The Perfect 5 Day Provence Itinerary

Welcome to Provence, France! This is the region of France best known for lavender fields, picturesque towns and market days.

But you’ll soon find out it’s also home to Ancient Roman theatres, impressive bridges, ochre hills, WWII sites and very delicious food!

My husband, Colin, and I visited Provence as part of a larger South of France trip in Feb 2024. Visiting in the off-season meant we didn’t see lavender in bloom, but we did have a lot of these impressive sites all to ourselves.

There’s so much to see, do and eat in Provence – the more you research, the more you want to add to your itinerary! But if you only have a few days in the region, it can be hard to decide what to prioritize.

After extensive research before, during and after our trip, I think I’ve designed the perfect itinerary to give you a taste of everything Provence has to offer at a speed that will actually let you enjoy it!

Below I’ve combined the best parts of our visit into the perfect 5 day Provence itinerary for you, complete with my tips on how to get around and where to stay.

Ready? Allons-y!

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Provence France itinerary map

Day 1: Explore palaces and markets in Avignon

Start your time in Provence in Avignon, one of the main cities in the region and a very convenient base for your entire Provence trip.

In fact, I recommend basing here and going out on a day trips to explore the rest of the region, rather than switching hotels every night.

On your first day, I’m going to recommend three big things to do in Avignon: grab a snack at Les Halles d’Avignon, tour the Palais des Papes and walk across the Pont d’Avignon.

Les Halles d’Avignon is a huge indoor food market with over 40 stalls and vendors. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal before your day of exploring or pick up supplies for a picnic.

Apparently if you visit on Saturday morning, there’s a free cooking demonstration by local chefs. But when Colin and I visited on a Saturday in February, there was no demo to be found.

But we still enjoyed getting coffees and pastries to start our day!

From there, you can walk over to Avignon’s main attraction, Palais des Papes. The Palace of the Popes is a huge Gothic fortress that once served as the seat of the papacy (before those guys moved to Vatican City).

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is so big because each pope that came to power in Avignon decided he wanted to leave his mark on the building, adding new wings and towers with complete disregard for the previous pope’s design.

What remains is a really cool collection of giant rooms that you can explore using a histopad, which shows you what the rooms would have looked like back in the day through virtual reality.

I really enjoyed exploring this complex and learning more about it on the histopad. I especially loved some of the ancient paintings on the walls and the views from the roof.

But keep in mind, this isn’t a staged palace like you’d see in Versailles; most of the rooms are empty. So if you’re expecting a fully furnished site, you’ll be disappointed.

See more of Avignon on this city walking tour – with admission to the Palais des Papes included!

A quick walk from the palace will take you to your final stop of the day, Pont d’Avignon, or the Avignon bridge. You may know this place from the famous children’s song that goes, “Sur la Pont d’Avignon l’on y danse, l’on y danse…”

Besides the song, this bridge is also famous for going nowhere – it literally stops halfway across the river.

That’s because while it used to connect Avignon to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon on the other side of the Rhone River back in the 12th Century, it kept collapsing every time the Rhone flooded and, frankly, people got tired of rebuilding it!

If you want to learn more about the bridge, you can buy an entrance ticket and listen to the audioguide as you walk across and under the bridge, then through the little museum.

Bridge access was included in our Palais des Papes tickets, so we took the time to walk across it. But honestly? The most important part of the bridge is just seeing it, which you can do for free from the shore.

After your full day in Avignon, grab some dinner and then hit the hay so you can wake up bright and early for day two of your Provence road trip!

Day 2: Get artsy & historic in Arles and Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Today we’re starting the road trip part of your Provence itinerary with a little lesson in art and history.

From Avignon, you’ll drive 45 minutes (or take a 15 min TER train from Gare d’Avignon Centre) to reach Arles. Arles is best known for its Ancient Roman sites and as a previous home of Vincent Van Gogh.

It’s also just a super charming town! We spent a beautifully sunny half-day in Arles and I was pretty instantly in love. The winding streets, the cute cafes and squares, and all the little spots of ancient history wooed me.

You’ve got lots of options for your half-day in Arles before we head to Saint Remy. To save some money, you can pick up a Pass Avantage (valid for six months) which grants you access to six historic monuments and three museums.

Colin and I got the Pass Avantage while we were in Arles and loved exploring the Roman arena, crypts, baths and cloisters. There’s also a cemetery and theatre, plus history museums and a free modern art museum, LUMA, in Arles.

Then to get your Van Gogh fix, stop by Cafe Van Gogh (aka Le Cafe la Nuit) which inspired one of his famous paintings. You can also go on a free self-guided walking tour of Arles to see places where Van Gogh painted, lived and played.

For more history – and more Van Gogh – drive onto the next stop on this itinerary, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, just 30-40 minutes from Arles (and on your way back to Avignon for the night).

In St. Remy, you can visit the monastery where Van Gogh stayed as a psychiatric patient and painted some of his most well-known works, Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole.

My favourite part of the monastery was actually the walk to get there. You walk down a long trail with photos of Van Gogh’s paintings, a metal statue of him and a beautiful cloister courtyard.

