Avignon is a stunning yet compact city located in the heart of Provence wine country just thirty minutes from Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas. This ‘city of popes’, which was home to nine successive popes from the early 12th century to the 13th century, makes a great base for exploring the entire Provence region.
While Avignon can get crowded, especially during the summer when everyone arrives from Paris (many international visitors must travel to Provence from Paris as there are fewer direct flights into Provence), it really is situated perfectly. The city lies just thirty minutes to an hour or a little over an hour from the most popular sites in the region.
Depending on how much time you have in Provence, you can visit a few or all of the following places on day trips from Avignon. Many are so close that you can easily fit a few into the same-day trip from Avignon.
As you know, I love slow travel, so the last time I was in Avignon (for a full month) I visited them all! Here are my recommendations for ten of the best places to visit on day trips from Avignon.
Day Trip to Arles from Avignon
With a historic Roman amphitheater, Romanesque church, stone cobbled streets, a beautiful old crumbling Abbey, and a museum boasting collections of Picasso’s drawings Arles is one of those charming French cities in which you feel you’ve been transported back in time. Take your time and stroll the streets of this small city, enjoying the bistros and cafes, historic sites, and museums.
Recommended sites: Montmajour Abbey, Musée Réattu, Church of St. Trophime (Église St-Trophime) and the Cloister of St. Trophime (next door to the Church) and the Arles Amphitheater (Arenes d’Arles).
Arles to Avignon by train:
Over 30 trains per day leave from Avignon to Arles-so you should be able to catch one about every 30 minutes. Trains leave from either the Avignon Centre station or the Avignon TGV station. Fast trains will get you there as quickly as 20-30 minutes whereas slower trains with more stops can take up to an hour or more. Whereas regular trains can take as long as an hour or more. Tickets run between $9-$15 each way-depending on whether you opt for 1st or 2nd class.
Arles to Avignon by car:
It’s about a 45-minute drive from Avignon to Arles. Parking outside the center and walking in, is advised if you do drive. But I strongly suggest taking the train as it’s such a fast and easy trip.
Day Trip from Avignon to Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas
No trip to Provence is complete without visiting a few southern Rhone wineries and vineyards such as those you will find in the world-renowned regions of Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas. There are many other wine regions in Provence but the most internationally recognized and prestigious region in the southern Rhone tends to be Chateauneuf-du-Pape. That said, there are so many amazing wines in the southern Rhone so don’t get caught up in the hype and believe that the only wines worth seeking out, tasting, and buying are Chateauneuf du Pape. Some of my personal favorite wines from the Southern Rhone are from nearby Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
Which wines you will end up enjoying the most can’t be determined by anything but your own palate and your personal experience. And, regardless of your wine interest or knowledge level, you will enjoy this beautiful part of Provence as well as experience something that is a huge part of French culture (wine!).
Chateauneuf du Pape (the village itself is very small) is only a 25-30 minute drive from Avignon and Gigondas is just ten minutes further than that. I normally drive to Gigondas first, do a morning tasting or two and then stop for lunch in the village of Gigondas (which is lovely and has a great regional tasting salon) before spending the afternoon at wineries (tasting appointments required) in Chateauneuf du Pape.
If you haven’t planned in advance and secured appointments, it may be a good idea to join a day wine tour led by a local guide (who will pick you up from Avignon).
Day Trip from Avignon to Nimes
O.k. So, the first thing to note is that Nimes is not technically in Provence. It is within the Languedoc-Roussillon region. BUT as it is such an easy trip from Avignon and is a city that I really like, I wanted to include it here. What I like about Nimes, is that it is not just a painted-up polished tourist town where everything has been arranged to be picture-perfect.
Nimes is a real city, with some heart and soul and plenty of normal, everyday, working people. It also offers a fantastic selection of (not overly touristic) restaurants and bars. Stroll around near the seriously ancient (built around 80 AD) and miraculously well-restored amphitheater and grab a coffee, then continue on to explore the city on foot, stopping for bites and wine along the way.
You will notice the Spanish influences on culture, dance, and food in this area of Southern France with traditions such as paella, bullfighting and Flamenco style dancing being the most noticeable.
