Cheap 5-Day France Road Trip from Carcassonne to Nimes and Marseille

Your exciting road trip through France starts when you reach the incredible city of Carcassonne, where you'll stay for 2 nights. You'll pick up your rental car in Carcassonne and begin your adventure in France.

Carcassonne is a popular cheap holiday destination in France with something to offer every traveler. When you're ready to explore the city, stop at some of the best places to visit in Carcassonne and get this road trip adventure rolling.

A trip to the amazing Carcassonne Castle Panorama View Point will make your cheap holiday in France truly special. This attraction is a fascinating must-see tourist destination that has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 467 visitors.

When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best budget-friendly hotels or places to stay in the city.

When you're hungry and ready to take a break from your adventure, treat yourself to a delicious meal at one of the best restaurants in Carcassonne.

Enjoy toasting the start of a terrific road trip vacation and cheap holiday experience in France!

On day 2 of your road trip through popular and cheap vacation spots across France, you’ll experience two places in one day. You’ll start your day in Carcassonne and end your day in the city of Nimes, where you'll stay for 1 night. How much time you’ll spend in each location is up to you.

One of the best places to visit in Carcassonne is the amazing Château Comtal. This travel destination is a castle that has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 8,823 visitors.

This day is also your chance to stop at the incredible Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne. Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,201 travelers, a visit to this well-known top-tier point of interest and sightseeing spot in Carcassonne is likely to make your vacation in France even more memorable.

Another unforgettable sight in Carcassonne is the outstanding Cité de Carcassonne. This fortress has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 76,968 visitors.

To make the most of your day in this cheap holiday destination in France, drop by the popular Basilique Saint Nazaire. This attraction, an amazing church, has been rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 4,146 travelers.

If you’re keen to explore more, you’ll enjoy the fantastic Grotte de Limousis. This show cave is a popular attraction rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 2,361 visitors from all over the globe. Each year, around 15,000 travelers visit this attraction to cross it off their bucket lists.

Cheap, budget vacations are nothing but incredible, especially when you’re in France. To have the best affordable travel experience in France, make time for some unique, challenging, or inspiring activities. Adding a tour to your travel plan promises a one-of-a kind adventure that will make your cheap vacation in France unforgettable. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of budget-friendly tours and cheap holiday deals in France.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Nimes. Nimes is another cheap travel destination in France where you have access to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other conveniences.

After a long day of driving and exploring some of the best attractions a budget vacation in France can afford, treat yourself to a hearty meal. You’ll find many great restaurants in Nimes that offer delicious food to help keep you going.

One restaurant we recommend you try in Nimes is L'Instant T. This restaurant provides good food and service and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 752 customers.

When talking about the best restaurants in Nimes, Gard O Wine is a name locals often mention. This local favorite offers a variety of options, helping it earn an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 323 diners.

Another restaurant worth trying is Livestation DIY - Nîmes. Many locals and cheap holiday goers in Nimes enjoy dining at this restaurant. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from 139 customers.

As the day is coming to an end, stop at some of Nimes’s best bars to celebrate this day of your road trip vacation in France. For example, you can visit O’Flaherty’s. Rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,377 customers, this bar is considered a favorite in the area.

Another great place to have a refreshing, celebratory drink is Restaurant Au Flan Coco Nimes. This popular bar in Nimes has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 993 bar-goers.

You can also go to La bonne mousse as an alternative. More than a bar, the popular La bonne mousse is also a place for fun or relaxation. Around 428 customers have given this city bar an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure and cheap holiday experience in France!

Day 3 of your road trip across France offers you the chance to visit the wonderful Nimes and the enchanting Vaucluse, two of the most popular cheap holiday destinations in the country. You'll begin sightseeing in Nimes and end the day in Vaucluse, where you'll stay for 1 night.

Buckle up because day 3 of your affordable vacation in France will take you to some of locals’ and travelers’ most recommended travel spots!

One place travelers keep coming back to in Nimes is the magnificent Jardin de La Fontaine. Around 15,878 visitors have rated this excellent park and travel destination an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

We also recommend you explore the amazing Haribo Candy Museum on this leg of your self-drive tour in France. This attraction is a well-known museum that has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from around 17,011 travelers.

The remarkable Pont du Gard is known to be one of the best places to visit in this cheap vacation spot in France. This attraction, an amazing arch bridge, is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 29,439 travelers.

Start your sightseeing in this cheap holiday destination with a visit to the unforgettable Pont Saint-Benezet (Le Pont d'Avignon). This popular site is a valued best-rated sightseeing destination in Vaucluse and is rated an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars by 17,658 visitors.

