Why Visiting Avignon in France is Such a Good Idea

Before visiting Avignon in the South of France I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Up there with the likes of Marseille and Nice, Avignon is a major tourist destination in this part of the country. That’s all thanks to its incredible history and the way the city has been so completely preserved. Those interested in history, especially major European history, won’t have any trouble working out what to do in Avignon.

It’s unclear what exactly I was concerned about going into my trip. Perhaps it was that Avignon would turn out to be too touristy or be underwhelmingly one-note. Whatever the cause for my trepidation, it didn’t take long for me to realise that I had nothing to worry about. It turned out there were plenty of things to do in Avignon to the level that I quickly ran out of time and budget to do everything on offer.

To give you a sense of just what visiting is like, here’s a quick Avignon guide to sightseeing, that may as well be an excuse for me to share photos of this wonderful place. 

Getting to Avignon by train

Normally, I wouldn’t devote all that much time to taking the train to Avignon but it may well be the most important Avignon tourist information that you need to know. That’s solely because there are two Avignon train stations and you need to know the difference.

The two stations for the city are Gare d’Avignon Centre and Gare d’Avignon TGV, and they’re connected by a 5-minute shuttle train. As you might suspect, the second is the Avignon TGV station on the high-speed rail network of France.

If you’re travelling through France on the TGV from Nice, Marseille or even Paris, then this is where you’ll arrive. The problem is that Gare d’Avignon TGV is kilometres from the city centre, all out on its own.

The central station on the other hand is right outside the city walls. Regional TER trains like those from Nimes and Narbonne arrive here and make for a much simpler arrival into the city.

Avignon accommodation

The other important bit of travel advice I have is on where to stay in Avignon to make the most of your visit. Being a city of a reasonable size, you’ll find there’s a broad selection of accommodation in Avignon. That’s true whether you look at hotels and hostels or do as I did and rely on Airbnb.

The most important thing to know about Avignon accommodation is that you’ll want to stay in the city’s historic centre. There’s so much choice in that part of the city, that you have no reason to stay anywhere else.

Things to do when visiting Avignon

What makes Avignon an ideal destination for tourists is that it combines gorgeous city scenery with lots of places to visit. Some of these Avignon attractions need no introduction, but it’s best to be thorough. 

Avignon Old Town

When you visit Avignon, most of your time is going to be spent exploring its incredible Old Town. There are plenty of great attractions scattered throughout the historical centre that are bound to occupy much of your time.

But the Old Town itself is such an enchanting place on its own that you need to allow time to wander. The gorgeous stone houses with old-fashioned shutters you find down its cobblestone streets are enough of a reason why Avignon is worth visiting.

It’s worth understanding that even with the Avignon Old Town, there’s quite some variety in what you’ll find. Right in the centre there are lots of back alleys full of character that can be quite fun to meander through. Rue des Fourbisseurs stands out especially, thanks to its narrow arcade feel full of boutique stores.

Head west and you’ll discover buildings that are more polished and refined, particularly around Place Crillon. Conversely, venture east into the Place Pie neighbourhood and the architecture becomes plainer and more residential. You can discover all of this for yourself or take a walking tour like this one.

The Papal Palace

In terms of things to do Avignon is a destination that is blessed with many remarkable attractions. But in terms of its monumental history, none of the other Avignon attractions quite compete with the Papal Palace.

Palais des Papes as it’s called in French is a gargantuan Gothic building at the heart of the city. It was from here and not Rome that seven popes led Western Christianity during the 14th century.

The idea that the Pope live anywhere but the Vatican seems crazy to us now, but that was the reality of the so-called Avignon Papacy. From 1309 to 1376 seven different popes lived here in Avignon, all spiralling out of a dispute between Philip IV of France and the papacy. I won’t go too deep into the history of it all, but safe to say it was quite messy, making it interesting to learn about.

Visiting the Papal Palace you’ll learn both about the Avignon popes and this grand old building, seeing its courtyards, halls, rooms and chapels. While the exterior and courtyards of the palace rely on scale to impress you, some of the palace chapels are incredibly ornate. But some rooms and halls are relatively blank and empty in the modern day.

That’s where your audio guide device comes in to save the day. Not only does it provide audio commentary on each stop of your tour, but it also offers an augmented reality feature. With it, you can move your device around and see how a room or hall would have likely appeared at the time.

It’s a neat feature although it can get a little distracting when a room full of people are swinging them about. Still, the devices allow for an interactive experience that’s sure to help visitors engage with their surroundings.

Avignon Cathedral

Another Avignon must-see attraction is the city’s magnificent cathedral, sitting directly next to the Papal Palace.

Avignon Cathedral is also easily spotted thanks to its tower-top golden statue of Mary poking above the city’s rooftops. The cathedral began in the 12th century, well before the papal residence was moved here, perhaps explaining its more humble appearance.

