a courtyard with a fountain in the middle of it

Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence is a university town in southern France, about 30 km north of Marseille, known for painter Paul Cézanne, Roman thermal springs and a fountain-lined avenue.

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Aix-en-Provence, usually called Aix, is a city in southern France about 30 km north of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The Romans founded it as Aquae Sextiae in 123 BC, named for its thermal springs, and it was the capital of the county of Provence from 1189. Paul Cézanne was born here and spent most of his life in the city, often painting the nearby Sainte-Victoire mountain. Cours Mirabeau, the main avenue, is a wide, tree-lined street with fountains that divides the old town from the newer districts to the south.

Aix is also a university town, with a charter granted in 1409. Visitors usually start with the cathedral, the Musée Granet and Cézanne's former studio in the northern outskirts. The Festival international d'Art Lyrique, an opera festival founded in 1948, is held each summer in late June and July. Most of the historic center is pedestrian-only, and its streets are narrow and one-way, so park in the lots along the boulevard extérieur. The TGV from Paris takes about 3 hours to l'Arbois station, outside town, where a bus shuttle runs to the center. A two-night stay covers the old town, a Cézanne site and a day trip to Marseille.

Aix-en-Provence in five

Pick the right stationAix-en-Provence TGV sits outside town, with a shuttle bus to the center of about 15 minutes. From Marseille, the regional train to the central Aix station takes around 40 minutes and drops you in town.Getting around France
Check Cézanne's studio before you plan around itThe Atelier Cézanne is a small studio and opening days change by season. Check the official page for hours and booking before building a morning around it; Mont Sainte-Victoire, which he painted, is a short drive.
Shop the squares, not the Cours MirabeauProduce and flower markets fill the old-town squares on set mornings, so ask the tourist office which days. A market lunch costs less than a Cours Mirabeau terrace and tastes better.
Book early for the July opera festivalThe Festival d'Aix-en-Provence takes over the town in summer and rooms tighten with it. Reserve a room as soon as the program is out, or visit in May or September.
Hire a car for one day onlyThe old town is pedestrian and parking is slow. Rent for a single day to reach Sainte-Victoire and the Luberon villages, and see Marseille by train.The Luberon

Things to do in Aix-en-Provence

See all attractions in Aix-en-Provence

Museum · Aix-en-ProvenceVieil Aix

brown and white concrete building near green trees during daytime

Church · Aix-en-ProvenceParoisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence

a dirt road surrounded by trees and mountains

Landmark · Aix-en-ProvenceCarrières de Bibémus

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Aix-en-ProvencePut the places you like in Aix-en-Provence on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Marseille Provence (MRS), about 30 min by shuttle bus
Getting there: TGV from Paris in about 3 hr to Aix TGV, then shuttle bus
Getting around: Walking in the old town; buses and taxis beyond
Best base: Old town, between the Cours Mirabeau and Place des Prêcheurs
Time needed: 1 day from Marseille, 2 for markets and Sainte-Victoire

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Mild, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cool mornings
MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Terraces open
MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, green
JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Hot starts
JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Opera festival
AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Very hot
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, calm
OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Mild, quieter
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Cool, rain
DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Christmas lights

Average daily high and low in Aix-en-Provence, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Aix-en-Provence Festival · Jul Aix-en-Provence Festival

Right now in Aix-en-Provence

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 9°
Humidity: 72%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Provence

09:48 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today16°3°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue17°4°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed15°7°78%Wednesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 78%.
Thu16°12°77%Thursday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 77%.
Fri17°7°80%Friday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 80%.
Sat14°7°22%Saturday: Fog. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sun17°8°42%Sunday: Fog. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 42%.

Updated 05:55 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Aix-en-Provence

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jun–JulAix-en-Provence FestivalAix-en-Provence
JulFestival d'AvignonAvignon, a day trip
Jul–AugChorégies d'OrangeAvignon, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Aix-en-Provence

TGV to Aix-en-ProvenceReserved seats, about 3 hr from ParisRead the guide

Sainte-Victoire and wine toursGuided half days from AixCompare day trips

eSIM for FranceMaps and train apps in old-town lanesRead the guide

Travel insurance for FranceCancellation cover for festival staysRead the guide

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Rules for Aix-en-Provence, checked

France applies Schengen entry rules. Check passport validity and whether you need a visa on the official France-Visas site before you fly.Source
Most of the historic center is pedestrian-only, and the old town streets are narrow and one-way. Park in the lots along the boulevard extérieur and walk in.

Plan around Aix-en-Provence

All of France

Paris, the regions and the rules every visitor needs

Read the guide Provence travel guide

Lavender, hill towns and markets around Aix

Read the guide Avignon

The papal city and Rhône gateway, an hour away

Read the guide Marseille

The harbor city that makes a half-day contrast

Read the guide EES, explained

What registration at the Schengen border involves

Read the guide

Aix-en-Provence FAQ

Is Aix-en-Provence worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a walkable Provençal town with markets, shaded squares and Cézanne's landscape. It is small, so one night suffices unless you plan Sainte-Victoire or the Luberon from here.

How many days do you need in Aix-en-Provence?

One full day covers the old town, the Cours Mirabeau and a market. Two days adds Cézanne's studio and a drive to Mont Sainte-Victoire. A third day only makes sense if you use Aix as a base for Provence.

Is Aix-en-Provence better than Avignon?

Aix is greener, more student-driven and better for markets and cafés. Avignon wins on the Palais des Papes and as a rail hub for Arles and Nîmes. They are an hour apart, so many trips include both.

How do I get from Marseille airport to Aix-en-Provence?

A shuttle bus runs from the airport to the Aix bus station in roughly 30 minutes. Taxis are faster at night. Check the operator's timetable, because first and last departures vary.

Do you need a car in Aix-en-Provence?

Not for the town itself. You do for the Sainte-Victoire hills and the Luberon villages, where buses are sparse. Rent for one day rather than the whole stay.