France has some real treasures waiting to be discovered. As you’d expect, the country is filled with vivid history and a rich culture. One of the places which best celebrates this is Avignon, the historical heart of Provence. A day trip to Avignon can be spent seeing some incredible landmarks, as well as indulging in the food which only Provence can offer.
If you’re planning a day trip to Avignon, then this quick guide is for you. I’ll include everything you need to know to make the most of your day out here, as well as all of my top tips to help give you peace of mind.
With that in mind, here is my quick guide to Avignon. I hope that you enjoy!
A Day Trip to Historic Avignon | Your Quick Guide
Planning Your Trip to Avignon
Getting There
Avignon is incredibly well-linked within France. A day trip here is fairly straight forward in Provence. Trains run regularly here from all over the region, making it especially easy if you are coming in from other hubs nearby, such as Nîmes, Montpellier or Marseille.
Top Tip: There are two train stations in Avignon; Central and TGV. If you arrive from the latter then you will need to take a short bus journey to Central. From here, it is a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bus (CZR) to the city centre.
One thing I’d recommend is the Regional Pass. You can buy this through France’s train provider, SNCF, and can extend it for up to 7 days. The pass gives you unlimited travel in the South (Sud) Region and is perfect for explorers wanting to conduct other day trips.
The upfront cost of this for 3 days is €60 per adult, whereas 7 days is €100. If you are based elsewhere in Provence and are keen to explore, this is excellent value for money.
Lastly, if you are planning on driving into Avignon, I’d strongly recommend that you don’t. The historic centre is not very car-friendly and there are few opportunities for parking. If however it is your only option, there are pay-and-display car parks just outside the city walls (Parking des Italiens and Parking de l’Île Pilot).
Best Time to Visit Avignon
I honestly don’t think that there is a bad time for a day trip to Avignon. Of course, I have my preferences and probably wouldn’t necessarily visit during the wetter months. However, the city is lovely all year round.
If I had to choose though, I do love Provence in the summer. The sound of cicadas and the herbal bloom is incredibly beautiful and somewhat nostalgic for me. However, in recent years it get incredibly hot here and exploring can be rather challenging.
With this in mind, I’d recommend going early summer / late spring, around May time. This is when things start warming up and nature is awakening. You can enjoy the sun, scents and sounds of Provence, just without the excessive heat.
Another option is actually Christmas time. The city goes all-out and hosts Christmas Markets which rank up there with the best in the country. It is absolutely gorgeous with the historic buildings against the many Christmas lights.
What to do in Avignon
There is lots to do in Avignon, possibly too much to include in one post. I’ve included just my favourites and the things which you absolutely must see as part of your visit.
Palais des Papes
History
Perhaps the most celebrated landmark in Avignon is the Palais des Papes. If you aren’t aware, it was once the seat of the Pope for a short time during the 14th Century, making it the centre for Christianity during this time. It was moved here following a war between the King of France and another Pope, which ended in the Papal Seat being moved to Avignon.
What you see is actually two buildings merged into one, and the result is absolutely gigantic. In fact, at 160,000 square feet, it is the largest Gothic fortress in Europe. This is all because it was habited by two different Popes who each believed in different things. The first felt that the building should be more of a fortress, whereas the second felt that it should reflect the Papal buildings in Rome.
Since the glory days though, the building was neglected throughout the years. In fact, it even served as a barracks to the Napoleonic army.
Entrance Times and Cost
The Palace is one of the largest tourist attractions in France. As such, it remains open throughout the year. From March through to November, it is open from 09:00 to 19:00. Then, from November to February, it opens at 09:30 and closes at 17:45.
To enter, you need to buy a ticket. There are two main types of ticket; one is ‘Palace Only’ (£27 per person) and the other includes the Pont d’Avignon (£32). Only the Palace has concessions for individuals, but you can get a family pass for both for £89.
I would definitely recommend getting the combination pass. The bridge (see below) is definitely worth seeing whilst out on your day trip to Avignon.
Top Tip: If you book online you’ll receive a QR code with your ticket which goes directly to your phone. This enables you to go straight to the gate, bypassing the queue. We did this and the process took a couple of minutes despite there being a huge queue outside. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in France, I’d recommend doing this. If you need an eSim for this, use the code GIRLONTHEMOVE to get 5% off from Sim Local.
What to See Inside
As you’d imagine of a building with its pedigree, the Palace has plenty to see inside.. And outside, for that matter!
There are various rooms which you can walk in, but none are as beautiful as the private study of Clement VI. It is commonly known as the stag room and depicts a hunting fresco from the 14th Century. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I also find it incredible to believe that this is only one of a few buildings which survived a great fire in the Palace later during the same century.
Other treasures which have survived the centuries include The Great Tunel, which is a room decorated in a bold, blue tapestry which has stars sewn into it. This room is particularly important – it is where the cardinals would meet to elect a new Pope.
