Bonjour! Welcome to Avignon, one of the most captivating cities in southern France. Once the seat of the Popes, today this UNESCO-listed city combines medieval charm, remarkable landmarks, and a lively Provencal atmosphere. From the iconic Papal Palace and ancient ramparts to the famous half-bridge immortalized in a beloved French song, Avignon is a city where history and everyday life come together beautifully. Whether you visit for a day or stay for a few, this enchanting city is sure to capture your heart – just as it captured ours. Keep reading and discover our favorite things to do in Avignon.
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Avignon, France FAQ
Avignon is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France on the banks of the Rhône River. It’s the main city of the Vaucluse department. Avignon is a perfect stop on any trip through Provence.
Avignon is absolutely worth visiting. With its iconic Palais des Papes and Pont d’Avignon, well-preserved medieval walls, and a charming old town, Avignon offers a wonderful blend of fascinating history and Provençal charm.
Avignon is best known as the seat of the Popes in the 14th century and for its remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered throughout the city. Additionally, the city is renowned for its annual summer Festival d’Avignon, one of the world’s oldest and most famous theater festivals.
You can see most of the main attractions of Avignon in just one day, as the city is compact and its highlights are within walking distance. However, if you want to get to know Avignon better and fully appreciate its charm, we recommend staying at least 3 days. If you’re short on time, a day trip to Avignon is still absolutely worthwhile.
Things to do in Avignon, France
Palace of the Popes
You can’t visit Avignon without admiring the iconic Palace of the Popes, the city’s most famous landmark. It’s the largest Gothic palace in the world, covering an area of 15k square meters, which is equivalent to four Gothic cathedrals!
The Palace of the Popes was built in the 14th century in less than 20 years when the popes fled Rome and established the papacy here. It wasn’t used for long though, as the papacy returned to Rome in 1377, after only 68 years. Today, Palais des Papes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and exploring it is one of the coolest things to do in Avignon.
Inside, you can explore 25 rooms, including the Pope’s private chambers, grand ceremonial halls, chapels, and medieval kitchens. The private apartments of the Pope feature incredible frescoes by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti. You’ll also receive an interactive Histopad tablet that brings the palace to life through 3D reconstructions of how it looked during the papal era. Oh, and don’t miss the viewing terrace with incredible panoramic views!
Entrance to Palace of the Popes costs €16 for a normal ticket, €13 for a reduced one, and €10 for children aged 10-17 (August 2026). You can also buy a combined ticket with Avignon Bridge and/or Papal Gardens and save a buck. Remember to book your ticket online in advance. For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the palais-des-papes.com website.
Pont d’Avignon
Walking on the famous Pont d’Avignon, or Pont Saint-Bénézet as it’s officially known, is another of the best things to do in Avignon. It was made famous by the classic French children’s song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon,” and today is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Pont d’Avignon was built in 1234, replacing the original wooden bridge. Originally, it spanned across the Rhône River with 22 stone arches, connecting Avignon to Villeneuve-les-Avignon. But after being damaged repeatedly by floods, only four arches remain today, creating the peculiar sight of a bridge that abruptly ends in the middle of the river.
Today, you can walk to the edge of the remaining bridge, enjoy beautiful views over the Rhône and the Palais des Papes, and visit the small chapels of Saint Nicholas and Saint-Bénézet. And if you feel like it, you can even hum or dance along to the melody of the famous song!
Entrance to Pont d’Avignon costs €6 for a normal ticket, €5 for a reduced one, and €10 for children aged 10-17 (August 2026). You can also buy a combined ticket with Palace of the Popes and/or Papal Gardens to save a buck. For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the avignon-pont.com website.
Avignon Old Town streets
There’s no better way to discover Avignon Old Town than by simply wandering through its maze of charming streets, soaking up the medieval vibe, and slowly exploring every corner. The entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you’ll quickly understand why.
In Avignon Old Town, you’ll find points of interest like: Place de l’Horloge – main square home to City Hall with its clock tower and the elegant Opera House, Place du Palais with amazing views of the Palais des Papes and the Cathedral, and Rue des Teinturiers – one of Avignon’s most charming streets. Also, don’t miss Basilique Saint-Pierre, Les Halles d’Avignon indoor market, and lovely Place des Corps Saints.
In addition to the main landmarks, Avignon Old Town is full of smaller museums, historic churches, and plenty of cozy cafés, restaurants, and little shops where you can take a break and enjoy the local vibe. With so many fascinating landmarks and picturesque spots, strolling through the historic centre is easily one of the best things to do in Avignon.
Avignon Tourist Office is located on Cours Jean Jaurès, close to Place des Corps Saints. It’s a great place to grab a map or get information about current events and guided tours.
Interesting fact. The historic center of Avignon is surrounded by impressive 14th-century city walls, which still stand almost completely intact today!
Avignon Medieval City Walls
One of the most impressive features of Avignon is its perfectly preserved medieval walls, dating back to the 14th century, built to protect the city from attacks. Today, they stretch for about 4.3 kilometers, completely encircling the historic center, and are punctuated by dozens of towers and gates.
What makes Avignon’s walls even more special is that they’re among the few in France to have survived intact. They were actually saved from demolition in the 19th century because they helped protect the city from the Rhône’s devastating floods!
Walking along the ramparts is a must on the list of things to do in Avignon. Not only are they an impressive sight, but they also offer beautiful views of the river and the surrounding landscape. Whether you admire them from afar or pass through one of their ancient gates, exploring Avignon’s medieval walls is an unforgettable way to step back in time.
