10 Best Day Trips from Avignon

There are many aspects that make Avignon a very interesting city to explore. In the 14th century it was the seat of the Catholic popes, which left a mark that can still be seen today. But if you have decided to visit it, you can take the opportunity to take an excursion and tour neighboring towns and cities.

There are many options: Luberon and Nîmes, Pont du Gard or the vineyards of Provence. So read on and decide which ones to add to your itinerary.

Luberon is a dream region 30 kilometers from Avignon. Between its three mountain ranges, picturesque villages and majestic landscapes unfold. This excursion takes you to know and explore this beautiful site, leaving from Avignon accompanied by a guide, who will tell you all about the different points that you will see.

During the itinerary, you will enjoy the reddish cliffs of the Roussillon, where you will have the opportunity to take pictures, as well as in Gordes, which besides being a village that looks like something out of a painting, has a site with stunning panoramic views.

You will visit the Fontaine de Vaucluse, where you will have some free time to walk around and even refresh yourself, if the weather at the time of your visit allows it. Without a doubt, if you book this excursion that includes Gordes and Fontaine de Vaucluse, among other places, you will marvel at the great variety of colors you will see at all times.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 77 € per person.
• Duration: the experience lasts about 5 hours and a half.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: it is done in small groups of up to 8 people, so the tour is quite personalized.
• Disadvantage of this option: it does not include refreshments in any part of the tour.

An ideal plan to spend a day breathing in the fresh air of the countryside and admiring the beautiful scenery of the lavender fields is to book a lavender tour of Sault, which will take you through the surrounding purple fields of lavender flowers to learn all about their cultivation and harvesting.

Afterwards, it will take you to Sault and Gordes to see stores selling lavender products, as well as a traditional Provençal market.

The itinerary includes free time in the village of Roussillon and Gordes, plus short photo stops at specific points, such as Notre-Dame de Senanque Abbey. Note that in order to enjoy this experience you will need to know that lavender flowering is during the summer.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 55 € per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: includes pick up and return to the hotel.
• Disadvantage of this option: it does not include the entrance to the Notre-Dame de Senanque Abbey.

This excursion is another of the options for walks with historical content, since in the sites to be visited, you can learn about much of the heritage of the region. The tour of just 25 kilometers, you will do it with the company of an experienced local guide and with a small group so you will have the opportunity to ask questions about what you are contemplating.

Among the main attractions included in the itinerary of this tour, you will find:

• Saint Rémy de Provence village, site of the triumphal arch and funerary monument.
• Les Baux de Provence, a village characterized by its rocky constructions, where you can appreciate sites such as the Church of St. Vincent or the ruins of the castle.
• The Hôtel des Porcelets.
• Pont du Gard, Roman aqueduct that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Glanum, a city founded by the Celts/Ligurians and later conquered by the Romans, which has a very interesting archaeological site.

If you decide to book an excursion to Saint Rémy, Pont du Gard and Les Baux, you will feel as if you have taken a trip back in time to medieval times. It is a great alternative to combine a walk through picturesque landscapes and at the same time experience Provençal history.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 77 € per passenger.
• Duration: the excursion lasts between 5-6 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in an air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: you will see some of the most interesting places in the region with a guide and in record time.
• Disadvantage of this option: it is not adapted for wheelchair users.

A must-do is to take one of the best Van Gogh tours in Provence that will take you to see the sites in Provence that played an important role in the life of the iconic post-impressionist painter, as well as visiting the best of the city.

If you book a Van Gogh tour from Avignon you will see places that inspired the artist in his creations, such as:

• The village of Arles, a World Heritage Site, where you will see among other things, the Café La Nuit painted by Van Gogh.
• St-Rémy, where you can visit the Saint-Paul de Mausole, the mental health institution where Van Gogh spent a year of his life. There you will have the opportunity to enter a reproduction of the painter's room, and also see a reproduction of his paintings.
• Amphitheatre (les Arenes), which has its origins in the time of the Roman Empire and thanks to its excellent state of preservation is still used for concerts and events of great magnitude.

If you are a fan of Vincent Van Gogh's artistic legacy, you should not miss this opportunity to get to know the places in Provence that are intimately linked to its history.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 96 € per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transport: you will be driven aboard an air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: includes entrance to the dormitory of Saint-Paul de Mausole.
• Disadvantage of this option: not recommended for pregnant women.

This tour is one of the best day trips to Provence from Avignon, ideal for getting to know the highlights of the region in an organized way and without missing any detail, thanks to the itinerary and the company of your guide.

