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Lavender and sunflower fields of Provence, magnificent historic villas at Lake Como, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Camogli, French Riviera – seems overwhelming and impossible to discover with joy in two weeks. But we made the impossible.
This aesthetic travel itinerary has been initially created and written down as our actual vacation, not a typical exhausting photographic expedition that squeezes all the energy out of you on the second day.
What to expect from the road trip?
Firstly, expect to truly ENJOY this road trip. We tried our best to minimize the amount of time spent driving, packing/unpacking, and changing hotels (especially since it was our real vacation, duh). Secondly, expect tsunamis of inspiration, and an unstoppable desire to create nonstop – it is very beautiful out there! This trip is filled with photogenic beauty and eye-pleasing gems.
Before you go
We traveled in the middle of summer when beaches are open, and when the lavender and sunflower fields bloom in their full glory. Therefore in case, you plan to arrive during some other season, please keep in mind that you would need to adjust the itinerary, by removing the fields and beach activities from it.
Photography equipment and gear for the road trip
- Our Camera (Canon 5D IV)
- Our 35mm Lens
- Our 50mm Lens
- Our 16-35mm Lens
- Our Best! Tripod (Which is 3 years old now btw which is crazy!)
- Tripod Mount for Mobile Phone
- Mini Tripod
- Our Bluetooth Remote for Phone
The map and route information
Roughly, the route of the road trip is the following:
Nice – Valensole – Turin – Lake Como – Florence – Tuscany – Cinque Terre – Camogli – Portofino – Menton – Nice.
- The total length of the route is around 1,800 km (1,150 miles).
- The total amount of time spent behind a wheel 22-25 hours.
- The average amount of time spent behind a wheel is 2.5 hours per trip.
The map of the route
Confusing Italian speed limits
Keep in mind that speed limits can be very confusing in Italy, especially when driving in the countryside. Never go above the general speed limits – 130 km/h on highways, 90 km/h in the countryside, 50 – in towns, 30 – in villages, and historic/central parts of towns.
Day 1. Getting a car. Arrival to Provence. Sunset at lavender and sunflower fields.
The first region we visited is Provence – one of the most picturesque and ‘instagrammable’ places on Earth. The color bursting lavender and sunflower fields are irresistible. When observing all that beauty I usually want to do only two things – first, to dive inside these deliciously smelling symmetrical puffy rows of flowers, and secondly, to get my camera out and take photos non-stop!
Where to rent a car in Provence? – In Nice.
Let me explain. Of course, it seems reasonable to get a car in the Valensole itself, the closest town to the fields, but there is a trick. Valensole is a quite small town, and it is not particularly famous for the most developed infrastructure. It can be a real hustle to get a car there especially during summertime when there can be lots of visitors. And even if you are lucky enough – most probably, there won’t be any choice, and you will have to stick with whatever they have, usually, with the lowest class options. And I recommend getting a comfortable option for the two-week road trip, as you do not want to sacrifice your energy and mood in exchange for an arguable bargain.
We envisioned this trip to be comfortable and hustle free, therefore we came up with an idea to start and to finish our adventure in the same place, which turned out to be so smart!
We recommend arriving at Nice first and renting a car there, in the airport or the train station, depending on where you arrive. And these are the reasons:
- You get a variety of options to arrive in the region since Nice is a big transportation hub.
- You can get a round-trip ticket from home and back.
- You get a wider variety of cars to rent.
- You are able to easily return a car at the same place without any additional hustle and fees (the rental fee may double sometimes if you want to drop off the car in different countries or even cities).
Aesthetic photography spots and Instagram locations at lavender and sunflower fields of Provence
After your arrival and check-in at the place where you are staying, I definitely recommend spending the golden hour time on sunset shooting in the fields. There are plenty of options, but in our four years of visiting Provence, we gathered the most beautiful and mesmerizing ones for you. Keep in mind that some locations are best depending on the time of the day.
Day 2. Sunrise at the lavender fields. Sunflower fields. Sunset at famous hills
This is the only full day we had in the fields and we decided to spend it watching sunrise shooting at lavender fields and sunflower fields, enjoying fresh local fruits, and watching the sunset in the hills.
Where to stay near lavender fields in Provence. The most Instagrammable hotels near the fields
- Classy – from 220 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Top – from 122 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 125 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Base – from 100 EUR
- Minimal Optimum – from 55 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Day 3. The road from Provence to Turin. Evening in Turin
The biggest part of the third day of our aesthetic road trip was occupied by driving from Valensole to Turin, which took us around 5 hours with two stops. This is, basically, the longest trip of the road trip, so make sure to be fresh from the morning. We decided to spend morning hustle-free, enjoying a breakfast, working a bit, and calmly packing our things to hit the road.