Doms Garden
When in need of a break from sightseeing, head to the Doms Garden (fr. Rocher des Doms Gardens), a beautiful public park located on a small hill just above the Palais des Papes. This space offers some of the best panoramic views in Avignon – you can see the Rhone River, Pont d’Avignon, and Villeneuve-les-Avignon with its impressive fort across the water.
Doms Garden features shady paths, fountains, a small lake with swans, and plenty of benches where you can sit and take in the scenery. Entrance is free during opening hours.
Avignon Cathedral
Avignon Cathedral is another peaceful escape from the bustling tourist sites, located just beside the Palace of the Popes. Originally, it dates back to the 12th century but has been significantly modified over the centuries to what we see today.
Its most striking feature is the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary that crowns the bell tower, visible from many points in the city. Inside, you can admire the ornate Baroque choir, elegant nave, and several chapels with Renaissance paintings. The cathedral also houses the mausoleum of Pope John XXII. Entrance to Avignon Cathedral is free during opening hours.
Museums in Avignon
Avignon is also home to several interesting museums that showcase the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Visiting them is one of the most interesting things to do in Avignon for anyone who loves art or history. Here are a few highlights to explore.
The Petit Palais Museum, located next to the Palais des Papes in a former cardinal’s palace, displays an impressive collection of Italian and French paintings from the late 13th to early 16th centuries.
The Musée Calvet, housed in an elegant 18th-century mansion, features fine arts, decorative pieces, and archaeological finds from the Renaissance to the 20th century.
For a modern twist, head to the Collection Lambert, which showcases the personal collection of art dealer Yvon Lambert, including works by renowned modern and contemporary artists.
Villeneuve les Avignon
Just across the Rhône River you’ll find Villeneuve les Avignon, a peaceful medieval town that once served as the residence of cardinals and nobles during the papal period. It’s a perfect half-day trip from Avignon, offering history, charm, and wonderful views without the crowds.
Highlights of Villeneuve les Avignon include the 14th-century Fort Saint-André – hilltop fortress with spectacular views over Avignon and its surroundings, the serene Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction – one of France’s largest Carthusian monasteries, and the Tour Philippe-le-Bel – medieval tower with fantastic views of the Rhône and the city.
Avignon surrounding area
Although there are plenty of things to do in Avignon, the city also makes a fantastic base for exploring nearby gems. Whether you’re after history, nature, or a glass of fine wine, there are many places to visit near Avignon that make every day an adventure.
Just a short drive or train ride away, you’ll find the Roman towns of Arles and Nimes, home to ancient amphitheaters, temples, and charming streets that inspired Vincent van Gogh. Don’t miss the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct only 25 km away, or the famous Provencal villages like Roussillon or Gordes. Wine lovers will enjoy a visit to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, famous for its world-class vineyards.
Explore local attractions
How to get to Avignon, France?
Avignon is located about 40km from Arles, 50km from Nimes, 80km from Aix-en-Provence, 90km from Montpellier, and 100km from Marseille. The most convenient way to get to Avignon is by car, train, or bus.
Where to park in Avignon?
In Avignon we recommend leaving a car in one of the city’s paid parking lots, like Parking Indigo Avignon Oratoire or Parking Palais des Papes, both located right in the historic centre.
If you plan to stay longer in Avignon, we recommend booking a hotel or apartment with a designated parking space.
To Avignon by bus
You can easily get to Avignon by bus. For example, the trip from Aix-en-Provence will take around 1 hour, 1.5 hours from Arles, and 1.5 hours from Nimes. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit rome2rio.com or Flixbus website.
To Avignon by train
You can also get to Avignon by train, especially from other big cities. For example, a trip from Marseille will take 35 minutes, 1 hour 15 minutes from Montpellier, and 3 hours from Nice. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit sncf-connect.com or rome2rio.com website.
Note. There are two train stations in the city: Avignon Centre located right next to the historic centre, and Avignon TGV located about 4 km outside the city center, serving high-speed connections to cities like Paris, Lyon, or Marseille.
Camping Avignon
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Lodges & Nature Camping or Camping Bagatelle Le Pavillon Bleu might interest you. They are located in or close to Avignon.
Avignon France Travel Guide – Summing up
And that’s a wrap on our favorite things to do in Avignon. With its striking architecture, beautiful medieval streets, scenic setting, and laid-back vibe, this city offers something for every type of traveler. Whether you’re planning a short city break or using Avignon as a base to explore Provence, we’re sure that you’ll fall under its spell just as we did.
We hope our Avignon travel guide helped you discover the best things to do in the city and inspired you to add this fascinating medieval town to your southern France itinerary. Enjoy your visit!
Our opinion about Avignon
For us, a visit to Avignon was a day trip from nearby Orgon where we lived for a few weeks. We visited in late May, and during that time the city was pleasantly calm and free from big tourist crowds. Exploring everything we wanted, including nearby Villeneuve-les-Avignon, took us about 8 hours.
Avignon quickly captured our hearts with its majestic landmarks, rich cultural heritage, and the relaxed southern French vibe. It was pure pleasure to explore it. We really enjoyed wandering through the medieval old town and gazing at all the grand monuments.
What we didn’t like? Honestly, not many! The only slight disappointment was the interior of the Palais des Papes – for the ticket price, we expected a bit more than mostly empty rooms brought to life by the Histopad reconstructions. Still, that didn’t take away from how much we loved visiting Avignon.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Avignon?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Avignon:
