Overlooking the Rhone River on the western edge of Provence is the brilliant city of Avignon, France. Here, cobblestone lanes lined with towering plane trees swirl within the city’s medieval walls. Outdoor cafes sprawl into the squares where visitors and locals enjoy the sun and a glass of France’s best wine. While its long heritage plays a critical role in its success, it is a very modern city with all the beauty, spirit, and French-ness that Provence has to offer.
For all these reasons, I chose this lovely, walkable city as one of the bases on my two-week South of France adventure. Here are a few of my best suggestions for things to do in Avignon.
- Relax in Place de l’Horloge
- Visit the Palace of the Popes
- Step inside Avignon Cathedral
- Have tea at La Mirande
- Walk along the Pont d’Avignon
- Wander Parc Rocher des Doms
- See the artwork at Musee du Petit Palais
- Sample Provencal food
- Stroll and sip on Rue des Teinturiers
- Browse Les Halles market
- Visit Manguin Distillery
- Explore the city walls
- Stop at a floating wine bar
- See the wonders of Nimes
Relax in Place de l’Horloge
Place de l’Horloge (Clock Tower Square), the city’s main square, is bursting with life. On any given afternoon, it is full of children begging for a ride on the carousel and adults enjoying a break at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants.
The busy square is also home to the 19th-century city hall and opera house. Spend some time here people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. Even better if you have an ice cream or glass of wine in-hand.
Visit the Palace of the Popes
From 1309-1378, seven popes occupied the massive Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes) in the heart of historic Avignon, one of the main cities in southern France. When the Popes lived here, it was lavishly decorated. Brilliant, lifelike frescoes graced the chapels. Elaborate tilework adorned the floors. It was all done in a style befitting the Popes and appropriate for hosting coronations, conclaves, and other important events.
Since much of the interior has been destroyed over the centuries, rent an audio guide or take one of the guided tours to help spark your imagination. It’s one of the top attractions in Provence.
This half-day tour will let you skip the line at the Palace of the Popes, see the highlights of the city, and do a wine-tasting.
Step inside Avignon Cathedral
Next to the Palace of the Popes is Avignon Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre-Dame des Doms). The seat of the Archbishop of Avignon, the Cathedral dates from 1111, though it has been reconstructed, renovated, and expanded many times over the last 900 years.
The cathedral is most recognizable by the giant gilded statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the bell tower. Inside the recently-renovated interior, you’ll find lots of artworks, two organs, and a marble throne used by the Popes that dates from the 12th century.
Have tea at La Mirande
The five-star La Mirande hotel was once a 14th-century cardinal’s mansion. Today, it combines its heritage of hosting travelers with its original purpose as a lavish home.
If the €400+ nightly rates are too steep (as they were for me), enjoying the daily afternoon tea is a great way to peek into this beautiful space. For around €15, you can have an assortment of indulgent French pastries and a beverage in the sitting room or the quiet garden area. It’s the perfect afternoon break.
Walk along the Pont d’Avignon
One of the most famous attractions in Avignon is a bridge to nowhere. The Pont d’Avignon (or, more formally, the Pont Saint-Bénézet) once stretched the entire 900 meters across the Rhone River. But, over time, the water got the best of the stone arches, and they collapsed.
Today, four arches remain along with the Chapel of Saint Nicholas. For a small fee, visitors can walk out on what remains of the bridge. An audio guide and information panels tell about its nearly 1000-year history and the French song that has immortalized it in the minds of many children—”Sur le Pont d’Avignon.”
Wander Parc Rocher des Doms
The Parc Rocher des Doms, just a short walk from the Palace of the Popes, is a great place to wander around or just relax and enjoy the Provence sun. This sprawling green space covering seven acres is designed around a large pond full of ducks and geese (and its adjacent snack bar).
The park also provides beautiful views of the surrounding area, which are explained on signs around the grounds. On a clear day you should be able to see as far as Mont Ventoux, the tallest mountain in Provence. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Avignon in the spring or summer.
See the artwork at Musee du Petit Palais
Also in the historic center is the Musee du Petit Palais, a cardinal’s palace turned art gallery. It contains a world-class collection of Renaissance works from Italy and from the Avignon school, all dealing with Christian themes. These include prominent works by Botticelli, Carpaccio, and Giovanni di Paolo.
Depending on your level of interest in the details, a walk through the museum will take about an hour. In addition to the impressive artworks, the museum is also home to a garden café.
Sample Provencal food
The cuisine of Provence reflects its location in the sunny, windy belt along the Mediterranean. It’s rustic and flavorful, featuring olives, herbs, tomatoes, goat cheese, and dozens of other delicious ingredients, plus wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and more around the region.
Avignon is a great place to sample the flavors of Provencal food. There are soups and stews like bouillabaisse (fish) and daube de boeuf (beef), vegetarian dishes like tomatoes Provencal and ratatouille, or sweets like calissons, which are made from candied fruit and almond paste. Specialty stores and restaurants all over town provide lots of opportunities to try them all.
Stroll and sip on Rue des Teinturiers
If you’re wondering what to do in Avignon in the afternoon, the pretty Rue des Teinturiers (Street of the Dyers) is a lovely walk. This tree- and canal-lined street used to be home to Avignon’s cloth industry–weaving and dyeing. Remnants of this past can be seen in the form of four water wheels along the canal.