It is important to mention that the road from Valensole to Turin is incredibly beautiful! We drove through mountains and the road was almost 2 km high at the highest point. It is worth to stop several times to enjoy the air and beauty that you will see.
After the longest ride of the road trip, we were a bit tired, even though the road was incredibly beautiful. So we just checked in our hotel and went out to dine.
Day 4. Aesthetic Turin Tour. Arrival to Cernobbio.
To be honest, when we planned the trip I did not expect Turin to be very exciting, but it turned out to be so incredibly aesthetic and beautiful that we regretted that we did not plan to stay longer. Turin is filled with gorgeous aesthetic locations, photos of which will blow out your Instagram feed. I wanted to spend hours staring at every detail of its magnificent architecture!
Where to stay in Turin, Italy. The most Instagrammable hotels in Turin
- Classy – from 460 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
- Medium – from 95 EUR
- Base – from 70 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Leaving Turin to the Gorgeous Villa in Cernobbio, Lake Como
In the evening we left Turin and hit the road to Cernobbio, where we stayed at the gorgeous historic villa. The villa is a MUST-VISIT! Honestly, the historic property was so beautiful, the staff was so nice and hospitable that I actually cried out of the excitement of staying there. It was definitely the highlight of the road trip, the atmosphere of the place is incredible.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Moreover, the property itself and the restaurant are open for visitors even if you are staying somewhere else, so I definitely recommend visiting it for some photos and/or dinner when you are in the Lake Como region. In order to do photoshoots, if you are not staying at the villa you would need to contact them beforehand to get permission.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Day 5. Cernobbio
We spent the whole day enjoying the villa, as it has so much to offer – pure aesthetic joy. I recommend discovering the entire property, and enjoy your stay there. Take some shots at the villa’s lush gardens, enjoy its overwater pool and other activities.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Where to stay in Cernobbio, Lake Como. The most Instagrammable hotels in Cernobbio
- Classy – from 920 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
- Top – from 175 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 125 EUR
- Base – from 80 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Day 6. Last day at Cernobbio. Hotel with the best view over Lake Como. Bellagio.
It was our last day at the villa, we had breakfast, did some quick photos at the property and were ready to hit the road to Bellagio. But first, we spent a couple of hours discovering the town of Cernobbio and it’s lush hortensia gardens and villas.
Hotel with the best view over Lake Como
In the evening after one hour of driving, we checked in the hotel in Bellagio. The highlight of the hotel is its gorgeous tower suits with definitely one of the best views over Lake Como!
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Where to stay in Bellagio, Lake Como. The most Instagrammable hotels in Bellagio
- Classy – from 499 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Top – from 259 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 140 EUR
- Base – from 99 EUR
- Minimal Optimum – from 49 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
How to get from Cernobbio to Bellagio, Lake Como
It is worth mentioning, that you can get by car from Cernobbio to Bellagio either by land through the south or driving north and using a ferry in Cardenabbia. The difference between these two routes is basically that the second option is more reliable and comfortable. On Google Maps the lengths for both routes are estimated almost equally, but driving south can be a little tricky, as the road is narrower and more complicated. I recommend arriving at Cardenabbia and getting a ferry to avoid any stress. Plus, it’s an amazing opportunity to discover the lake views from the ferry.
Discovering Bellagio
Day 7. Hotel. Boat ride at Lake Como. Visiting Villas.
On the seventh day of our road trip, we decided to spend the morning shooting at the hotel.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Boat ride at Lake Como
We booked a boat ride later that day and invited our friend photographer Fabrizio Vigano with us to help us out with photos. While on the ride, we asked our captain to drop us off on a nearby villa we discovered on the lake.
Day 8. Discovering villas at Lake Como. Last day in Bellagio. Arriving in Florence
On our last day in Bellagio and at Lake Como we decided to discover a couple of villas and to enjoy the day before our departure from the region.
Arrival in Florence. How to avoid problems with traffic limitations in Florence
Florence is notorious for its traffic limitations, so to avoid any problems while staying in the city center you would need to look for a property that offers valet-services and parking. We decided to stay at a 5-star hotel in the city center. The hotel’s staff helped us out with everything so that we just had to enjoy the property, its magnificent view overlooking the historic parts of the city.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. – YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. – YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Day 9. Discovering aesthetic Florence
We spent our first day enjoying the hotel and discovering the city, and enjoying the aesthetic and instagrammable locations of Florence.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. – YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
THIS PROPERTY IS IN HIGH DEMAND. – YOU CAN BOOK IT NOW HERE
Where to stay in Florence, Tuscany. The most Instagrammable hotels in Florence
- Classy – from 995 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
- Classy – from 340 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
- Chic – from 160 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!
