We're looking at being in this area in the middle of April 2025, and spending 4-5 nights (probably 4) before going over into Spain (on our last trip to France we had to leave off the Provence region). Would it be better to base in one of these towns for the entire stay, or split between them? We want the chance to wander some on both towns, but we also want to make some day trips to Pont du Gard, Les Baux, maybe the Wine Road. I think we would be flying in to Marseilles, unless there's a better option. And I'm open to renting a car, maybe even leaning towards renting a car, if that makes a difference in where we base.
Posted by
Chicago
8160 posts
If you rent a car you should stay 4-5 nights in one place.
But the tourist info center of each town has escorted tours by van to the hard to reach by public transport towns like Les Baux and Châteauneuf du Pape vinyard that you can arrange if you don't want to be drinking wine and then driving. We stayed in Avignon and Nimes. We liked Nimes more than Avignon.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4087 posts
https://avignon-tourisme.com/en/
The Avignon tourism offers advice for the region, including guided tours. The office is on the main thoroughfare inside the city walls.
Posted by
1031 posts
With a car, you can take advantage of the mobility and stay in a smaller town. St. Remy is a popular choice for this reason, well positioned to both the east (Les Baux) and west (Pont du Garde), but there are other options too. Aix is also popular, though in my opinion a bit too far east for easy sightseeing. It might make a nice stop for a couple nights though.
If you’d still prefer to stay in one of these two, I’d go with Arles. I have zero nice things to say about Avignon. There’s not much reason to visit, much less stay there. Arles has actual sights and things to do. Also, if you can be in Arles for a market day it’s quite an experience. It’s one of the largest in Provence.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I like Arles. I think it has more sights than Avignon and is also located centrally as a base for the area. Avignon is a good hub for public transportation. For me, however, it doesn't have as much to see as Arles.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
392 posts
I very much enjoyed my stay in Avignon. Les Halles is a covered market that is open Tuesday-Sunday and has a very cool living wall outside. There are definitely things to see and do there, including the bridge and the Palais and Jardin des Papes. We really enjoyed strolling through town. We happened to be in town when a food festival was going on, so that was extra nice. We took a day trip to Arles by train and enjoyed hunting for the Van Gogh easels. A car would be useful for some of the side trips but I don't think you'd want one if you were staying inside the walls in Avignon.
Posted by
260 posts
If I was doing it again I'd stay in Arles and visit Avignon
Posted by
278 posts
I was there in March 2024 for a month-week Aix and Arles, 2 weeks in Avignon. After I put all the places I wanted to see on a map it laid out the way it did as there were more places I wanted to get to and Avignon was a better hub. S, 70+, F, solo, public transpo traveler. Transpo from all was fabulous.