If you book a tour of Provence from Avignon you will be taken to the most representative sites of the area, such as Saint-Remy de Provence, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Pont du Gard, Les Baux de Provence, Gordes (photo stop only) and Roussillon.

During the scenic drive of almost 50 kilometers from Avignon, you will appreciate sites such as the vineyard of Châteauneuf du Pape, the ruins of the papal summer residence, the mountain ranges that frame the town and the immense valley of the Rhone River. In addition, you will pass through the village of Ménerbes, referred to in his book A Year in Provence by author Peter Mayle.

Details of interest

• Price: from 130 € per person.
• Duration: this is a full day tour that takes about 10 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: includes entrance to the Pont du Gard museum.
• Disadvantage of this option: it is not wheelchair accessible.

Here is an ideal option for wine lovers. If you book the wine tour through Catheauneuf du Pape you will get to know the emblematic wines of this municipality of wine tradition.

The tour has a duration of four hours, but the activity without including the time of the round trip is two hours. The tour includes both a visit to Catheauneuf du Pape and a wine tasting of two local varietals.

The tour is conducted in small groups of up to 8 people for a much more intimate experience. The transfer takes you from the door of your accommodation and then returns you to the same place. One of the best options if you want to taste renowned French wines while experiencing a picturesque rural region.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 96 € per person.
• Duration: the experience lasts about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: includes wine tasting in two cantinas.
• Disadvantage of this option: if the minimum number of participants is not reached, the activity may be cancelled.

Provence is often associated with the beauty of its hilltop villages and panoramic views, but it is also one of the areas of France where there is a large imprint of the Roman past. With this day trip from Avignon, you will have the opportunity to get to know this legacy.

Less than 50 kilometers from Avignon, the itinerary of this tour will take you to see the ancient Roman amphitheater, the Maison Carrée de Nîmes and the medieval streets of Uzes. And as if that weren't enough, you will be able to visit the Pont du Gard aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will also marvel at the regional architectural heritage, seeing buildings such as Orange, the Fenestrelle tower and the Saint-Théodorit d'Uzès cathedral. At all times you will be able to learn about everything observed thanks to your guide, and the practically personalized attention that this activity for small groups allows you.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 149 € per traveler.
• Duration: the approximate duration is about 8 hours and a half.
• Means of transport: you will be taken aboard a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: it includes the entrance to the Arena of Nîmes, the Pont du Gard and the Roman Theater.
• Disadvantage of this option: it does not include snacks and drinks.

This wine tour will allow you to appreciate the beauty of Provence on your way to the villages where the best regional wineries are located, such as Tavel and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, where you will also have two wine tastings included.

You will taste the rosé and red wines that boast of having been the favorites of French monarchs and popes. You will also learn the details of the wine production process in the southern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The tour concludes with a panoramic tour of the imposing medieval ramparts and the iconic Pont Saint-Bénézet.

Undoubtedly a most interesting experience, both for wine lovers and for the curious who are interested in the behind-the-scenes of the manufacturing of typical regional products.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 250 € per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus.
• Advantage of this option: small groups of up to 8 people.
• Disadvantage of this option: except for the wine tasting, it does not include other drinks or food.

Throughout its history, the South of France had a strong presence of the Jewish community, whose legacy and cultural heritage can still be appreciated. The Jewish community strongly influenced the improvement of the region, both philosophically, culturally, artistically and scientifically.

This excursion will take you to learn about the fascinating history of the Jewish people of Provence, while visiting ancient synagogues, cemeteries and other buildings of the community. At all times you will have the commentary of your guide to learn in depth about what you are seeing. This is an interesting way to learn about the region's past that helped shape its current identity.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 80 € per person.
• Duration: the experience lasts 8 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be taken aboard a comfortable air-conditioned minibus.
• Advantage of this option: accessible for wheelchair users.
• Disadvantage of this option: does not include drinks and snacks.

Another possibility after enjoying the best things to see and do in Avignon is to spend the day touring Arles and the Camargue. This tour, 40 kilometers from the center of Avignon, takes you to discover the historical wonders that are housed in Arles and the incredible landscapes of the Camargue. On this tour you will also see the footprints of Van Gogh, as this region was part of his life.

In Arles, you will get to know the famous Roman ruins, and you will also appreciate nature's jewels, such as the region of pink flamingos, Camargue horses and black bulls.

A visit to the Camargue village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a walk along the beaches and a hike appreciating the most relevant historical monuments of the region are included.

Details of interest:

• Price: from 82 € per traveler.
• Duration: the tour takes about 5 and a half hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in an air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantage of this option: it can be done either in the morning or in the afternoon.
• Disadvantage of this option: it does not include snacks and drinks.