Provence
Provence is a region in southeastern France known for lavender fields, hill villages and markets. Most trips here run slowly: one base, short drives and long lunches.
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Provence lies in southeastern France, between the Rhône River and the Mediterranean coast. Avignon is the main city, where the Palais des Papes served as the papal residence in the 14th century. Arles has a Roman amphitheater that still hosts events, and Van Gogh painted its streets in 1888. Inland, the hill villages of Gordes and Roussillon sit in the Luberon, and the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard lies west of Avignon.
Most visitors come in early summer for lavender, which blooms across the Valensole plateau and the Luberon, and for the markets in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Apt. Choose one base and make short drives to the villages, leaving time for long lunches. Plan at least a week to cover a home base and a day trip or two. The mistral, a cold northwesterly wind, can blow for several days, especially in winter and spring, so check the forecast before you plan outdoor days.
Provence in five
- Aim for lavender between late June and mid-JulyFields usually peak in that window, depending on altitude and the year, and harvest can leave them bare by the end of July. Ask locally before a long drive.Luberon
- Take the TGV to AvignonIt is about 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris to Avignon TGV. Pick up a rental car at the station, or rely on trains to Arles and Aix.Avignon
- Plan by market dayEvery town has one; Apt on Saturday morning and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on Sunday are among the best known. Check the town's calendar before you set out.Luberon
- Pack for the mistralThe north wind can blow for days, even in summer, and clears the sky. Bring a layer for cafe terraces and village squares.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Provence, the full guide
Avignon
- Best for: No car, short stays
- To airport: Shuttle from the TGV station
- Price band: $$
- Trains to Arles and Marseille
- Palais des Papes on foot
- Crowded in July festival
Skip if you want a quiet village.
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Aix-en-Provence
- Best for: City life, culture
- To airport: TGV station, bus to the center
- Price band: $$$
- Cours Mirabeau cafes
- Day trips by bus
- Pricey in summer
Skip if you want a rural base.
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Arles
- Best for: History, photography
- To airport: Train from Avignon, about 20 min
- Price band: $$
- Roman arena in town
- Saturday market
- Hot in midsummer
Skip if you want hill views.
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Marseille
Go to Marseille for the Old Port, the rugged Calanques inlets and sunshine. The city averages about 2,897 hours of sun a year.
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Things to do in Provence
See all attractions in Provence
Need to know
- Airport
- Marseille (MRS)
- Getting there
- TGV to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence
- Getting around
- Rental car
- Best base
- Avignon, or a village in the Luberon
- Time needed
- 5 to 7 days, one base
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCold, mistral
- FebruaryMild, almond bloom
- MarchMarkets wake up
- AprilSpring, Easter
- MayPoppies, mild
- JuneLavender starts
- JulyLavender, hot
- AugustHot, festivals
- SeptemberMild, harvest
- OctoberMild, truffles
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberCool, Christmas fair
Right now in Provence
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Aix-en-Provence
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- 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
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
- Arlesabout 20 to 30 min by train from AvignonA Roman arena and the streets Van Gogh painted in 1888.
- Aix-en-Provenceabout 30 min by train from MarseilleA fountain-lined old town with plenty of cafés, an easy day from Marseille.
- Luberon hill villagesabout 45 to 60 min by car from AvignonGordes and Roussillon, stone hill villages with ochre cliffs nearby.
- Pont du Gardabout 30 to 40 min by car from AvignonA Roman aqueduct bridge over the Gardon river, near Nîmes.
Before you go to Provence
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Rules for Provence, checked
- Check whether your passport needs a Schengen visa for France on france-visas.gouv.fr before you book.Source
- Schengen rules let most visitors stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries.
- Most meat and dairy from outside the EU is restricted, so check the rules on douane.gouv.fr before you pack food.Source
- Emergency numbers: 112 works across France. Police 17, ambulance 15, fire 18. Save them before you travel.
Plan around Provence
Provence FAQ
When is lavender in bloom in Provence?
Usually from late June to mid-July, with the higher plateaux flowering later than the valleys. Harvest in July can leave fields cut, so ask locally before you drive far.
Do you need a car in Provence?
For villages and the Luberon, yes. You can base in Avignon, Aix or Arles and reach several towns by train or bus, but lavender fields and hill villages are far easier with a car.
How many days do you need in Provence?
Five to seven days with one base covers markets, two or three villages and a day at the Pont du Gard or the Camargue. Fewer than four feels rushed.
Where should I stay in Provence for a first trip?
Avignon if you have no car, a Luberon village if you drive. Aix suits a mix of city life and day trips, and Arles works for Roman sites and the Camargue.
What is the mistral and does it ruin a trip?
A cold north wind that can blow for days, mostly in winter and spring. It is usually dry and clear; the main nuisances are cooler cafe terraces and rough coastal sea.