11 Best Things to Do in Aix-en-Provence

In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the south of France, lies the city of Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of the important post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. In its streets you will find a combination of history and beauty, reflected in its monuments, squares and buildings.

During your stay you will not have to worry about what to see and do in Aix-en-Provence, as there is a wide range of activities on offer. You can explore the old town, discover the wine culture, contemplate the architectural displays of the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, visit the Provençal Market or taste fresh produce, among other activities. Want to know more?

If you are an oenology lover, you have to book the Mont Sainte-Victoire wine tour where you will discover the flavors and aromas of the different vintages of reds, rosés and whites.

Usually these tours include the company of an expert guide and take place in the wine region located behind the mountain of Sainte-Victoire (30 minutes from the city center), as several vineyards are located in this area. For example, Vignerons du Mont Sainte-Victoire.

You can enjoy a picturesque natural landscape, learn about the process of cultivation, harvesting and pruning of the vine, learn how the product is created and bottled. In addition, the experience ends with a tasting of award-winning wines.

Information of interest

• Price: you can find this activity for prices ranging from 84 € per person.
• Duration: the wine tour usually lasts a maximum of three and a half hours.

Another ideal plan is to book an excursion to Cassis, a fishing village of unparalleled beauty that you will know in detail thanks to the accompaniment of a professional guide who will take you through the highlights of the region: the coastal road Corniche des Crêtesconocer, the cliff Cape Canaille or the picturesque Port of Cassis.

An activity, lasting approximately four hours, through the jewel of the Côte d'Azur, in which you will also have free time to walk around the village, enjoy the local gastronomy, take the best snapshots or buy peculiar souvenirs.

The excursion, in small groups of no more than eight people, includes round-trip transfer by minibus.

Useful information

• Price: you can book this excursion from 74 € per person.
• Duration: the excursion has a maximum duration of four hours.

Among the best tours I recommend you to book a sidecar tour of Aix-en-Provence, either with audio guide or with a local guide. You will be able to discover the interesting history of its buildings, monuments, squares with ornamental fountains and other destinations of interest located along the streets.

With audio guide

With the audio guide system you will explore Aix-en-Provence with the information from your cell phone, but at your own pace, as you can pause the playback and resume it whenever you want. Thanks to the GPS system, you will follow a route from the Town Hall of Aix-en-Provence, the city's town hall, to the Fontaine de la Rotonde, the ornamental fountain dating from 1860.

• Price: the use of the audio guide usually costs 7.49 €.
• Duration: the audio guide lasts approximately 75 minutes.

With a local guide

In this type of tour the guide will provide you with interesting facts and anecdotes that only locals can know. You will walk along the Cours Mirabeau where you will see the famous four fountains: La Rotonde, the Fountain of the Nine Canons, the Fountain covered with moss and the King René Fountain. You will discover the City Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, monuments, squares, terraces and much more.

• Price: guided sidecar tours are priced from 123 € per person.
• Duration: the average time of this guided activity is 45 minutes.

Visit the Terre Ugo family estate and see its beautiful lavender fields without leaving Aix-en-Provence. You will only have to drive approximately 15 minutes from the historic center and you will find this magical place with a long history and eco-responsible approach.

Once you enter this field, you will be immediately relaxed by the sweet fragrance of lavender and the sound of cicadas. You will be able to contemplate a true dream landscape composed of three hectares, where the protagonist is this emblematic flower. During the tour you will learn everything you need to know about the organic cultivation of the lavender flower, its origin, benefits and variety of uses. You will also have free time to take pictures, lie down to sunbathe in one of the chiliennes or sit under the shade.

In addition, before the end of the experience you can go to the restaurant area and try the refreshing lavender ice cream or enter the product store and buy oils, infusions or soaps. Another option to get to know the lavender fields is to book an excursion to the Verdon Natural Park.

Useful information

• Price: the tour of this lavender field in the heart of Aix-en-Provence costs €7 per person. Children under 12 years old can participate for free.
• Duration: the experience usually lasts a maximum of 2 hours.

If you are interested in learning about the life and work of the post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, in Aix-en-Provence you will have the opportunity in a circuit that you can do at your own pace. Take as a starting point La Rotonde, just outside the Tourist Office, where you will see some marks on the ground with the image of the coat of arms of the city that you will have to follow. Among the more than 30 places that you will discover along the way, the following stand out:

• The Statue of Cézanne, made in bronze by Gabriel Sterk.
• The Société des amis des arts, on Avenue Victor Hugo 2 bis, known for being the place where Cézanne held two exhibitions.
• The Collège Mignet, at 41 rue Cardinale, where the artist studied.
• The town hall, where he legally joined his life with Hortense Fiquet.

You can also add to this experience a visit to Cézanne's studio, at 9 Av. Paul Cézanne. There, you will find his work tables, fruit bowls, the usual skulls, vases, clothes and all his instruments. And if you want to continue to know Aix-en-Provence from an artistic point of view, be sure to book an excursion on Van Gogh.

