The best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is one of the best day trips from Nice. I had read about it while researching the cottage we wanted to stay in, La Miette. From the photos I found online, I thought it was pretty charming and right up my street to visit. The best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence will focus on our experience during our 3 days in the village.
As much as I’d like to say it is lovely to visit as a day trip from Nice, the experience of staying overnight was incredible. On our 1st full day, I woke up at about 7am and decided to explore as the village slept. It was incredible as it was me, road sweepers and a little cat who would not leave my side. I spent about 2.5 hours wandering, stopping to take photos. On my way back, I stopped at the coffee shop to bring Mr E his morning latte. I felt like such a local and you could not convince me other wise lol
Where is Saint Paul de Vence?
I am assuming you are here because you know about this beautiful village. If not, let me tell you more about it. Saint Paul de Vence is in the Côte d’Azur in the South of France. It is about 25 mins by driving from Nice and makes for a fantastic day trip from the city. This beautiful village is perched on top of the French Countryside.
To Note: Saint Paul de Vence is different from the town, Vence which is nearby. Vence might be cute but what you want to see is Saint Paul de Vence.
How to get to Saint Paul de Vence
We drove from Cannes since we were already in the south of France. However, as it is a popular day trip from Nice, it is also accessible by bus. The bus 400 from Nice brings you directly to the village. If you choose to drive, be mindful that parking within the medieval walls is very tricky.
We were only able to do this because we were staying in La Miette so we got to park as a resident. There is parking around the wall and it is also important to note that only small cars can drive through. As you can imagine, the streets are narrow so if you manage to drive in, this is something to note.
Alternatively, it is best to park just outside the medieval walls and explore on foot. It is not the best for people with mobility issues; however if you’re comfortable with cobblestone streets, you should be fine.
First impressions of Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is the most romantic village in South of France that we visited. It felt like I was floating through a Disney movie production and I could have been forgiven for thinking I was Belle. Every corner had a story, history or art. It was very easy to understand why artists visited and never left. I could also understand why they felt so inspired to create when they visit this beautiful village.
What to do in Saint Paul de Vence
I had no idea what to do in Saint Paul de Vence so we basically found things as we wandered. It is a very beautiful village and might be my favourite in the south of France. We were very lucky with blue skies the whole time we were there which made everything even more perfect. I spent the mornings wandering solo while Mr E and our daughter slept in. Then our evenings were spent wandering together as a family. Afternoons can get a little busy with day trippers so this is something to note.
As much as I wouldn’t mind a day trip to Saint Paul de Vence, there was something incredibly special about spending the night. It felt authentic waking up with the locals and seeing it before it got quite busy. Here are some of the best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence.
Wander the cobbled streets
This one is a no brainer. The charm of little villages like this one is getting lost in its inner streets. In Saint Paul de Vence there are a lot of galleries so if art is your thing, this is the place to be. In the start of summer, you see roses crawling the walls and the scent of flowers fill the air. As much as there are other notable things one must see, you get a feel of this place by walking around.
Cimetière Tombe de M. Chagall
This is the final resting place of artist, Marc Chagall who lived in the village until he passed away. I don’t know if I have seen a prettier cemetery. At first, I thought it must be very old since it was one of the “must sees” but I saw a 2019 headstone. Its location is very scenic and overlooks the mountains.
Flowers from loved ones adorn the tombstones which resemble age old placements. Other popular people buried there are Sports Journalist, Paul Freer and Composer, Jacques Morale. For an even more beautiful view of the Cimetière, the Saint Paul de Vence view point is the one to check out.
Grande Fontaine
The fountain was installed around 1615 and was redesigned in the 19th century.
It forms the centre of the town and is a popular meeting spot. The fountain has the notable provençal design and can be found in the heart of the beautiful village.
Remparts de Saint Paul de Vence
It is easy to forget how iconic this small village is but it is actually a medieval city within its own fortress. The walls are from the 16th century and served to fortify the city from intruders. Today, one of the best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence is to trace what is left of the walls.
Eglise Collégiale de la Conversation de Saint Paul
One of the most beautiful churches that I have ever seen. It was founded in the 14th century, free to visit and open between 10am and 6pm.
Shopping
Saint Paul de Vence is popular with little, independent shops. The shop windows show you how creative the locals are. From sale of paintings, to glassware to crockery to clothes. Meandering though the cobblestone streets opens your eyes to the fact that the centre is a mini market.
Where to stay in Saint Paul de Vence
I can only recommend one place and it is La Miette. I still don’t know what can top staying in a 12th century cottage that once belonged to THE Jacques Prevert. This was a dream of mine for so long, a real bucket list one for me and I wholly recommend. The cottage is actually one of the recommended places to visit in Saint Paul de Vence. If somewhere is recommended by the tourist office as one of the best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence, then you know it is legit. Plus, can we truly get over that floral façade? I know I could never.