While the seat for the Archbishop of Avignon, it never really held the same level of importance as the Palais des Papes next door. The cathedral does have a papal connection though as it is the home to the mausoleum of Pope John XXII, the second Avignon pope.

Regardless of its significance, you’ll find quite a pretty interior under its Romanesque exterior. Artwork, a patterned ceiling and mood lighting make it feel reverential and there are two more statues of Mary found in the Cathedral’s side chapels.

Jardin des Doms

Just off to the side of the Avignon Cathedral, you’ll find a gate leading to your next stop, the Jardin des Doms. This park sits upon the highest point of Avignon on a hill overlooking the Rhone.

And while the gardens are quiet and perfectly fine to look at, what makes the Jardin des Doms so special are the views you get from there. Because, not only are you able to gaze out over the river in Avignon, but you also get views over to Fort Saint-André in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.

There are a few different observation decks and panoramic terraces to choose from, each with its own great scenery. And if you’d like a view over the city’s rooftops, there’s even an outlook point on the park’s east side with Old Town views.

You can also get a very different view of things if you take the stairs near the Porte du Rocher down onto a section of the Old Town walls to see what they were like. Alternatively, there’s also the Escaliers Du Rocher Des Doms that take you from the park down the waterfront.

City Walls

Like so many fantastic historical destinations in Europe, Avignon is protected by city walls. These defences encircle the Old Town of Avignon and are certainly something you won’t miss when you first approach the centre. But while they’re noteworthy when you first walk through them, you tend to forget they’re there until you leave the Old Town.

One situation where the city walls stand out is when you look at the city skyline from across the Rhône River. From there they seamlessly blend in with Avignon, making the city look even more complete in its preservation.

Pont d’Avignon Bridge

Speaking of Avignon’s river, we’ve yet to address one of the city’s main attractions, the iconic Pont d’Avignon. This may not be the only Avignon bridge but it’s the only one that matters to tourists.

That’s even though it’s now incomplete, jutting maybe halfway across the Rhone. Back when the medieval stone bridge was built in the 13th century it did cross the river. However, flood damage in the 17th century left it with only four arches.

Compete or not, it’s hard to argue that the Pont d’Avignon doesn’t make for an intriguing city landmark. Whether viewed from Jardin des Doms or across the river, it certainly enhances the already beautiful river scenery. Tourists are also able to walk out on the bridge and see the medieval remnant up close.

While there, you’ll have the chance to explore the gatehouse and its small museum, stride out to the end of the bridge and enjoy views both of the river and back to Avignon.

Rhone River ferry

To see the Rhone River from a different perspective or visit the far bank, head for Quai de la Ligne. This small dock at the northern end of the Old Town has a ferry that makes the quick journey over to Île de la Barthelasse. Not only is the short boat ride quite a peaceful experience, but it also allows you to see Avignon from a whole new perspective.

I suggest taking the ferry across and then following the riverbank to the bridge back into the Old Town. Leave it until the later afternoon and you’ll see Avignon aglow in the afternoon light and even watch the sky change as sunset falls.

Other Avignon attractions

With a quick guide like this, there’s no way I’m going to cover every attraction in Avignon you could see.

That’s the case when you’re a budget traveller like me in France. Instead, I’ve focused on things to see in Avignon that you’ll want to prioritise if you’re only there one day. With two days in Avignon or more, you’ll have enough time to add other sights to your itinerary.

Whether they’re the many churches that are dotted around the Old Town or the various palaces and mansions, that’s up to you. Then there’s the city’s wealth of museums, such as the Musée du Petit Palais, the Angladon Museum and the Calvet Museum, all of which seem well-regarded. I haven’t even delved into the food scene here, but the Halles d’Avignon Market is a good place to start.

A day trip to Pont du Gard

If you feel like getting out of Avignon for a bit, you have so many other places in this part of France to visit. Both Occitanie and Provence have lots to explore, but I think one of the best options is to visit the Pont du Gard.

Avignon has its fair share of impressive landmarks. I’m not sure any quite match this ancient Roman aqueduct though. How something this old is still standing, let alone was successfully functioning millennia ago, is beyond me. A quick visit here won’t be enough either, thanks to the onsite museum and beautiful nature that you can also explore.

To do a day trip to Pont du Gard from Avignon, it only takes a bus ride right to the site’s entrance. The bus takes less than an hour, costs around 3€ return and couldn’t be easier. Even with the admission ticket, it’s a pretty cheap day trip. Alternatively, just take a tour to visit it and other regional attractions. It’s that easy.

For more on how to visit, see my Pont du Gard guide.

Have you been lucky enough to visit Avignon before? What sights or attractions did I fail to mention? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.