Tourist Attractions vs. Local Gems: The South of France You Won’t Find on Instagram Because These Hidden Spots Are Even Better

The South of France is stunning and one of the most popular places to visit in France, behind Paris. It’s packed with postcard-worthy towns, golden beaches, and lavender fields that seem to go on forever. Travel guides and Instagram feeds will point you to the same list of must-see places; for good reason, they’re spectacular.

But with popularity comes hordes of tourists, especially in the summer months when the world and his aunt are on vacation. It can be hard to get a seat at a restaurant, and the streets are full of people jostling you, which, personally, I hate. So, the last time I visited the south of France, I explored some places slightly off the beaten path.

These places don’t always make the front page of a travel brochure, but are just as stunning. The main difference? Fewer tourists and a more authentic French experience. And trust me, when you’re in France, you don’t want the tourist version, you want the one where you get to really experience what France has to offer.

Côte d’Azur – Glamour vs. Authenticity

The Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, has long been France’s glitziest stretch of coastline. It curves along the Mediterranean from the Italian border to the edges of Provence. This sun-soaked region is a magnet for yachts, film stars, and luxury travelers, but that’s not the whole story. 

Behind the glitz and glamor are hilltop villages, coastal hikes, and hidden gems where the only sound is the sea. 

Popular Tourist Attractions

• Nice is known for its Promenade des Anglais, markets, and art museums.
• Cannes is famous for its film festivals and luxury shopping.
• Monaco is technically its own country, full of high-stakes glamor

Local Gems

Villefranche-sur-Mer

A short train ride from Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of those rare places that still feels like a fishing village. It has one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. The old town spills down the hillside in a tumble of colorful ochre buildings, giving a tantalizing glimpse of the sea.
Along rue Obscure, a passageway behind the waterfront, you’re walking through centuries of history. Built in the 13th century, this covered street was once used by soldiers to move through the town unseen. During World War II, locals used it to move food and messages under the noses of occupying forces.

The chapel of Saint Pierre, a 14th-century fishermen’s chapel, was decorated inside by Jean Cocteau with murals of saints, sailors, and mystical creatures. He painted it in the 1950s while staying in the village.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup

High in the hills behind Saint Paul de Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup is surrounded by wildflowers and has been the heart of violet growing in Provence for 150 years. This medieval village sits on a rocky outcrop with sweeping views of the Loup Valley below, and is known as the “City of Violets.” Every March, the Violet Festival celebrates the arrival of spring with flower parades, local produce, and handmade violet syrup sold in small glass bottles.

In the early 1900s, the village almost lost its violet industry after a harsh winter destroyed the crops. A group of local women revived it. They hand-planted new fields and carried the tradition forward.

Bormes-les-Mimosas

You can probably guess what this village is famous for. It sits above the coast between Toulon and Saint-Tropez, and every February, the mimosa trees erupt in a blaze of yellow. Bormes was once a fortified settlement, and you can still wander the remains of its castle. The old quarter is filled with pink and ochre houses, narrow staircases, and shuttered windows that look like they haven’t changed in a century.

The village was one of the strongholds of the Knights Templar in the 13th century. Walk around and you’ll still see the symbols carved into stone walls and archways. There’s a legend that a hidden tunnel connected the old château to the coast, used by knights to escape when the order fell out of favor with King Phillip IV during the persecution of the Templars.

Provence: Iconic Landscapes and Hidden Villages

There’s a reason Provence is one of the most photographed places in France. It has everything: lavender fields, hilltop villages, winding vineyards, and golden light that once inspired Van Gogh and Cézanne. In the summer, the markets overflow with melons and olives, and the scent of rosemary seems to cling to the air. The most popular spots have earned their reputation, but head just a little off course, and you’ll discover places that are just as beautiful but a lot quieter.

Popular Tourist Attractions

• Avignon is best known for the Palais des Papes, once home to a line of popes who ruled from here instead of Rome. 
• Aix-en-Provence is a city of fountains, tree-lined boulevards, and sun-drenched cafés, and has a great market.
• Gordes is on a rocky outcrop and is close to Abbaye de Sénanque, surrounded by lavender fields.

Local Gems

Roussillon

Roussillon is surrounded by ochre cliffs in a palette of reds, oranges, and golds that change with the light. It feels almost as though it glows. These pigments were once a big part of the village, and it survived by cultivating ochre mining for centuries, supplying artists across Europe. You can still walk the old ochre trail with a couple of options for a 30-minute or 60-minute walk. Apparently, the ochre was once used to color the plaster in buildings as far as Paris, including parts of Montmartre.

For a small village, they have a surprising number of art galleries, eight in total. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to relax and soak up the atmosphere. Look out for the sundials throughout the village, and if you want to learn more about the ochre, you can visit Conservatoire des Ocres et des Pigments Appliques, which is in one of the old factories.

Lourmarin

At first glance, Lourmarin feels like a film set. It has a Renaissance château, cobbled streets, and shuttered houses in pale shades of green and blue. Albert Camus lived and is buried here, drawn to its beauty and slower pace. You can still visit the café where he spent his afternoons.

