Nimes or Arles for 3 nights?

Either one. They are only an hour by train from one another or 45 minutes by car.

We loved Arles for it’s Van Gogh history and seeing the sites he had painted . You can’t go wrong with Nimes either. But do visit both.

All our visits to both Arles and Nimes have been day trips while staying in Avignon, but parking a car was easier in Nimes than the last time visiting a Arles. Depending on access to your potential lodging in either place, maybe that could make a difference in picking the place to stay.

We spent a night in Arles in transit 4 years ago and by happenstance and unknowingly arrived on the day of their annual festival and running of the bulls. It was nightmarish and streets were blocked -- a couple of locals actually hopped in our car and guided us to our hotel and then our hotel parking was full. The hotel told us where we might find street parking across the river and eventually we found a spot about a mile away and walked back. And from that point on it was magical and wonderful -- we only had an evening and morning before continuing on -- but it was a delightful place. Here are some snapshots:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/quick-stop-in-arles/
We literally stumbled on the running of the bulls strolling from our central hotel into town to see the sights and get dinner. WE loved the place. Haven't been to Nimmes so don't know how it compares, but I'd love to spend a couple more days in Arles.

So we stayed just a mile outside of the city of Arles and used that as a home base to visit the city, go on nature hikes at Camargue and see the famous flamingo's, do some wine tasting, explore the smaller towns and see Van Gough exhibits, castles, and the Aqueducts at St. Remy.

So we liked being in or near Arles. We were there for 4 nights. We stayed at a fantastic B&B that was just a mile outside Arles. c. https://www.le-mas-saint-florent.com/en

Good luck.

Thank-you all for your replies. Wally, we are not going to Avignon so I'm not worried about that. We are dropping the car off after we are done using it in whichever location we end up staying to take the train back up to Paris to fly home. We only have time for 3 nights in Provence.

We were in the region in 2014. We spent 2 nights in Arles. Upon our arrival our local guide took us on a walking tour that included the Roman Arena, Classical Theater, Forum and listening to tales of Vincent Van Gogh and viewing his work along the walk. One of our shopping finds was buying a couple of tablecloths from a shop across from the Arena. Our second morning (1.5 hrs away) we visited the well preserved Roman Aquadect: the Pont du Gard & museum. We didn't visit Nimes, so I can't comment. Both Arles & the Pont du Gard were highlights of our RS Tour. Enjoy your planning!

Or ... base in charming St Remy de Provence and daytrip to Nimes and Arles (don't miss the market day in St Remy) and then drop the car at TGV Avignon for a speedy train trip to your next destination. St Remy has its own Van Gogh and Roman sites.

I've stayed multiple nights in both, and would just say that I think it's easier not to get crowded by American tourists in Nimes. I'm also partial to earlier history over van Gogh idolatry, sort of, but make sure you go to the Abbaye of Montmajour outside Arles with a live guide or having read a good guide beforehand, b/c it has plenty of both.

Nimes, otoh, has easily found middle-distance history too, from when it was an industrial textiles powerhouse -- the rise of capitalism and (brief) decline of authoritarianism is built into the city's canals and parks. Arles might be better for Church and synagogue evolution, though.

If you're serious about loving museums then you could easily spend all your time in Arles, Pont du Gard, and Nimes, inside looking at Gallo-Roman exhibits. Build some time strolling by the river into your schedule.

avirisoemail - We are not into van Gogh either and don't plan on seeing any of his work or places associated with him specifically. You are not alone.

I'm starting to think Nimes might be better too with its huge museum and all the Roman sites and gardens. I'd love suggestions on places to stay in Nimes. It would then allow us to split things in Nimes up if needed to and not do it all in one day. I will also add that we do have the better part of a day to see things like the monastery mentioned, Carriere Lumiere, and do some wineries. Suggestions on wineries would be great too! Thanks all!

I don't think it really matters given what all you want to see/do but for what it's worth I found Arles to be a more interesting, lively town than Nimes which I found rather 'sterile' (at least for France). Obviously you'll want to visit it to see the arena, etc. but if I were doing the trip I'd want to base in Arles.

