Three weeks after my relationship ended, I did the only thing that made sense: I booked a solo trip somewhere I’d always wanted to go but had been waiting for the “right time” to visit together. Provence had lived on that list for years — the lavender fields, the crumbling hilltop villages, the markets piled high with olives and herbs — and I was done waiting. What unfolded over three days in Provence and the Luberon was exactly the kind of trip I hadn’t known I needed: slow mornings in sun-drenched villages, wandering ancient Roman ruins without an agenda, and eating far too much cheese with no one to negotiate the itinerary with. This guide is the exact three-day route I followed, blending the region’s most iconic sights with a few quieter corners that don’t always make the highlight reels.
Day One: Avignon and the Papal Palace
I started in Avignon, arriving mid-morning and immediately heading to the Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), one of France’s most significant medieval monuments. The sheer scale of the building—part fortress, part royal residence—is staggering up close. I spent a solid two hours wandering the halls, and unlike some crowded attractions, I found pockets of genuine solitude even in the main rooms. The audio guide is worth renting; it gives context to otherwise empty stone chambers.
After the palace, I wandered Avignon’s old town on foot, crossing the Pont d’Avignon (the famous bridge) and getting deliberately lost in the narrow streets lined with galleries, bookshops, and cafés. I ate a late lunch at a small bistro tucked away from the main tourist drag—the kind of place where locals actually sit—and spent the rest of the afternoon people-watching from a café terrace with a glass of rosé. Solo travel tip: restaurants in France are far less awkward about single diners than you’d think, especially if you eat at the bar or during off-peak hours.
Day Two: Ménerbes and the Luberon Valley
On day two, I drove into the Luberon, a region of rolling hills and stone villages that feels worlds away from Avignon despite being less than an hour’s drive. I based myself in Ménerbes, a postcard-perfect village perched on a hilltop with honey-colored stone buildings and views that stretch for miles.
Ménerbes has the advantage of being genuinely lovely without the overwhelming crowds of Gordes (which sits nearby and gets mentioned in every guidebook). I parked at the base of the village and walked up through cobblestone streets to the top, where a small square offers cafés and a 16th-century church. I sat there for hours with a notebook and terrible coffee, watching other travelers come and go.
In the afternoon, I drove to nearby Bonnieux, another hilltop village with a slightly steeper, more dramatic setting. The terraced gardens and ancient terraces on the slopes below the village are spectacular. I hiked down one of the marked trails that descends through cherry orchards and stone walls—the kind of hike that requires no planning beyond sturdy shoes and water.
The real magic of day two came at sunset, when I stopped at a small roadside market selling local produce, honey, and herbs. I bought fresh goat cheese, a baguette, olives from a local grove, and a bottle of local white wine, then drove to a quiet overlook and ate alone as the light turned golden. This is the kind of meal you can’t plan; it only happens when you’re moving slowly enough to notice opportunities.
The Travel Adapter That Kept Me Connected in the Luberon’s Dead Zones
Provence’s charm comes with a practical catch: the lavender-draped villages and stone farmhouses that make it so photogenic often sit in spotty cellular and WiFi dead zones. I needed a way to charge my phone reliably without hunting for outlets that matched my plug, especially when I was documenting the trip solo and wanted to check in with friends back home.
What works
- It’s compact enough to fit in a daypack without taking up precious space—I carried it through village markets and day trips without thinking twice.
- French outlets are finicky and older guesthouses don’t always have multiple sockets; this adapter made every outlet in my Luberon accommodation suddenly usable.
- The build quality meant I didn’t worry about it failing halfway through my trip—solo travelers can’t afford a dead phone in a foreign country.
What doesn’t
- If you’re charging multiple devices at once (phone + camera + power bank), you’ll need to get creative or bring a secondary adapter—one socket only goes so far.
- The prongs are slightly loose on mine after moderate use, which means you have to angle it just right to get a solid connection in some older outlets.
I almost ditched it on day two when I couldn’t get my phone to charge in a charming but ancient stone cottage—until I realized it was user error, not the adapter. This travel adapter has been my go-to for European trips ever since.
Day Three: Markets, Ruins, and a Leisurely Return
My final day started at a farmers market in Lourmarin, the largest village in the Luberon. These markets are less about shopping and more about immersion—vendors selling everything from seasonal produce to lavender bundles, locals doing their weekly shopping, the smell of fresh bread and flowers filling the air. I bought more than I could eat, picked up a small bottle of local lavender oil, and sat with a fresh croissant and strong coffee.
After the market, I drove to the ruins of Oppède-le-Vieux, an abandoned medieval village accessible by a 30-minute hike. The ruins sit on a ridge overlooking the valley, and there’s something powerful about walking through empty stone structures that have stood for centuries. On a quiet morning in late spring, I had the entire site nearly to myself.
I drove back to Avignon slowly, taking detours through smaller villages I hadn’t planned to visit, stopping whenever something caught my eye. This kind of wandering only works when you have nowhere to be—one of the great gifts of solo travel.
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