The Friday market is one of the best in the Luberon, full of local produce such as fruit, local cheeses, and handmade linens. The château sometimes hosts art exhibitions and jazz concerts in the summer, drawing a crowd of locals who come for the music and stay for the apéro.

Seillans

Most people who come to the Pays de Fayence head for the better-known village of Fayence. But Seillans, just a few minutes further along the road, is officially one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France.” Artists have long been drawn to its light; Max Ernst even made it his home.

There’s a main square shaded by old plane trees where locals sip pastis and discuss everything from politics to pétanque. The village is layered, and if you walk uphill, you’ll find ancient archways, chapels, and a view that stretches all the way to the Esterel hills. 

Natural Wonders: Famous Sites and Secluded Spots

There are some stunning natural wonders in southern France, some more well-known than others.

Popular Tourist Attractions

• Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Roman aqueduct that is part of a 31-mile system that once carried water to Nîmes.
• Calanques de Cassis are rocky inlets that slice into the Mediterranean between Marseille and Cassis with turquoise water against white limestone cliffs.

Local Gems

Verdon Gorge

Verdon Gorge is Europe’s largest canyon, stretching more than 100 kilometers. It cuts through limestone cliffs, with the Verdon River winding its way far below. There are three distinct sections: the Grand Canyon, the Baudinard Gorges, and the lower gorges. The lower gorges are perfect for swimming and canoeing, with shady banks and quiet coves.

The Blanc-Martel trail follows the route taken by the first explorers of the gorge, Alfred Martel and Isidore Blanc, who descended the canyon in 1905. The trail is 14 kilometers long and not technically difficult, but there are moments when your heart goes into your mouth, like crossing the Imbert gap, which includes an 80-meter stretch of steep metal stairs. You’ll pass towering rock formations, deep crevices, and viewpoints like the Trescaïre towers and the Mescla, where two rivers meet in a swirl of green water and stone.

Cascade de Sillans

Just twenty minutes south of the Lac de Sainte-Croix and on the edge of the Verdon Natural Park is Sillans-la-Cascade. Most people drive right past it without even knowing it’s there. Surrounded by thick forest and olive groves, the reason to stop here is the waterfall. It’s an easy 25-minute walk through the forest to get there, and when you find it, you almost feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret garden. 

At the end of the trail, a 42-meter waterfall crashes into a clear lagoon that looks like it belongs in the tropics. The air here feels cooler, even in the middle of summer. Centuries ago, this waterfall powered the local mills. You can still see remnants of the old stone channels used to grind wheat and press olives. 

Giens Peninsula

Most tourists heading to the coast stop at Hyères or make a beeline for the Îles d’Hyères, but then they miss the Giens Peninsula. Connected to the mainland by two narrow strips of sand known as tombolos, it’s home to one of the region’s most ecologically rich landscapes. The peninsula is long and thin, with a footpath, the Sentier du Littoral, tracing the coast.

You can walk the loop trail around the peninsula and pass salt marshes full of flamingos, coastal cliffs with old World War II bunkers, and gorgeous beaches. During World War II, the French Resistance used the area to move supplies and people along the coast under the cover of darkness. At the southern tip, you’ll see the old fort of the Tour Fondue that once defended the coast. It’s where the ferries leave for Porquerolles.

The village of Giens itself is small but full of character. There’s a local market, a few good cafés, and winding streets that haven’t changed much in decades. You’ll find fish caught that morning served for lunch, and white wine from nearby vineyards.

Wine Regions: Renowned Labels vs. Rustic Vineyards

Most people stick to the names they’ve heard before, the big labels with tasting rooms and publicized tours, but the best places are the small, family-run, and independent places where the owners still greet you.

Popular Tourist Attractions

• Just north of Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the most famous wine names in France.

Local Gems

Faugères

In the hills of the Languedoc, Faugères is all about the smaller vineyards on ancient schist soil, and where the terrain shapes wines. Many producers still farm by hand, following organic or biodynamic practices. A stop at Domaine Ollier-Taillefer or Mas des Capitelles gives you a taste of how the region holds onto tradition while producing standout reds and structured whites.

The drive up from Béziers winds through scrubby hills and low stone walls, with views that stretch forever. 

Autignac

Just a few kilometers from Faugères is Autignac. The wines here punch well above their weight. This corner of the Languedoc has been turning out rich reds and spicy rosés for generations, and most of the producers here don’t export much.

Autignac itself is tiny. There’s a small épicerie, a stone church, and not much else, which is exactly why it is such a great place to come. You’ll hear stories from people who’ve worked these vines their whole lives, such as Domaine Binet-Jacquet, where I had a wonderful tour and tasting session.

Going Off the Beaten Track in the South of France

It’s easy to see why so many people fall for the South of France. The French Riviera is stunning, the food is unforgettable, and the wine speaks for itself. But when the crowds close in and the same places keep popping up in every guidebook, it’s worth pausing to ask what kind of trip do you really want?

There’s nothing wrong with seeing the big names. They’re popular for a reason. But if you’re planning a trip to the South of France, leave room in your itinerary for detours. Take the road that looks a little less polished.