Nîmes
Nîmes is a city of Roman monuments in southern France, where you can see a well-preserved arena, a temple and a garden built over Roman baths.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Nîmes is a city in Occitanie, the southern French region, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Cévennes mountains. It is nicknamed the French Rome and the most Roman city outside Italy, and its ancient monuments are the main reason to go. France's best-kept Roman arena still hosts bullfights and concerts. The Maison Carrée, a Roman temple, ranks among the most intact of its kind, and the ruined Tour Magne stands on Mont Cavalier, the hill where the early settlement began.
Nîmes is also known for serge de Nîmes, a twill cloth that lent its name to denim. Nearby, the Pont du Gard, an old Roman water bridge, makes a full day trip. The city is hot in summer, when July and August often pass 34 °C, and cold in winter, with nights often below 0 °C from December to February and snow most years. Give the Roman sites in town a full day, and the Pont du Gard its own.
Nîmes in five
- Check the combined Roman ticketThe Arènes, the Maison Carrée and the Tour Magne have their own entry rules. Check the official site for prices, opening hours and whether a combined ticket covers the ones you want.
- Pair the arena with the Maison CarréeThe two Roman monuments are a few minutes' walk apart in the old center. Plan an hour each, and keep the late afternoon for the Jardins de la Fontaine.
- Reach the Pont du Gard by bus or carThe aqueduct stands about 25 km north-east of Nîmes. Check bus times and the site's visitor rules and parking before you go, as parking is charged and hours vary.Car for Provence
- Know the FériaThe Féria de Nîmes, with bullfighting and street festivities, takes place around Pentecost and fills hotels. Check the dates on the city's site and book early, or avoid that weekend.
- Use Nîmes to cover Arles and AvignonBoth are short train rides away, and Nîmes is often cheaper than a room in either. It is a good base if you can accept a daily train.Arles travel guide
Things to do in Nîmes
See all attractions in Nîmes
Need to know
- Airport
- Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes (FNI), small; Montpellier (MPL) is larger
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris about 3–3.5 hrs; Montpellier about 30–40 min
- Getting around
- Walkable old center; buses for the Pont du Gard
- Best base
- Near the arena and the Maison Carrée
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with Pont du Gard
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cool, mild daysJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, mild days
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, mild daysFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, mild days
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, freshMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fresh
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring, terracesAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, terraces
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Féria, warmMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Féria, warm
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, long days
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, busyJulyClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, busyAugustClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, harvestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, harvest
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Mild, goldenOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, golden
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Cool, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cool, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Nîmes, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nîmes
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 57%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Nîmes
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°7°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue15°5°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed11°8°69%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu12°9°70%Thursday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Fri15°8°75%Friday: Rain. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Sat14°5°23%Saturday: Fog. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun15°10°47%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 47%.
Updated 09:36 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jun–JulAix-en-Provence FestivalAix-en-Provence, a day trip
- JulFestival d'AvignonAvignon, a day trip
- Jul–AugChorégies d'OrangeAvignon, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Pont du Gardabout 30–45 min by bus or carA three-tier Roman aqueduct over the river. Parking is charged.
- Arlesabout 25–30 min by trainA Roman arena, a theater and Van Gogh's town.Read the guide
- Avignonabout 30 min by trainA walled city and the papal palace.Read the guide
- Camargueabout 45–60 min by carMarshland, flamingos and white horses; Aigues-Mortes is the town.Read the guide
Before you go to Nîmes
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Nîmes, checked
- Carry your passport or national ID card at all times. French police can ask to see it at any time.Source
- Non-EU visitors should check the entry rules for their passport country on the France Diplomatie website before flying.Source
- Check the status of the EU entry and exit checks for non-EU travellers on the official Travel Europe site before you go.Source
- Cash carried across an EU external border above the declaration threshold must be declared to customs.Source
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public places in France, including bars and restaurants.
Plan around Nîmes
Regions, cities and entry rules
Read the guideArles travel guideRoman arena and Van Gogh, 25–30 min
Read the guideAvignon travel guidePapal palace, about 30 min by train
Read the guideCamargue travel guideWetlands and white horses to the south
Read the guideProvence travel guideThe region around Nîmes
Read the guideNîmes FAQ
Is Nîmes worth visiting?
Yes if you like Roman monuments. The arena and the Maison Carrée are both excellent and close together, and the city is less crowded than Arles or Avignon. It is a small city, so one day is enough.
How many days do you need in Nîmes?
One day for the arena, the Maison Carrée and the gardens. Two days if you add the Pont du Gard or Arles. A third is rarely needed.
How far is Nîmes from the Pont du Gard?
About 25 km, roughly 30–45 minutes by car or bus. Check bus timetables and the site's visitor information for parking and entry details before you go.
Nîmes or Arles: which should I visit?
Both have Roman arenas. Arles is smaller and prettier, with Van Gogh sights. Nîmes has the Maison Carrée, one of the best-preserved Roman temples. They are 25–30 minutes apart, so see both if you can.
Is Nîmes a good base for Provence?
It works for western Provence, the Camargue and the Pont du Gard, with trains to Arles and Avignon. It is less convenient for the Luberon or the Riviera.