Holiday rentals and lettings in Southern France

• Choice of accommodation: From Riviera villas with pools to Provençal farmhouses and coastal apartments, Southern France suits couples, families and large groups.
• Where to stay: The French Riviera for glamour, Provence for lavender and villages, Bordeaux for wine, or the Ardèche for wild nature.
• What guests love: Reliable sunshine, a private pool to return to, and world-class food, wine and scenery within easy reach.
• Best time to visit: Summer for the beaches, spring and autumn for lavender, vineyards and quieter towns, and mild winters inland.
• Things to do: Taste Bordeaux wines, smell the Provence lavender, raft the Ardèche and explore Roman Nîmes.

Southern France offers holiday lettings for every kind of trip, from stylish villas with private pools on the Riviera to rustic stone farmhouses and easy-going apartments near the beaches. Larger holiday homes suit families and groups travelling together, while beachfront houses put the sand on your doorstep. Whether you are a couple after a romantic bolthole or a big group sharing a summer villa, there is a self-catering base to match, and many come well equipped for long, sunny stays.

• A private swimming pool or hot tub for hot afternoons
• A garden or terrace for long alfresco dinners
• Wi-Fi and air conditioning for comfortable summers
• Space for families and larger groups to spread out
• Pet-friendly options at many properties

Wherever you base yourself, the coast, the vineyards and the mountains are rarely far apart. Comparing further afield too? You can also browse villas in Spain or villas in Italy for your next Mediterranean escape.

What are the best areas to stay in Southern France?

It depends on the holiday you have in mind: the Riviera is best for glamour and beaches, while Provence and the southwest offer villages, wine and history. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests booking holiday lettings in Southern France through Holidu often highlight the joy of a private pool in the summer heat, the space to gather family or friends in a villa or farmhouse, and how much variety is within easy reach, from beaches to vineyards to mountains. Many return for the reliable sunshine, the food and wine, and the mix of glamorous coast and peaceful countryside.

Stretching from the Atlantic vineyards of Bordeaux to the glamorous Mediterranean coast, Southern France packs in an extraordinary range of scenery, from soaring mountains and yawning river valleys to lavender fields and fine sandy beaches. It is a region of world-class wine, historic towns and sun-soaked coastline, and an easy, rewarding place to explore from a self-catering base.

✈️What is the best way to get to Southern France?

Most visitors arrive by plane or by high-speed train, then hire a car to explore. Here are the most common ways to get to the region:

• By plane: Nice Côte d'Azur airport serves the Riviera, while Toulouse-Blagnac, Marseille and Bordeaux airports open up the centre, coast and southwest. Flights from the UK take around two hours, and car hire desks at each airport make it easy to drive on to your holiday letting.
• By train: France's high-speed TGV network links Paris with Bordeaux, Avignon, Marseille and Nice in a few hours, with easy Eurostar connections from London. The train is a relaxed, scenic way to reach the main cities before picking up a hire car for the countryside.

🥗Where to eat in Southern France?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, La Petite Maison in Nice is one of the best rated restaurants in Southern France. Below is a table showing top highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest traveller Charlotte recommends Le Bistrot du Paradou near Les Baux-de-Provence: a much-loved village bistro serving generous, market-fresh Provençal set menus, perfect for a long lunch in the sunshine.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

There is no bad time to visit, but the summer months of June to August bring the warmest weather and liveliest beaches, while spring and autumn are ideal for lavender, vineyards and quieter towns. Winter is mild on the coast and a good time for city breaks and skiing in the nearby mountains.

Summer (June–August)

• Best for: Beaches, festivals and long, warm evenings
• Weather: Hot and dry, especially along the Mediterranean coast
• Atmosphere: Busy and glamorous, particularly on the Riviera

Spring & Autumn (April–May, September–October)

• Best for: Vineyards, lavender, markets and gentler sightseeing
• Weather: Warm and pleasant, with fewer crowds
• Atmosphere: Relaxed, with harvest festivals in autumn

Winter (November–March)

• Best for: City breaks, Christmas markets and nearby skiing
• Weather: Mild on the coast, colder in the hills and mountains
• Atmosphere: Quiet and authentic, away from the summer bustle

⭐Our Hosts' recommendation: Our Southern France hosts recommend rising early for the weekly village markets, where you can gather olives, cheese, tapenade and a bottle of local rosé for a picnic among the vines or the lavender. Ask your host for their favourite nearby market day and the quiet beach or viewpoint that never makes the guidebooks.

1. Taste the wines of Bordeaux
2. Wander the Provence lavender fields
3. Raft the Ardèche gorges
4. Step back in time in Roman Nîmes
5. Soak up the French Riviera

1. Taste the wines of Bordeaux

   The world-famous vineyards around Bordeaux are only too happy to welcome visitors keen to learn about their vines and taste the results. Book a château tour to see how the great reds are made, stroll the elegant riverfront city, or venture out to villages like Saint-Émilion. It is one of the most rewarding days out in the southwest, and a highlight of any wine lover's holiday.

2. Wander the Provence lavender fields

   In summer, the plateaus of Provence turn a spectacular purple as the lavender comes into bloom, filling the air with its unmistakable scent. Around Aix-en-Provence and the wider region you can drive between fields, visit distilleries and browse markets piled high with lavender products. Come in late June and July for the fullest colour, and bring a camera for the endless rows of purple.

3. Raft the Ardèche gorges

   For a shot of adventure, head to the Ardèche, where a guided rafting or canoeing trip takes you through staggeringly beautiful gorges and past the famous Pont d'Arc rock arch. It is superb country for camping and outdoor holidays, and a scattering of campsites put you right among the cliffs and rivers. Calmer stretches suit families, while faster water rewards thrill-seekers.

4. Step back in time in Roman Nîmes

   Nîmes is home to one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, still used for events today, along with the graceful Maison Carrée temple. An excellent interactive guide brings the arena's gladiatorial past to life, making it a fascinating stop for history lovers. Nearby, the mighty Pont du Gard aqueduct is an unmissable feat of Roman engineering and a lovely spot for a riverside picnic.

5. Soak up the French Riviera

   The glamorous French Riviera is made for strolling, people-watching and beach days. Wander the boutiques of Cannes' La Croisette, admire the super-yachts in St Tropez, or browse the markets and old town of Nice. Between the towns, coastal paths and beach houses give easy access to the sea, so it is simple to mix city glamour with lazy days by the water.