Provence vs Bordeaux

Provence

Provence is Mediterranean climate inland — hot dry summers, mild winters, 300+ days of sunshine. The Mistral wind funnels down the Rhône valley from the north and can blow at 80–100 km/h for days at a time, especially in spring and autumn (it clears the skies but can be unpleasant). Coastal Provence is hotter and more humid; the Luberon and inland plateaus are warmer than the coast in summer (often 35°C+) and cooler in winter.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has a temperate oceanic climate softened by the Atlantic — warmer and sunnier than Paris, wetter than Marseille. Summer highs reach 27°C in July and August, with occasional 35°C+ heatwaves; winter lows average 3°C in January but rarely drop below freezing for long. Rainfall is around 950 mm a year spread across roughly 130 rainy days, with no dry season — pack a light layer year-round. Spring and autumn are the most reliably pleasant; summer can be sticky in August; winter is mild but grey.

Provence

Provence is best explored by rental car — the lavender plateaus, hill villages, Verdon gorge, and the Pont du Gard are all impractical to reach by public transport. TER trains connect the cities (Avignon, Aix, Marseille, Arles, Nîmes); buses fill regional gaps but with limited frequency. The TGV high-speed line runs Paris – Avignon – Marseille (3 hr from Paris). Rent a car for the rural exploration; train into Avignon or Marseille and pick up the car there.

Walkability: Each city centre (Avignon, Aix, Arles) is highly walkable. Rural Provence is car-only — public transport between villages is too sparse to be practical for itinerary travel. Some hiking villages and the Plateau de Valensole reward walking once you've driven there.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has one of the best urban transit systems for a French city of its size — a four-line tram network (A, B, C, D) operated by TBM that covers virtually every visitor area, complemented by city buses, a V³ bike-share scheme, and a flat, pedestrian-friendly historic centre. The vast majority of visitors will not need a taxi. The tram is fare-integrated with the buses and the airport bus.

Walkability: Excellent across the central 1.5 km — the historic centre is flat, pedestrianised in long stretches, and pavements are wide. Rue Sainte-Catherine alone is 1.2 km of pure pedestrian shopping street. The riverside quais are continuously walkable for two kilometres. Most visitors only use the tram or bus for the Cité du Vin, the airport, and Saint-Jean station.