A walk along this street is one of the best things to do in Avignon outside the historic center. The cobbled street is now home to a number of shops, galleries, and cafes shaded by the ubiquitous plane trees where you can easily while away an afternoon. My favorite stop along this path is La Cave des Pas Sages, where you can get a cheap glass of regional wine at one of their outdoor tables.
Browse Les Halles market
Not far from the historic area, Les Halles, Avignon’s covered market, has a permanent home on Place Pie. One of the best markets in Provence, Les Halles is home to 40 stalls selling just about every food item one could think of.
Several of the shops will heat up the dish of your choice for you to enjoy in the square just outside the market. There are also several bars and “sit-down” restaurants inside, if you’re looking to stay in the air conditioning as long as possible. Even if you’re not hungry, Les Halles is certainly worth a visit for the colors and scents alone.
Visit Manguin Distillery
One of the unique places to see in Avignon is Manguin Distillery. Just beyond the city walls on the Barthelasse island, Manguin makes a variety of brandies and liqueurs. They’re most well-known for their Poire Williams, a fabulous pear brandy with the pear “imprisoned” in the bottle. If you visit in the spring, you can actually see bottles tied to the trees with the pears growing inside.
The Manguin Distillery shop is open Monday through Saturday. Every Saturday at 11am, visitors can tour the distillery, learn about the steps that go into making their products, and sample a variety of the brandies and fruit creams. The tour is in French, but there is an English pamphlet, and the staff speaks fluent English to answer any questions.
Explore the city walls
One of the city’s defining characteristics is its striking medieval walls. Built in the 14th century to aid in defense, the Remparts d’Avignon stretch over four kilometers around the historic center.
The walls are impressive from many vantage points around the city, and there are numerous gates and pedestrian entrances. From the Pont d’Avignon, visitors can walk along the ramparts up to the Rocher des Doms for a beautiful view of the river.
Stop at a floating wine bar
For the best bar in the city with a view, head to Vinotage. This floating wine bar is located on a 110-year-old barge in the Rhone River.
Vinotage has over 50 wines and menu options ranging from cheese and charcuterie platters to oysters and foie gras. The selection is truly a celebration of French wine.
From the deck, there are amazing views of the bridge and Palace of the Popes, or you can grab a table downstairs in the cozy interior. Vinotage is open March through December.
See the wonders of Nimes
Just a half-hour away by train, Nimes is a great destination for a day trip or even a quick visit.
Don’t miss the cool Roman ruins in town. The Arena of Nimes, which dates from 70 AD, is reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome, is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, and is a major attraction in France. Not far away, you’ll find Maison Carree, an ancient Roman temple that now houses an exhibit about the history of the South of France.
After seeing the historical sites, pay a visit to the local market to browse and stop for seafood and a glass of wine at one of the stalls. Wrap up your trip with a stroll around the gorgeous Les Jardins de la Fontaine, a 17th-century public park with gardens and ponds.
Where to Stay
Just outside the city walls, the Avignon Grand Hotel offers spacious rooms and even a pool (Read reviews and book a room)
A convenient location with views of the Palace of the Popes and a hearty breakfast make the Hotel de l’Horloge a winner (Read reviews and book a room)
Stay steps from the main attractions at the comfortable, 28-room Regina Boutique Hotel (Read reviews and book a room)
Getting Here
The two primary ways to travel to Avignon are by flying into Paris or Marseille. From Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, you can take the high-speed TGV train to Avignon’s TGV station and then transfer to the city center (about 3 hours). Or, you can fly into Marseille and take a local train (30-60 min, depending on the train). A private transfer from Marseille makes the journey even more convenient.
OR, if you are feeling adventurous, rent a car and drive yourself! The drive through the French countryside is pleasant and you’ll value having a car if you want explore places that aren’t in the heart of Avignon.
Have you been to Avignon? What was your favorite thing to do there?
Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.
In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.
Kevin Toth
Friday 2nd of September 2022
Absolutely loved Avignon! The sights, the food, and the people! Highly recommend!
Phyllis
Sunday 24th of June 2018
We will be spending 4 nights in Avignon 25 to 28 September. Looking forward to seeing all the places you mention in your blog.
Laura Longwell
Sunday 24th of June 2018
That's great. I hope you will love it as much as I did :)
Sophia
Monday 7th of March 2016
I love Avignon, been there a number of times and still haven't got sick of this beautiful city.
Gill gignilliat
Saturday 5th of March 2016
I will be in Avignon in late June - is there a dinner cruise on the Rhone that you could recommend? Any suggestions for best place to take pictures of sunrise? Sunset?
Laura Longwell
Saturday 5th of March 2016
I didn't do a dinner cruise, although it sounds absolutely lovely. Pont d'Avignon seems to be a popular spot for both sunrise and sunset photography, and the Parc Rocher des Doms is lovely at sunset -- it has a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area.
Rossi | Rossi Writes
Tuesday 10th of November 2015
Avignon is firmly on my European travel wish list and your text and photos just made it jump to the top. Best wishes,
Rossi
Laura Longwell
Tuesday 10th of November 2015
That's great, Rossi! Avignon is such a lovely town.