Throughout the Palace there are also a couple of chapels to see, Saint-Martial and Saint-Jean, each one has been intricately decorated with paintings which again date back to the 14th Century. However, not all of the Palace has been as lovingly cared for as these spaces. I’d thoroughly recommend a Histopad, which digitally rebuilds the rooms as you conduct the tour. It shows you what this grand Palace would have looked like before fires and wars.
Lastly, the loop will take you to a small garden with an outdoor seating area. I personally loved sitting here; in the summer you can smell all the nearby herbs and can hear the swifts whistling overhead. The seats are nice and shaded, and there is also a vending machine located here (with some very reasonable prices, might I add).
Time Needed
We completed the loop in around 90 minutes. However, if you wanted to, you could easily spend over 3 hours here. The Histopad adds a lot and, with patience, you can see what every room looked like.
Events
The Palace hosts various events throughout the year. Arguably the largest is its role in the Festival d’Avignon, which takes place every July. It is one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world and is definitely worth coming to the city for. Equally, the Palace regularly hosts Art Exhibitions to continue its rich heritage.
Avignon Cathedral
Next to the Palace is Avignon Cathedral. It is elevated above the square and is the seat of the Archbishop of Avignon. Similarly to the Palace, the Cathedral is also a Gothic design, but is slightly older and dates back to the 12th Century.
Following a collapse of the bell tower in the 13th Century, as well as the building being abandoned during the French Revolution, much of the interior Cathedral is not original. In fact, the medieval cloister completely collapsed. Despite this it is definitely still worth a visit. It is a very beautiful building.
Jardin des Doms
By the Palais des Papas and the Cathedral is the Jardin des Doms. This is a large hilltop garden with gorgeous views across the Rhône River.
During sunnier days, it is ideal for escaping the crowds of the city and to find some peace. This is also the season where the flowerbeds really come to life. On these clearer days, you’ll also get better panoramic views.
Pont d’Avignon
The Pont d’Avignon is one of the most famous bridges in France, and dates back to the 12th Century, though evidence of a wooden bridge here can be found 100 years prior to this.
What is most iconic about this bridge is that it is incomplete. Well, it looks it – the bridge ends halfway down the river. This is because the arches on this side of the bridge used to always collapse whenever the Rhône river flooded. Therefore, it was partially abandoned in the 17th Century and now only 4 arches (out of the original 22), as well as the gatehouse and a small chapel, survives.
Getting here is quite straight forward from the Palais des Papes; it is only 500m away and can be included in your ticket (see above). You simply show your ticket at the gate and you can walk straight on through. If however you did not visit the Palace, it costs €6 to walk along the bridge.
Top Tip: Make sure that you take the first steps down (once you get on to the bridge). These lead to a small pontoon with one of the best photo opportunities in Avignon.
Les Halles Market
The covered Halles Market is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year and is the best place in the city to find fresh, local produce. Imagine all the best foods from Provence; Provençal cheese and cured meats, sweet pastries and, of course, local wines. The building itself even boasts a living wall, which has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. You’ll find it on the north façade.
In my opinion, this is perfect for finding a picnic to take back into the Jardin des Doms, or just to purchase some souvenirs from Provence. After all, no day trip to Avignon is complete without it.
Wander through the Old Town
Lastly, it wouldn’t be a day trip to Avignon without pottering about the Old Town. I think that this is one of the most charming in Provence and is the area just around the Palace.
Throughout it, you’ll find a maze of tiny streets which are all harbouring artisan shops and places to pick up a coffee or ice cream.
If I could recommend just a few places to see, they would be:
- Place de l’Horloge – Avignon’s main square, which is hugely popular with locals and tourists. It is lively and the shade from the sycamores create a perfect place to find refuge from the sun. It is no wonder that this is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.
- Rue des Teinturiers – This is nicknamed the “street of wheels” which comes from the old watermills which are lined along it. The street itself is cobblestone, which perfectly contrasts the hippy-like feel which the street gives.
- Rue des Fourbisseurs – Possibly the best place to find the boutique shops in Avignon Old Town. In the summer this is shaded from a beautiful display of umbrellas which fly above the street.
- Place Crillon – A small, historic square in the heart of the city which is perfect for a quick coffee pit-stop.
Final Thoughts | A Day Trip to Historic Avignon
Avignon is one of my favourite places in France. It is beautiful and full of history. Though it is almost always busy when I visit, I can’t help but to love it. If you’re in Provence then a day trip to Avignon should be high on your list. I dare say that you could even make it one of your Day Trips from Paris, but expect at least 5 hours on the train that day…
I hope that you found this post useful and that you enjoy your day trip to Avignon. Of course, if there is anything I have missed out / if you have any questions, please let me know. I always love hearing from you.
