for different types of travelers, whether you’re looking to be immersed in culture, take in breathtaking views over the Luberon or simply have some peace and quiet.

This guide will not include hotels or Airbnb rentals, and instead will include villages to search in for varying types of travel desires. If you need help finding a place to stay in Provence, read our list of best hotels in Provence, our review of Le Galinier (our favorite property we’ve ever stayed in), our roundup of beautiful Airbnb rentals in the South of France.

This guide will also focus on the inland portion of the Provence region (vs. the coastal French Riviera). You can find details regarding that region in our French Riviera guide, and find beautiful hotel inspiration in our French Riviera hotel list.

where to stay in provence for breathtaking views

Provence has no shortage of breathtaking views, thanks to its many hilltop villages. These hilltop villages offer million dollar views over the abundant region below, and leave you with a deep sense of awe and wonder.

For the best breathtaking views in Provence, we recommend booking a stay in the hilltop villages of Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Les Baux-de-Provence or Saignon. All of these Provencal hilltop villages provide stunning views from every angle, and if you’re lucky your hotel or Airbnb rental will too.

Hilltop views from the village of Saignon

Hilltop views from the village of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt

where to stay in provence for culture and more activity

If you’re headed to Provence and wondering where to stay that feels a bit more lively, there are a few villages and cities within the region that combine both culture and the slowness of Provence life.

For more culture, bustle, restaurants, boutiques, and population, book a stay in Provence in the larger villages of Arles, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, Apt and Aix-en-Provence.

All of these locations are larger in terms of the size of the city as well as what the city itself has to offer. They also all host the largest markets in the region, usually sprawling throughout the cities streets on market days.

Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

where to stay in provence for peaceful village life

If you’re looking to visit Provence for peaceful village life, with mostly only locals strolling past you during your day, there are many villages that will fit the bill.

Our favorite Provencal villages that are on the quieter, less tourist-filled side are Goult, Oppède, Cucuron, Ménerbes and Lauris. These would all be great villages to decompress in, write a book in, create art in or simply enjoy.

The Provencal village of Ménerbes

The Provencal village of Goult

where to stay in provence for the best of both worlds

If you’re looking to stay in a local village in Provence with a constant buzz of activity, we recommend booking a stay in Lourmarin. Over the past few years, Lourmarin has seen a surge of investment and tourism, and now provides a great Provencal experience, combining tranquil village days with the bustling of locals and tourists.

where to stay in provence for a nature retreat

If you’re visiting Provence to get into nature and reset with the natural world, we’d recommend booking a stay in between the villages. There are beautiful Provencal properties scattered throughout the region, set in the stunning natural setting of the Luberon and providing tranquil, peaceful experiences.

We especially love the natural areas surrounding Ménerbes, Lacoste and Bonnieux.

An Airbnb in Oppède

An Airbnb in Oppède

where to stay in provence if you love antiques

If a trip to Provence means shopping for antiques, you’ll want to stay in the Provencal antique paradise of L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue is a larger city in the Provence region and is where many antique vendors of the region have a permament base for those looking for the perfect French antiques.

The Village of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The Village of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Where to Base Yourself in Provence Without a Car

Although having a car is ideal for visiting the more remote destinations within the Provence region and discovering the beautiful landscape, you can visit Provence without a car. To visit Provence without a car, you will need to stay in the more populated cities of Arles, Avignon or Aix-en-Provence.

Arles, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence all have train stations and buses running from their city centers.

Additionally, many of the guided tours in Provence leave from either Aix-en-Provence or Avignon, so if you want to take some of these guided tours, it’s best to base yourself in those cities for easy access.

planning for Provence

Need help planning the rest of your trip to Provence

We love Provence, have visited the region five times, and are always planning our future trips. If you’re planning a trip to Provence, you can find all of our resources for the region in the South of France section of our website.

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