The best Provence travel guide for foodies who want to explore the beautiful Luberon region of France

Everything you need to know about exploring the Luberon region of France from a food lovers perspective, in this Provence Travel Guide.

Provence, France has an excellent reputation when it comes to travel. What springs to mind? Lavender fields? Sure they’re pretty, however I can assure you there’s so much more to explore in Provence especially in the Luberon region. In this Provence Travel Guide I’ll share the best villages to visit, food to try, restaurants, experiences and beautiful hotels to stay in during your trip.

This page contains affiliate links, if you purchase any of my recommendations I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps ensure my travel guides remain completely free for your use. Thanks, as always, for your support. During my time in Provence I collaborated with Destination Luberon to try some of these experiences.

Mini Provence Travel Guide

If you’re in a hurry here is my mini Provence Travel Guide. I’ve shared a hotel recommendation to suit each budget category and some must-do experiences during your time in Provence.

Best hotels to visit in Provence
Best luxury hotel in Provence – Capelongue, a Beaumier hotel & Spa in Bonnieux
Best hotel in Provence for views – Mas de la Beaume in Gordes
Best quirky hotel in Provence – Les Quatre Dauphins in Aix-en-Provence
Best budget hotel in Provence – Mas De La Senancole In Gordes
Best hotel in Provence for food – Airelles Gordes, La Bastide in Gordes

Don’t miss these activities in Provence

See the lavender fields if you visit in July
Visit the beautiful Luberon villages
Combine the countryside with a city break in Marseille – read my Marseille travel guide for more information
Explore the vibrant and fresh gastronomy scene trying your hand at a cooking class with locals, wandering a local fruit and veg farm or enjoying one of the many wine or olive oil tastings depending on what takes your fancy

Don’t forget these travel essentials for your visit to Provence:
Travel insurance
Car rental to explore the villages
E-sim for data on the go

How to get to Provence

You’re likely to fly into Marseille airport when exploring this region of Provence. For travelling around the villages and exploring at ease it’s recommended to hire a car although you can travel by rail and do group trips if you prefer. We travelled by rail from Marseille to Cavaillon which took just over an hour and explored the rest of the region by car.

Where is the Luberon region of Provence?

The Luberon region can be found between the Luberon and Vaucluse mountains, in the Luberon Regional Natural Park in Provence Alpes Côtes d’Azur. This region is full of the best things to do and see in Provence including lavender fields, olive oil mills, stunning perched villages, some of the most beautiful villages of France, vineyards, beautiful hotel resorts and much more.

Where to stay in Luberon, Provence

Provence is known as a luxury travel destination and while I discovered some of the world’s most beautiful hotels during my visit to Provence, there truly is something for all budgets.

My Luxury Provence Hotel choice

Capelongue, a Beaumier hotel & Spa in Bonnieux

We had the pleasure of staying at Capelongue, a stunning 5-star luxury resort near the quiet village of Bonnieux. I can’t recommend this hotel enough, it was one of my favourite hotel stays ever. The hotel has unique bedrooms located across an area so large they give you a map upon check-in. Capelongue is a contemporary stay that truly has everything from daily activities to two beautiful outdoor pools, a spa and of course fabulous restaurants to choose from with one Michelin star restaurant on site and a dessert buffet I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

📍Read my ‘Capelongue hotel review -a luxury Provence escape for food-lovers’ blog post for all the details on this luxury hotel

If I was to recommend one other luxury hotel in Provence for your trip it would of course be the 5-star Airelles Gordes, La Bastide in Gordes. Not only was the Michelin star restaurant at this hotel featured on Emily in Paris but it is one of the most beautiful city hotels I’ve ever seen. You’re guaranteed epic views being located on the hilltop city of Gordes and the attention to detail in every room and space of this hotel is unmatched. That outdoor pool perched on the Gordes hilltop is the stuff travel dreams are made of.

My Budget Provence Hotel choice

We also stayed at the 3-star Mas De La Senancole hotel which is conveniently located near the beautiful village of Gordes in Provence. This recently renovated hotel has a beautiful outdoor pool and lounge area and a fuss-free restaurant/bar making it the perfect spot to unwind after a day exploring the villages of Luberon. There’s also a spa on-site worth visiting.

Provence hotels get booked out months ahead, especially during peak Summer season so make sure to book your Provence hotel early!

Must-visit villages in Provence

Provence is truly a unique place to visit especially the Luberon region featuring it’s sleepy medieval villages, local food and antiques markets and of course, breathtaking scenery. We crammed as many of Luberon’s villages in as we could and I’ve highlighted what to do, see and eat in each village in this Provence Travel Guide.

Lourmarin

Lourmarin is one of the official most beautiful villages of France. Yes, there’s a list of the most beautiful villages of France and three of the villages recommended in this Provence travel guide feature on it!

