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For one day: Avignon or Aix?

Posted by on

Well, I bought multiple train tickets today to and from Avignon, but it's not the end of the world to exchange them ... I am spending one day night in Avignon (coming from Nice), and the next day going to Arles for a day trip and then leaving for Paris from Avignon. The day I am spending in Avignon is July 4. The arts festival starts July 5, the day I will train to and from Arles and on to Paris. I am set on seeing Arles, but wondering if I'd be better off spending the 4th in Aix?

If I do Aix and Arles, which one should I spend the night in?

Edit: I guess I would stay in Aix, because there is no high speed train from Nice to Arles or Arles to Paris, right? However, it turns out that it also takes much longer to get from Aix to Arles, and as that is meant to be a day trip, this feels like it is untenable, and probably I am best off keeping to Avignon. Just worried about crowds at the train station and the like for the start of the festival, I guess, and wanting to see Aix, but it doesn't seem like it is close enough to anything to get there for a day trip.

Posted by
7937 posts

I’ve enjoyed Avignon, on many visits and one extended stay. With a single day, I’d suggest sticking with Avignon.

Posted by
1191 posts

Agree with Cyn. We did this trip from Nice last spring, and it's an easy and short ride from Avignon Centre to Arles. We also took the train from Avignon to Paris and that was a nice ride. Be sure and book your tickets all the way in to Avignon Centre. There are two stations - the Avignon TGV and the Centre. Centre drops you right in town. We stayed at the Bristol which was an easy walk from the train station (Centre) with luggage. Avignon is a nice town for a night.

Posted by
196 posts

Thank you both! Given that we have only one day, and the Papal Palace takes 2-3 hours, I'm trying to decide whether to do one of the walking tours that the city offers. We do like history, but in this case, I am leaning towards a nice lunch and some leisurely walking around before we go to the palace. Would love your thoughts.

Posted by
1191 posts

Your plan sounds perfect. You can stroll past the Pont d' Avignon, and the town is quite quaint. We enjoyed having drinks at the Irish pub. We sat outside under the trees and people watched. Avignon is very walkable.

Posted by
196 posts

I was just looking at your earlier post. I booked my ticket to TGV, not Centre. I know it is further, but when I booked the ticket, it said connection, not stop, so I assumed it meant it was a different train. Maybe I'm wrong about that. I wanted to be on the high speed train and I didn't want to drag my bags off one train and on another. So my thought was to take a taxi. I did the same thing going to Paris -- leaving from TGV. My hotel is a good 15 minute walk and not sure I would want to do it with baggage anyway. But, thanks to your advice, I do know to book my trip to and from Arles from the Centre station.

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