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Day trip to Avignon or Nimes?

Posted by on

My wife and I will be travelling to France in a little under 2 months, and for part of our trip we will be staying in Lyon. We'd like to take 1 or 2 day trips from there, and we're interested in travelling south to either Avignon or Nimes (the TGV line connects directly to each city in about the same amount of time, which is super convenient).

I would love some feedback from anyone that has been to either or both cities! I'm also very open to other cities to visit that are easily reached via train from Lyon.

We love history and visiting ancient monuments, buildings, architecture, etc. Food and wine are of course important as well. Most importantly though, we just love to walk and wander through a new city and immerse ourselves in that way. So which is easier to navigate on foot?

Thanks so much for any help!

Posted by
2766 posts

They're both great and have plenty of what you mention loving; I would say that Avignon is little bit more touristy, but Nimes is trying to catch up on that count :-)

So, consider saving more time for wandering and less time on the train by going to Vienne instead -- less than an hour by trains that are more frequent, and full of medieval as well as ancient history, and good dining and strolling. Arrange a walking tour from the TI ahead, and maybe read up on the period to learn that the popes had as much drama going on there as in Avignon.

Posted by
7 posts

@avirosemail Thank you for your advice! I have done some research on Vienne and was strongly considering that as an option, but I wasn't sure if it would have a different enough feel from Lyon, with it being so close. Obviously it's a much smaller city than Lyon, but beyond having a more "quaint" feel, do you think that it's different enough from what we'll see in Lyon's old town to warrant a visit for the day?
Thanks again!

Posted by
2766 posts

Vieux Lyon and Vienne are very different. Read up on the cathedral in Vienne. It is still in use for local services - I've attended a baptism there; you'll not see anything like that on top of the holy hill in Lyon.

Posted by
7300 posts

Vienne is a good call, but regarding the original question, I would strongly lean towards Nîmes for two reasons:

  • easier transportation: with a few exceptions, most fast trains from Lyon to Nîmes serve Nîmes central station, whereas the fast trains from Lyon to Avignon stop at the outlying TGV station which requires a taxi or connecting train to reach the center.
  • more sights in Nîmes: wandering around Avignon is very pleasant, but there are not that many sights beyond the Palais des Papes. Villeneuve lès Avignon (across the river) has a few more, but it's tight to visit both Avignon and Villeneuve as a day trip from Lyon.
Posted by
1258 posts

For me there is more to do in Nimes, so I would go there. Roman sites, a great museum, the gardens...perfect.

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