Where to stay in Lourmarin:

I recommend staying at Le Moulin, Lourmarin, a Beaumier Hotel. This hotel is from the same group which I stayed at in Bonnieux and the hospitality and facilities are fantastic. I had lunch at Bacheto in Lourmarin, the beautiful sharing plates restaurant in Le Moulin so an excellent choice for foodies. This hotel is centrally located in the village of Lourmarin so a great base for exploring Provence.

Hotel Bastide & SPA – Villa de Lourmarin is another centrally located hotel in Lourmairn worth checking out.

Things to do in Lourmarin:

Explore the local boutiques – Lourmarin is one of the more bustling villages with lots of shops to explore. You can pick up local souvenirs, food specialties and beautiful hand crafted products.
Visit a local Lourmarin farm and learn about the fruit and vegetable production of the Luberon region. We spent the morning at Domaine la Corrée where you can also shop at their local farm shop.
Visit the medieval Lourmarin castle, explore the rooms and learn about the history while enjoying the beautiful Lourmarin views
Try an olive oil tasting and learn about the production of olive oil at Bastide du laval organic olive oil mill

Where to eat in Lourmarin:

Bacheto for a modern sharing plates menu featuring local ingredients
Ravi’s ice cream parlour
We found the best iced coffees at Twenties in Lourmarin

Oppède-le-vieux

There is an excellent viewpoint of the moody ruins of the village as you arrive. It won’t take long to explore this historic village but that doesn’t mean you should skip Oppede-le-vieux. This Luberon village is as if time stood still with only a couple of shops and cafes to visit and a beautiful village square. You can also walk up the cobbled paths to the church at the top of the hill for a beautiful viewpoint.

We saw lots of visitors hiking through this Luberon village and on bikes, it’s a great way to explore the villages. If you are planning to visit Oppède-le-vieux I recommend staying at one of the nearby bigger villages like Menèrbes or Lourmarin.

Bonnieux

Where to stay in Bonnieux:

We stayed near Bonnieux at the stunning Capelongue, a Beaumier hotel & Spa in Bonnieux where we had a beautiful view of the church-top village.

There are a couple of other hotels in this village which also makes a great base for exploring Provence. Book Le Clos Du Buis for a hotel located right in the heart of Bonnieux village or Hôtel Restaurant Panoramique César for a cosy hotel with a beautiful view.

Things to do in Bonnieux:

A short wander down to this village was an essential evening activity after a day out exploring the Luberon villages. I found Bonnieux to be just as beautiful as some of the other Luberon villages with much less of a tourist feel. We saw locals sipping wine at their doorsteps and cute homely decor on our walk. The winding cobbled paths are beautiful and lead on to a stunning view of the Luberon greenery. You can even trek up the hill to see Church of Saint-Saveur if you have more time.

Where to eat in Bonnieux:

There’s a small but delightful selection of restaurants In Bonnieux. We passed by a Michelin Star restaurant, a couple of local restaurants too before settling on the restaurant which has the best view – Les Terrasses de Bonnieux.

At Les Terrasses de Bonnieux I recommend ordering one of their specialty and superbly cooked pizzas, a bucket of frites and enjoying the golden hour at this relaxed foodie spot.
There’s some excellent dining options at Capelongue hotel resort including a Michelin Star restaurant La Bastide and their stunning Michelin Guide recommended terrace restaurant La Bergerie where we enjoyed dinner one night.
You’ll find another Michelin Star restaurant in Bonnieux village called JU-Maison de Cuisine which looks fantastic

Lacoste

Lacoste is another sleepy Luberon village worth visiting, especially if you love fashion! There’s actually a fashion design school located in this village and lots of hints of style all around, we even stumbled upon a fashion design exhibition as we explored Lacoste. There are plenty of medieval gates and beautiful photo spots around the village.

Ménerbes

If you choose to base yourself in Mènerbes you can book the stunning La Bastide de Marie, Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet with cooking courses and wine tastings available for hotel guests to reserve.

I loved exploring this medieval Luberon village with plenty of stunning viewpoints. We wandered up to the top of the village where we found a fancy wine tasting and truffle venue – Maison de la Truffe et du vin du. This venue offers wine tastings and events.

Where to eat in Menerbes

The standout restaurant in Menerbes is Monsieur Tu. This restaurant took me by complete surprise and is a stark contrast to the medieval surroundings it sits in. It’s more akin to a Mediterranean beach club with a champagne bar, music and stunning views which I was not complaining about. We enjoyed a fresh seafood menu and sushi for lunch.

Gordes

Gordes is probably one of the most iconic Luberon villages. Perched on a hilltop make sure to avail of the beautiful viewpoints as you enter the village.

Where to stay in Gordes

Another one of the most beautiful villages in France, Gordes is one of the best places to stay in Provence.