It is currently family owned and we got to exchange messages with owner, Katie who seemed lovely. The property is beautiful and the interiors are very vintage and quirky. It is bigger that I imagined (or maybe this is because I am used to tiny UK houses lol). All in all, a perfect place to stay in Saint Paul de Vence.
As you walk around the village, you will see Prevert’s words on various monuments. This made staying in his former home feel even more special lol.
There is a full review on La Miette where I have gone more in depth on why you should stay there.
Have a read and see if you think otherwise lol.
Another stay that I thought was quite cool is La Colombe D’Or which is another historic place in the village. This beautiful hotel is where a few of the popular names like Chagall and Cesar used to rendezvous. Today, you’ll find an impression art collection and an enviable pool.
Where to eat in Saint Paul de Vence
The village is lined with lovely spots to eat; however, I will share my favourites.
Le Filleul
This was where we had our final meal the night before we left Saint Paul de Vence. It is a little more fancy and perfect for people watching. We saw some children eating there so we knew it would be kids friendly and we were not wrong. The spaghetti alle vongole is the one to order if you are unsure.
La Colombe d’Or
This is the popular spot as it is where Jacques Prevert entertained his friends. You are required to make a reservation as it is a small restaurant and gets booked up quick. It is expensive as you would expect – typical South of France prices. Other notable names who have dined are Cesar, Matisse and Braque. It is quite chic and you also have the luxury of staying over. Talk about living and dining like an artist.
Le Lotus d’Or
It is a Vietnamese restaurant and it was our dinner spot on the first night. We did not need a reservation and were able to order some take out as well. It is only a 2 mins walk from La Miette so it was perfect for a late night meal. The staff was very friendly and the meals were more than enough; we had a little left over.
Le Lys d’Or
It is a café and patisserie for cakes, bread and coffee. I stumbled upon this one on my morning walk and got our breakfast essentials. Lovely staff, decent coffee and my pain au chocolate was perfect.
FAQs - The best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence
Is it worth visiting Saint Paul de Vence?
Absolutely. If there is one trip to do from Nice, it is this one. Although it is quite popular as a day trip from Nice, it is not a busy one at all. For the art, history and beauty, I think it is worth a peep and mooch.
Is Saint Paul de Vence child friendly?
We visited with our 2 year old toddler who absolutely loved it. Whilst we did not go to any playground, there were areas where she could just run around. However, this is a very cobbled stone village so kids have to be watched at all times. Also, the streets resemble each other so it is very easy for young kids to wander off and get lost. Although we did not go with our stroller, I saw a lot of parents pushing theirs so this should be fine.
When is the best time to visit Saint Paul de Vence?
We went at the beginning of summer; the last week in May which was perfect. It was the bank holiday in the UK and we took the week off to explore the South of France. The weather was sunny throughout but it was not unbearably hot. It averaged 25 degrees in the afternoons and the evenings went down to about 19 degrees. I always think the best time to explore Europe is shoulder season – April/May and September/October. Fewer crowds, things are opening up or rounding up and it’s just much calmer.
Can one do a guided tour of Saint Paul de Vence?
Yes, I saw a lot of tour groups in the time we were there so this is a possibility. However, for free, you can do a self guided tour. There is a tour office within the walls where you can get a map for free. The village is also well mapped out and signs tell you where to to go. I used my google maps to find all the locations and when I was feeling adventurous, I just let one street lead me to another.
Is Saint Paul de Vence expensive?
As with most places in the South of France, yes it can be. However, most of the sights to see are free so there is not much reason to spend any money. The restaurants can be expensive but I think it is very doable if on a day trip. Hotels are expensive as there are only a few in the village and they are very historic. As with historic properties, they can be expensive especially when you factor in maintenance etc.
I personally think that the best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence are free. You can be on the tightest budget and still have the best day out. It is one of those places that you decide what it will look like for you and that’s why it is popular. We absolutely loved our time here and I recommend at least an overnight stay to fully enjoy it.
The best things to do in Saint Paul de Vence
This village absolutely stole my heart. Once we parked our car and wandered a bit, I knew we’d be spending the 2 full days there. All other plans were immediately cancelled as we wanted to take it all in as much as possible. My favourite thing to do was to walk around early morning or late evening. It felt like we were local, coming out of our cottage, strolling to dinner. Our toddler loved it so much and it is one place that I will forever hold dear to my heart. Saint Paul de Vence is as romantic as it is historic. It is quaint as it is eccentric and it makes perfect sense why creatives visited and never left.
Until my next south of France wandering…
…Bisous, Bugo x
For everywhere we went on our South of France road trip, read: The Family Friendly 7 day itinerary for our South of France road trip
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