You will get lots of opinions on this one.

For us it was Arles hands down. Much to see, great restaurants, a great walking town, and close to get around to rest if Provence.

I would go back again in a heartbeat.

No problem with the opinions. I asked for them, and Arles was my first instinct. I became concerned about the parking and maybe not enough time in Nimes. Rick's book mentions a parking garage that was close to where I wanted to stay so I was planning on parking there. But if it isn't easy to use maybe I should reconsider?

We have not been to Nimes, but a few years ago we spent about 5 nights in Arles with a car and liked it very much. Many choices for hotel and restaurants. We parked in the municipal garage, and got a somewhat reduced rate from the hotel. It was a short pleasant 10, 15 minute walk to the Hotel de l’Amphitheatre. Closer free parking was available, but the garage was a lot easier than navigating streets each day. We took the train to Avignon one day and drove the remainder. It’s lovely without Van Gogh. Safe travels.

Denny - thank-you, that is good to know. Of course, that makes my choice harder.

In Nimes, I've stayed at the RS-recommended Hotel des Tuileries - as he often does, Rick goes with the nicest owners and best locations rather than the poshest furnishings. The owners were very very friendly with me -- a little more than I was looking for, actually: they wanted me to go out to dinner with them, and the husband has a side business making microbrew beers and he wanted me to take an interest. Location was great and my room had a fullsize bathtub, which is a bonus not always found at reasonable prices.

I wanted to use the money I was saving on a bed to splurge on the dining, and I found a great square that is hot among French tourists but missed by most outsiders, thankfully -- the Place des Esclafidous.
As with other towns with tourist attractions, you can find plenty of flashy dining around the major sites like the Maison Carree, but you get a better experience away from those spots. This holds for Arles as well -- I can't help but see some comments above about what people visiting liked and didn't like as reinforcement for my 'elitist' or insider sense of how to find the backdoors in the midst of a lot of shiny signage.

Re Parking. We booked the very central Best Western which was fine and has good parking I had not realized it was the September Festival du Riz and that cars would be parked on every berm ad sidewalk and had not reserved parking ahead. I believe you can do that. This hotel was an easy stroll to the town center and we would stay again. They have a pool, a decent enough breakfast -- rooms with safes. Very basic budget sort of place but location great. We have found that quite a few hotels have limited parking that can be reserved. On our last trip from the Dordogne to Paris we stopped in Auxerre in a hotel right below the Cathedral and didn't want to unload the car for one night (my arm was in a cast to the shoulder. They had covered secure parking which I had checked on and reserved before arrival and it was perfect. We also found a place in Beaune on one transit that had secure parking.

Hi,

Nimes' historic centre is small and easy to get around - the Tourism Office actually offer a 90 minute walking tour, which must be really pushing it! No-one has mentioned the Jardin de la Fontaine, which is really worth a visit, with it's superb Roman Tour Magna - a must.

I have never stayed there, but the aptly-named Hotel de l’Amphitheatre is surely the best-located 3-star hotel in the city centre and only a 5 minute walk from the Gare SNCF. They may well have their own parking option nearby, but you can park a car in the centrally-located underground car park - ask the hotel for details.

I was disappointed with Arles - and the Nimes Amphitheatre is the best preserved outside of Italy.

Hope this helps!

millicent - thank-you so much for the info! We are still trying to decide, but yes we were planning on the jardins with roman sites.

I chose Arles and was happy with the choice. I walked Nimes one afternoon but didn't feel I needed more time there. Arles has more sights to choose from and the center has a great old feel. I stayed in an apartment immediately next door to the "Yellow Cafe" by Van Gogh.

Both have plenty of restaurants and lodging to choose from. I parked right on the river (a couple blocks from my lodging) in Arles, overnight parking in the lots that line the river is inexpensive. That worked fine for my schedule of getting up early and sight-seeing then returning for dinner, evening activities, and sleep.