From Avignon to Nimes by Car:
The drive from Avignon to Nimes takes about 45 minutes. But, I’d suggest tacking on a small detour and stopping to visit the Pont du Gard (also in this post) on the way. From Avignon to Nimes by Train:
You can catch a train from Gare d’Avignon Centre station (central train station) about every thirty minutes and get to Nimes within 30-40 minutes.
Day Trip from Avignon to Pont du Gard
I’m a sucker for aqueducts, I seek them out wherever I go if I can. The Pont du Gard is an architectural wonder that must not be missed! Meander around and under this sixth-century aqueduct, turned-toll bridge turned road.. and contemplate how life must have been fifteen centuries ago.
You can enjoy the Pont du Gard in just a couple of hours and fit it into many day trips out and about in Provence. From Avignon or Nimes, it’s only about a 30-minute drive to reach the Pont du Gard.
Day Trip from Avignon to the Senanque Abbey
This gorgeous 12th-century Cistercian Abbey is most popular in the Spring when the fields of lavender in front are in bloom and make for a spectacular scene, but it’s worth stopping at any time of year to enjoy a walk on the grounds. The Abbey is still actively inhabited and run by monks and they hold prayers regularly as well as Mass on Sundays. They also offer guided and unguided tours of the Abbey at various times a day and welcome overnight guests who would like to experience the monastic way of life.
Day Trip from Avignon to the Luberon Villages
Admittedly one of the most quintessentially touristic destinations in Provence, the Luberon villages are more than just a few famously picturesque villages set between the Alps and the Vacleuse Plain. A historically popular area of Provence due equally to natural beauty and location, the area has become more and more renowned by the public en-masse thanks in part to novels by authors and Provence transplants such as Peter Mayle.
Some of the most well-known Luberon villages are Bonnieux (featured in ‘a Good Year’), Lourmarin (with its famous Friday market) and Gordes-which make for some of the most spectacular views when driving into the village. However, other Luberon villages such as Roussillon, known for its vibrant red clay cliffs, and LaCoste home to a castle in which the Marquis de Sade lived in the 18th century are also very popular destinations.
Don’t let the popularity and rampant tourism of this area turn you off though-if you come during a non-summer month (I visited for October and November) and try hitting a few lesser-known villages (such as Opped and Goult) you will enjoy stunning views (without as many strangers trying to photobomb you), charming and seemingly untouched historic villages and wonderful food.
You can also book a tour if you’d like to be guided through the area by a local expert.
Day Trip from Avignon to Uzes to attend the Uzes Saturday Market
A gorgeously little village just a 40-minute drive from Avignon-known for its spectacular Saturday market, but also boasting a lovely tower (see above). If you haven’t been to a Provence market this is a wonderful place to encounter one of the best. You will find everything from herbs and soaps to every type of cheese and meat and vegetable that is locally grown. Plus, freshly baked bread… olives… wine, and more.
Yes, it can get crowded-particularly during summer months with tourists who’ve heard of its renown. But, if you visit off-season and get into the village early and park your car, it is not too bad. Act like a local and sit and savor a coffee before heading to the market to shop and then enjoy lunch somewhere afterward (the restaurants near the market will be absolutely manic-so venture a bit farther down side streets).
Other Good Day Trips from Avignon:
Avignon to Marseille
You can get from Avignon to Marseille by train in just 40 minutes or an hour and ten minutes driving. Despite the city having garnered a reputation as a slightly ‘gritty’ city, Marseille has been cleaned up over the past decade and is worth a stop for anyone wanting to visit a real French city in Provence. Marseille is the second-largest city in France, and due to its long history as an important port city, it has long been a diverse and busy city receiving people and goods from all over the world..
St Remy and Les Beaux de Provence
With its uniformly colorful (and romantically) painted shutters (each street must stick to the same color scheme) and tiny stone streets, St Remy is the definition of a picture-perfect storybook French village. Stop off here to have a coffee and meander the alleyways before heading on to enjoy the impressive views of Les Baux-de-Provence. It’s just a thirty-minute drive from Avignon to St. Remy and a fifteen to twenty-minute drive from St. Remy to Les Baux-de-Provence, a stunning medieval village of which you can enjoy panoramic views before arriving.