For a luxury experience you should book the 5-star Airelles Gordes, La Bastide in Gordes. Not only was the Michelin star restaurant at this hotel featured on Emily in Paris but it is one of the most beautiful city hotels I’ve ever seen. There’s a stunning outdoor pool overlooking the hilltop and the interior rooms and spaces are absolutely stunning.

We also stayed at the 3-star Mas De La Senancole hotel which is conveniently located near Gordes. This recently renovated hotel has a beautiful outdoor pool and lounge area and a fuss-free restaurant/bar making it the perfect spot to unwind after a day exploring the villages of Luberon. There’s also a spa on-site worth visiting.

Things to do in Gordes

Avail of the large food market on market day – the market in Gordes is one of the largest I saw with lots of fresh French food and friendly sellers offering you a taste. Make sure to visit on a Tuesday morning for this experience.
Explore the beautiful village from top to bottom of the hill – you’ll find unique photo spots on the cobbled lanes of this hilltop village
Visit the church L’eglise Saint Fermin – we popped in to this church to escape the heat and of course it was impressive to see
Experience the Caves of the Palais Saint – this experience starts with a short subtitled video showing the impressive history of the building before you have a chance to explore the caves and learn about life in the village years ago
Visit le Chateau de Gordes – the thousand year old fortress worth exploring in this beautiful village
Take photos at the iconic Gordes viewpoint – this is where you see the hilltop village of Gordes from a distance and it truly is a breathtaking backdrop

Where to eat in gordes

For a fuss-free lunch option in Gordes you can’t go wrong with ordering some street food from the market like we did.
For a luxury dining experience book the Michelin Star La Table du Bastide in the five star Airelles Gordes, La Bastide in Gordes
Follow in the footsteps of Emily in Paris at Clover Gordes, also located in the Airelles Gordes, La Bastide in Gordes

L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue

L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue is one of the most beautiful villages I’ve ever seen. Known as the Venice of Provence this village is iconic for sitting on a river and of course their famous markets and antiques villages.

Where to stay in L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Grand Hôtel Henri – Teritoria – this beautiful hotel is excellently located in the village
SOWELL HOTELS Domaine de la Petite Isle – two swimming pools make this hotel an attractive option in L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue
La Maison Sur La Sorgue – Esprit de France – for a charming village experience this hotel is a good option

Things to do in L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Learn about the local production of candied fruits and pick up some tasty souvenirs at Lilamand confectionary
Visit one of the many antique villages and flea markets
Try some local cuisine at the food market

Where to eat in L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Of course trying all the food at the market in L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a non-negotiable
For fine dining try the village’s only Michelin Star restaurant Le Vivier
Or for a more modern take on traditional ingredients at their sister restaurant and also Michelin recommend restaurant Solelh

Provence Travel Guide: The best day trips in Provence

If you want to explore a few of these villages in one day and don’t have access to a hire car I recommend taking a day trip.

Provence Travel Guide: Best Food activities and experiences

The gastronomy of the Luberon region of Provence is unique in that it is focused on fresh local ingredients. You’ll find the best local food at the village markets and even the most high-end fine-dining restaurants in the Luberon will superbly showcase the fresh, local ingredients. Luberon is an excellent region to visit as a foodie as there are so many food experiences you can’t miss. So of course this Provence Travel Guide is going to focus on the best foodie activities in the area.

Don’t miss these food experiences on your visit to Luberon:

Visit to a local farm – Take a visit to a local farm Domaine la Corrée, near Lourmarin to learn about the production of local fruit and veg in the Luberon region. You can also shop in their local farm shop before or after the experience.
Olive Oil tasting – Learn about the production of olive oil and try the many different flavours at Bastide du laval olive oil mill near Lourmarin. My favourite part was choosing which olive oil to purchase after the tour. I went with the citron olive oil which is supposed to be delicious with cooked seafood.
Cooking class with locals – a cooking class on holidays is one of my favourite travel activities. We did a cooking class with private chef Emma Obadina in Cavaillon. Lots of local hotels will offer cooking classes which can be reserved by hotel guests too.
Learn about production of candied fruits – candied fruits are a unique specialty of the Luberon region. There is a confectionary store in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (Lilamand) where you can learn about the production of candied sweets and purchase some of these foodie souvenirs to take home.
Food market – most of the Luberon villages have dedicated market days where you can explore the local cuisine. It’s a fantastic way to get acclimatised with Luberon food as a lot of the stalls will give out complimentary tasters! The food markets range in size depending on the village and make sure to check out the day for each villages market so you don’t miss it.

Thank you for reading my Provence Travel Guide, I hope it inspires your France travels and food adventures. Don’t forget to follow my @BoopFoodie social media accounts for more food and travel recommendations.

Coming soon: My Provence Travel Vlog on YouTube