Avignon
Avignon France: Old Town, River Walks and Day Trips
Why Avignon works well for a short trip
Avignon, France works well as a short trip because the centre is easy to read on foot and the main stops sit close together. The Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet are about 6 min apart, and Avignon TGV is about 60 min on foot from both, so you can plan around the Old town without much transit time. The palace is open every day of the year, which helps on a tight weekend. City hotels here have a median guest rating of 8.6/10, so you have a solid base near the centre if you want to stay close to dinner, the river, and the day-trip trains.
The Old town and the Palais des Papes
The Old town works best when you pair the square around Palais des Papes with the nearby lanes and city walls. The palace entry costs 16€, and the visit takes about 2 hours, which is long enough to see the main rooms without turning the day into a museum crawl. It is a medieval Gothic palace and a UNESCO-listed site, so this is the one stop that gives Avignon, France its historic weight. Go early if you want quieter corners around the square.
This is not a practical stop for everyone. The visit has many stairs and no access for people with reduced mobility, so it is a poor choice if you need step-free movement. Strollers must go into storage, while a baby carrier is loaned free, which makes the site easier with very young children than with wheels. Keep that in mind before you join the queue.
Walk the Pont Saint-Bénézet and the river
The Pont Saint-Bénézet is the easier river walk in Avignon, France, and it makes more sense when you treat it as a short stop, not a long outing. Entry is 19,50€, and the visit takes about 35 minutes, which is enough time to cross, look back at the Palais des Papes, and watch the Rhône shift the city away from the Old town. A lift gives access for reduced mobility, and the free audioguide comes in 11 languages, so you can move at your own pace. Go for the views and the bridge remains, then keep walking along the river if you want a quieter finish.
Museums, markets and quieter streets
Start a slower morning at Musée du Petit Palais, inside the Palais des archevêques in the Old town. It works best before lunch, when the nearby squares are calmer and you can move between the museum, the Palazzo area and the lanes around Pl. du Palais without rushing. Keep the walk compact and use the surrounding streets for coffee, a market stop or a break from the bigger sights. If you are in Avignon, France during the festival period, the cultural calendar gets much busier, but this corner still suits an unrushed visit more than a packed day.
Where to eat and stay in Avignon
Stay in the Old town if you want to walk to the Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet without thinking about taxis. The tightest cluster is around the Palace, where there are 56 hotels within 500 m, including La Demoiselle and Garlande Hotel Avignon Centre. River-side addresses put you closer to the Rhône River and suit longer evenings, but they work best if you don’t mind a bit more walking for dinner.
On a first trip to Avignon, France, eat with Provence in mind: herbs, olive oil, vegetables, and simple grilled fish or meat. That keeps you close to the local table and away from overcomplicated menus. Near the bridge, there are 26 hotels within 500 m, and Hotel d’Europe and La Mirande are the names to know if you want to stay by the water rather than in the busiest lanes.
Simple day trips from Avignon
Use Avignon as a base for short regional trips, not long transfers. The easiest countryside day is the Luberon, where you go for village lanes, hill views, and a slower pace than the Old town. For wine, head to Châteauneuf-du-Pape; it adds cellar visits and tastings, and it makes more sense than another museum if your weekend already includes the Palais des Papes.
For Roman sights, Arles gives you a fuller historic day than Avignon alone, with bigger ruins and a different street plan. Nîmes is the easiest regional add-on when you want one more city without overloading the schedule. If you still have energy, pair either one with the Pont du Gard, then come back to Avignon for dinner in the Old town.
In Avignon, France, these trips work best when you keep them simple: one place, one main aim, and a late return. Skip the countryside run if you only have a single night; save it for a second day or a weekend stay.
Where to stay in Avignon
Hotels in Avignon that fit this guide:
- Mercure Avignon TGV Hotel & Spa (4-star · rated 9.4/10 · 2499 reviews) — With family rooms, a swimming pool, and a hot tub, this 4-star hotel suits families and couples planning time in Avignon.
- Garlande Hotel Avignon Centre (3-star · rated 9.2/10 · 933 reviews) — For couples or solo travelers wanting bicycle access, this 3-star hotel includes secured bicycle storage and an electric bicycle charging station.
- La Demoiselle (rated 9.5/10 · 368 reviews) — Wifi available, free wifi, air conditioning.
- Hotel d'Europe (5-star · rated 9.4/10 · 138 reviews) — Couples looking for an upscale base at 12 Place Crillon may prefer this 5-star hotel’s terrace, garden, and concierge service.
- My Pad Provence 6 (4-star · rated 9.4/10 · 111 reviews) — A 4-star apartment with WiFi and an air-conditioned interior suits couples or solo travelers who want terrace time in central Avignon.
- Hotel Le Magnan (3-star · rated 8.8/10 · 2877 reviews) — Families needing comfort near Avignon’s landmarks may find Hotel Le Magnan useful, since it offers family rooms and room service.
- Les Jardins de Baracane (rated 9.7/10 · 188 reviews) — Couples seeking a quieter stay can match Les Jardins de Baracane’s outdoor pool and garden setting with its terrace and air-conditioned rooms.
- La Mirande (5-star · rated 9.1/10 · 247 reviews) — Electric bicycle charging station, air conditioning, restaurant.
- Hotel De Cambis (4-star · rated 9.2/10 · 129 reviews) — Solo travelers and couples exploring Avignon may appreciate Hotel De Cambis’s 24-hour front desk and free WiFi for flexible plans.
- Logis Hotel la Ferme (3-star · rated 8.6/10 · 1946 reviews) — Pet lovers and families may prefer Logis Hotel la Ferme for its outdoor swimming pool, pets allowed, and air-conditioned rooms.
Key facts to know before you go
Did the popes live in Avignon?
They did. The Palais des Papes in Avignon was the papal residence, and the site is a medieval Gothic palace in the Old town. The visit takes about 2 hours, so it works best as a main stop rather than a quick photo break.
How far is Pont Saint-Bénézet from the Palais des Papes?
They are about 6 min apart on foot. That short walk makes it easy to pair both sights in one day, then keep going along the Rhône River if you want a longer riverside stretch without using transport.
Is the Palais des Papes suitable if you have a stroller or reduced mobility?
Not really. The visit has many stairs, is not accessible for people with reduced mobility, and strollers must be left in storage. A baby carrier is loaned free, which makes the monument easier for small children than for anyone pushing wheels.
How long does Pont Saint-Bénézet take to visit?
Plan about 35 minutes. The bridge is best as a short stop for the views back toward the Palais des Papes, and the free audioguide comes in 11 languages. A lift also helps if you need step-free access.
What is the best simple day trip from Avignon?
The Luberon is the easiest countryside day trip from Avignon. It gives you village lanes and a slower pace than the Old town. If you want wine instead, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the better pick; save Arles or Nîmes for a fuller city day.
How to shape one easy Avignon visit
For Avignon, France, start in the Old town: Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet fill one day, then add Musée du Petit Palais and a longer river walk if you have two. Skip stairs-heavy sights if needed, and sleep near the Old town.