Useful information

• Price: the circuit of Cézanne's footsteps is free of charge. However, to access the artist's studio you will have to pay an entrance fee starting at 6,50 €. In addition, you can enhance the experience with an audio guide for an additional cost of approximately €3.
• Hours: the circuit is available throughout the day, as it is a self-guided activity. The workshop is usually open from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence you can either rent an electric bike and explore the city on your own up to the foot of Mont Sainte-Victoire or take the activity with a guide who will tell you about this iconic place, which inspired the French painter Paul Cézanne.

During the route you will ride through the streets of Aix-en-Provence, getting a different perspective of them, the first kilometers being asphalted. Then you will find off-road trails and some steep hills.

You will pass a series of viewpoints overlooking the imposing mountain. You will also have the opportunity to stop to admire nature and take pictures. Definitely an activity that should not be missing on your itinerary of the best day trips from Aix-en-Provence.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the activity starts at 64 € per person.
• Duration: the guided bike tour usually lasts 3 hours.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence, be sure to visit the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral. There, you will discover an incredible architectural sample of great beauty and historical importance.

When you arrive at the site you will contemplate the facade and you will immediately think that it is a construction belonging to the Gothic style. However, when you enter the interior you will see how the Romanesque style and other architectural trends are intermingled. Along the tour you will see:

• The Central Nave, with a Gothic wine cellar.
• The right side nave, which was formerly a temple of worship to the god Apollo.
• A circular baptistery, dating from the 6th century.
• The left nave, representative of the Baroque style.

In addition, there is the Romanesque Cloister, built at the end of the 12th century and in which you will see a quadrilateral with the four evangelists (Luke, Matthew, John and Mark), twin columns and vegetal capitals.

Information of interest

• Price: the entrance to the Cathedral and the guided tour of the Cloister is free.
• Opening hours: the Cathedral is open every day from 8 am to 7 pm. Access to the cloister is by a guided tour that starts every 30 minutes from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

Riding the Le Petit Train Touristique is another must-do on your visit to Aix-en-Provence. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time aboard the carriages of this small electric train as you ride through the lively streets of the old town.

To enjoy this experience, you should head outside the tourist office of Aix-en-Provence. From there, you will set off on a panoramic tour of the town's main tourist destinations. Such is the case of the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral and the City Hall Palace. Also, some fountains such as La Rotonde, the Fountain of the nine canons, the Fountain covered with moss, the Fountain of King René, terraces, monuments and more.

In addition, in any of the 57 cars of the train you will have headphones to enjoy an audio guide in several languages. This way, you will learn about the history of the city and the places you pass through.

Information of interest

• Price: the entrance fee to Le Petit Train Touristique is around 10 ¤ for adults and 5 ¤ for children from 4 to 12 years old.
• Duration: the ride on Le Petit Train Touristique usually lasts about 45 minutes.

At the Aix-en-Provence Market you will live a unique experience. You will be captivated by the picturesque scene of the place and the intoxicating aromas of fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, cheeses and seafood.

You can walk through each of the market stalls accompanied by a local guide who will tell you the history of the place, the food and products, while suggesting the best places for you to start tasting. You can also do this activity on your own.

In either case, you will taste products such as olive oil, honey, Provence wines, cheeses, bread, sausages, olives and fruits. You will have time to shop for lavender, flowers, Corsican meat, fashion, handicrafts and more. And, if you wish, enjoy a cooked meal.

Useful information

• Price: the guided tour has an average cost of 45 € per person. However, if you do the activity on your own, the entrance to the market is free.
• Duration: the guided activity usually has a maximum duration of 2 hours, but if you do the tour by yourself you will not have time limit.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence you can enjoy the thermal waters of the city and, thus, spend a different day. You will relax and enjoy the benefits of the waters that have been emanating from the town for more than 2,000 years.

You can go to the Sextius baths or the Roman baths, located about six minutes walk from the center of Aix-en-Provence. This is a place that combines the architecture of the 18th century and the modernity of the new times.

Although you will not be able to contemplate the ruins of the ancient thermal baths, because they are not preserved, you will have the privilege of immersing yourself in these mineral waters with a temperature of 34ºC, arranged in a beautiful fortification. You can also enjoy mud treatments, hydromassage and steam baths to relax to the fullest.

Information of interest

• Price: the price of the thermal baths starts at 32 € per person.
• Hours: every day from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm.

The Fondation Vasarely is a must-see destination if you are an art enthusiast. Therefore, you should not hesitate to incorporate this visit in your selection of the top 10 museums in Aix-en-Provence.

You will enjoy an amazing artistic display of Op Art, mixing abstract and constructivist. All this through lines, colors and shapes that aim to deceive your eyes through illusions.

During your tour through the rooms of this museum dedicated to Victor Vasarely, who is considered the father of Op Art, you will discover the life of the artist and the history behind this movement. In addition, you will see works such as Chessboard (1935), Zebra (1937), Vega-Nor (1969), Vega 200 (1968), Optical Cube (1997), among others.

Information of interest

• Price: the entrance fee to this museum starts at 12 € for adults. There are also reduced prices for groups and with a guide, which you should check in advance.
• Hours: every day, from 10 am to 6 pm; except on December 24, from 10 am to 4 pm. Closed on December 25 and January 1.