Another must-visit in Vaucluse is the spectacular Palais des Papes. This outstanding palace and sightseeing destination has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 36,931 travelers.

Exploring one unique site after another provides you the much-needed variety during your self-drive tour across France. But to satisfy your curiosity or need for adventure, we recommend you add excursions in today’s agenda. You have a great selection of popular and low-cost activities to choose from in France. Make your cheap holiday experience in France more memorable by doing something new, bold, or inspiring.

Marseille offers many top-rated accommodations suitable for travelers on a budget vacation in France. So anytime you need a break from your activities, you’re guaranteed a comfortable and affordable place to rest and stay in the city.

As this adventurous day progresses, satisfy your hunger at one of the best restaurants in the city. Many restaurants in Marseille offer good food at even better prices, the perfect combination for travelers on affordable vacations in France.

Twist Avenue is a must try. This restaurant serves a mouthwatering selection of meals and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 618 diners.

Another popular eating spot in Marseille is AM par Alexandre Mazzia, a local favorite. Serving diners fresh, delicious, and affordable meals, this restaurant has been rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 614 customers.

Le Bouchon Provençal offers customers flavorful food and good ambiance, making it one of the best places to eat in Marseille. With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 1,207 customers, this restaurant can get packed very quickly. Make sure you get to the restaurant early to save yourself a seat.

When night has fallen and you feel like enjoying a drink, head to some of Marseille’s best bars. There are plenty of bars in the city where you can order a few drinks without compromising your budget.

Carry Nation is an excellent example of a great bar in Marseille offering drinks at reasonable prices. This popular bar is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 834 customers.

You can also hang out and have a drink at O'Malley, another of locals’ go-to bars in Marseille. O'Malley is among the best city bars offering various beverages at different price points, with around 1,796 customers having rated it an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

La Caravelle is for you if you’re curious about bars that give you a taste of the nightlife scene in Marseille. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from more than 1,587 bar-goers.

Celebrate another day of your adventure-filled road trip through France with a toast. Cheers to a memorable cheap vacation experience in France!

Day 4 of your self-drive vacation in France gives you the opportunity to explore two popular cheap holiday destinations in one day. You’ll start your day in the city of Marseille and end your day in the city of Arles.

Today's agenda features plenty of popular stops and allows you to stay in Carcassonne for 1 night. How much time you want to spend in each area or attraction is up to you. This way, you’ll have all the time you want to take in the unique atmosphere of each location and make the most of your affordable vacation in France.

While you’re in Marseille, it’s a good idea to visit the amazing Mucem - Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean. The fantastic Mucem - Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean is a popular museum and a sightseeing hotspot. This attraction boasts an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 19,446 travelers.

Travelers usually have a splendid time at the incredible Notre-Dame de la Garde (Marseille), a well-known church building in the area. Currently, this spectacular destination enjoys a 4.7 out of a 5 star-rating from 36,436 travelers.

The top-rated Palais Longchamp is another local feature you can check out today. This spectacular water tower and destination has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 12,768 travelers.

Once you’ve satisfied your wanderlust in Marseille, you’ll continue to your next road trip destination of the day, the city of Arles.

Make Arles Amphitheatre your first stop. This popular roman amphitheatre among locals and travelers alike has been rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 13,060 visitors.

Make the most of your time in the country by joining activities that let you discover more about France. Check out all of the affordable tours you can join this day of your cheap holiday in France and ensure the road trip experience of a lifetime.

You’ll also have your choice of the best budget accommodations in the city of Carcassonne. So when it's time for a break from your adventures in Carcassonne, relax and restore your energy at any of the following affordable places to stay.

This famous bar offers snacks and drinks at different price points and is a popular hangout spot among locals.

Cherish every minute of your road trip vacation across France. Celebrate this opportunity to enjoy a cheap holiday in France!

It’s soon time to say goodbye to France as your road trip vacation is about to end. Day 5 is your departure day and your last chance to capture the beauty of Carcassonne.

Depending on how much time you have before your flight back home, we recommend doing some last-minute shopping or sightseeing to make the most of your cheap holiday experience in France.

If you'd rather pass time visiting some attractions, this is your chance to go to places you may not have had the chance to explore yet.

One fantastic attraction you could visit on your last day in Carcassonne is the remarkable Portail des Jacobins. This gate and popular place of interest has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 296 visitors.

You’ll then say farewell to Carcassonne and begin your journey home. You’ll leave filled with unforgettable memories from your terrific and affordable travel experiences in France!