Grasse, Gourdon & Saint-Paul-de-Vence Half-Day Trip from Nice

Grasse, the perfume capital

Grasse has been the centre of French perfume since the late eighteenth century, when the town's tanners turned to scented gloves and then to fragrance. The surrounding hills grow jasmine, roses and other flowers, and UNESCO has recognised the local perfume know-how as part of humanity's intangible heritage. The old town climbs a hillside above the sea with narrow lanes and warm ochre buildings.

On the tour there is time to explore Grasse and to visit a perfumery such as Fragonard, where you can see how scents are made and smell the results. If you are searching for a Grasse perfume tour from Nice, this is an easy half-day option, since the town is only about forty-five minutes from the coast.

Gourdon and the Gorges du Loup

Gourdon is a tiny village on a cliff nearly 760 metres above sea level, often called an eagle's nest, with a panoramic view over the Riviera from the Alps to the sea. Its castle, first built in the Middle Ages and later rebuilt, has gardens attributed to the landscape designer Le Nôtre, and the lanes are full of craft shops.

Nearby, the Gorges du Loup is a green river canyon with a waterfall of about forty metres, which the tour stops to see. It is one of the prettiest natural spots close to Nice, and it is a good place to stretch your legs and take photographs. Entry to individual attractions, such as the castle, is not part of the price.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the village of violets

Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a medieval village on a rocky spur above the valley, known as the city of violets because violets have been grown here for perfume and sweets for generations. In the mid-1920s artists, musicians and writers began to settle here, and today more than thirty workshops and galleries fill the old streets.

Walking through the village you see pottery, glass, jewellery and paintings made by local craftspeople. It is quieter than Saint-Paul-de-Vence, so many visitors find it more peaceful, and it is a good moment to look for a gift or have a coffee.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence and travelling privately

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the best-known village on the Riviera hills, enclosed by sixteenth-century ramparts and full of art galleries, courtyards and views towards the sea. Painters including Marc Chagall lived nearby, and Chagall is buried in the village cemetery. The nearby Fondation Maeght is one of Europe's leading modern art museums.

The option we show first is a private tour, which means the driver waits for you, starts when you are ready and can adjust the time at each stop. The shared tour follows a set schedule. Both include hotel pickup and drop-off in Nice. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the villages are lively but not crowded.