- Chic – from 114 EUR⭐️ Highly recommend
- Minimal Optimum – from 49 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Day 10. Discovering Tuscany’s sunflower fields and iconic cypress valleys
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the road to the iconic valleys of this legendary region will take you about 1-1.5 hours of driving from the capital. We dedicated our second day to discovering natural Toscanian gems: sunflower fields, and cypress valleys. We drove south from Florence after breakfast and returned at dinner-time after sunset.
Day 11. Driving from Florence to Cinque Terre. Visiting Manarola
On the 11th day, we left Florence for Cinque Terre with several stops to discover some gems.
Visiting Manarola, Cinque Terre
Keep in mind that all 5 villages are connected with quite reliable trains, and you can move around between them in 5-20 minutes.
On our first day in Cinque Terre, after swift check-in the hotel we went to Manarola to have dinner with a view. Manarola is bursting in golden tones during sunset and it is incredible to watch it lightning up by dawn. Definitely recommend snapping some pics with the view.
Day 12. Visiting Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore
Get up early in the morning and get ready to discover Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore. Do not forget to wear comfortable shoes, and to take sunscreen with you. Cinque Terre is famous for its beautiful beaches, so if you are a beach lover – spend some time relaxing under the Italian sun.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre
Does it worth staying at La Spezia?
Cinque Terre is an iconic Italian destination comprised of five aesthetic and picturesque villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. It is definitely worth visiting Cinque Terre as a part of a separate trip. But since we planned to stay in the region for two nights and we traveled by car, we chose to stay at La Spezia, which has a developed infrastructure and a very swift and reliable train connection to all five villages. It takes as little as only 5 minutes to get there by train. We stayed at the lovely hotel which is situated literally in front of a train station and has nice underground parking right in front of it. Basically, it took us about 10 minutes to get from our room to Monterosso al Mare.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre. The most Instagrammable hotels in Cinque Terre
- Top – from 220 EUR in Manarola ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 140 EUR in Riomaggiore
- Base – from 104 EUR in La Spezia ⭐️ Highly recommend. A good option with a car.
- Minimal Optimum – from 49 EUR in La Spezia
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Day 13. Driving from La Spezia to Camogli and Portofino. Visiting Camogli
Camogli and Portofino are very close to each other and since we had 2 nights to stay in the region we decided to spend both of them at one property. Please, find below my recommendations.
Where to stay in Camogli. The most Instagrammable hotels in Camogli
- Top – from 178 EUR
- Top – from 130 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 127 EUR
- Base – from 98 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Where to stay in Portofino. The most Instagrammable hotels in Portofino
- Classy – from 800 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Classy – from 504 EUR ⭐️ Highly recommend
- Top – from 220 EUR
- Base – from 166 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Visiting Camogli
Day 14. Spending a day enjoying Camogli
We decided to enjoy the day in Camogli, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying local pastry and gelato which are incredible!
Day 15. Visiting Portofino
We spent a day enjoying the incredible views of Portofino harbor, and its picturesque beaches. Portofino is famous for its colorful view], so make sure to visit the town, and discover the nearby harbors. The beauty can be overwhelming honestly, I recommend taking time to truly relax.
Day 16. Driving from Camogli and Portofino to Menton, France. Enjoying a day in Menton
Menton was the last town we visited on our aesthetic road trip, and we spent one night there before heading to Nice to catch our train. French Riviera vibes, beautiful architecture, beaches, and relaxation.
Where to stay in Menton. The most Instagrammable hotels in Menton
- Classy – from 800 EUR
- Classy – from 700 EUR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend
- Medium – from 126 EUR⭐️ Highly recommend
- Base – from 107 EUR
- Minimal Optimum – from 70 EUR
*The prices can differ due to seasonal promotions.
Day 17. Driving from Menton to Nice. The end of the road trip
On the next morning, after breakfast, we hit the road to Nice with a couple of stops. We returned our car and took a train home.
I hope you will enjoy experiencing this epic road-trip as much as we did! We literally spent nights in preparations and sourcing all aesthetic locations to photograph. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions in the comments!
xo
Katie One