The actual room where Van Gogh stayed? Kinda average! I was disappointed by how little there was to see and the information that was available looked like someone had just printed out a book report (in 12 pt font!) and taped it to the wall.

Out back there’s a small garden and lavender field, which are nice to walk through. Even though it wasn’t blooming season when we visited, I enjoyed seeing the green space.

But right next door to the monastery is one of my favourite sites in all of Provence, Glanum. Glanum is an ancient site that dates back to the 6th Century BC, with Gallic, Greek and Roman citizens all calling it home over the years, and wasn’t rediscovered until the 1920’s.

Colin and I loved wandering around Glanum with the provided audioguide, discovering the city of ruins. While much of the site is empty, there are still some pillars (both original and reconstructed), stone walls, underground wells and a beautiful view over the site to enjoy.

If you only have time for one thing in St. Remy-de-Provence, I’d skip the monastery and focus on Glanum!

But in case you have extra time on Day 2, you can add a quick stop at Abbaye de Montmajour, a fortified Benedictine monastery between Arles and Saint Remy that looks like a beautiful place to discover.

Or, with some more time you can head to Les Baux-de-Provence, between the abbey and St. Remy, to wander around another little Provencial town. Les Baux is famous for its charming village, castle ruins and Carrières des Lumières, an immersive art museum.

I loved the look of Carrières des Lumières when I discovered it online, but unfortunately it was closed during our February visit. Next time!

After your full Arles/St. Remy day, drive back to Avignon (30 min drive from St. Remy) for the night.

Day 3: Go back to Ancient Rome in Orange and Nimes

Yesterday was just a teaser for Ancient Roman sites – today we’re diving all in!

From Avignon, make your way to Orange (30 min drive or 20 min TER train from Avignon Centre) where you’ll pretty quickly see the main highlight of this small town: Orange’s Roman Theatre.

The Roman Theatre of Orange is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it was also my favourite Roman site in all of Provence! This 1st Century AD theatre is massive, beautifully restored and an incredible place to explore.

Because Colin and I visited on a Monday morning in February, we practically had the whole theatre to ourselves. We took our time listening to the audioguide, wandering up and down the steps, admiring the stage, and discovering the back cave rooms that were full of games and activities.

Tickets to the theatre also include entrance to the small museum across the street. Honestly, this museum doesn’t hold too much – a room of artifacts from the theatre and a few rooms with art – but is worth a quick visit.

Grab lunch in Orange (I recommend La Petite Rôtisserie – Orange) and then make your way to Nimes or head first to the famous wine village, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, just 15 minutes’ drive from Orange.

We’re not big wine drinkers, but I know Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Check out this highly rated wine tour to spend your day wine tasting with a sommelier!

After sampling the vino, or if you skipped it, you’ll head onto Nimes (45 min drive or 90 min train from Orange). Nimes is best known for three major Ancient Roman sites: Les Arènes de Nîmes, Maison Carrée and Les Jardins de la Fontaine.

Les Arènes de Nîmes (aka the Arena or the Amphitheatre of Nimes) looks like a mini Colosseum that once held gladiator battles in front of 24,000 spectators.

These days, tourists like us can imagine what the battles looked like thanks to an animated audioguide and signage around the arena. I learned there were different types of gladiators who wore different uniforms and used different weapons depending on their sub-type. Who knew?

The arena in Nimes is pretty similar to the one in Arles, though I still enjoyed visiting both. If you’re trying to decide which city to visit, read my Nimes vs Arles comparison.

From the arena, you can walk to Maison Carrée, an Augustan provincial temple from 2 AD. I had read online that the inside of the temple is pretty dry, so we opted to just admire it from the outside. It’s impressive to look at!

Carry onto Les Jardins de la Fontaine, a beautiful garden space with ornate fountains and, of course, some more ancient ruins. We loved wandering around Diana’s Temple but skipped walking up to Tour Magne, because we were a little too tired and hungry to tackle the stairs.

On your way back to Avignon, you’re going to make one more stop at Pont du Gard (30 min drive from Nimes). Pont du Gard, another UNESCO site, is a 2000 year old Roman aqueduct and one of the best preserved pieces of Roman architecture in the world.

If you visit Pont du Gard between 9am and 5pm you can go on a guided tour, check out the museum and gift shop, and even watch a little movie about the bridge.

But the site is open until midnight, so if you go in the evening like we did, you’ll have the bridge all to yourself!

To be honest, there are pros and cons to this approach. You do still have to pay to park/enter the site (though there’s no one there to check) and all of the buildings are closed, including the bathroom.

While the bridge is lit up enough to see it, the path to get to it is not lit. To be honest, I was expecting a little bit more to be “on” since the site is open until midnight.

But to have an ancient Roman wonder all to yourself with no one else around? That’s hard to beat! I also hear the museum and cinema aren’t really worth it anyway, plus they’re an added cost.

After you’ve admired Pont du Gard, drive back to Avignon (30 min drive) to rest for the night.

Day 4: Wander through the charming Luberon villages

Today we’re taking a break from Ancient Rome and wandering through some of the most charming villages in the Luberon.

The Luberon is best known for its hill-top villages, weekly markets and lavender fields. This area is easily one of the best day trips from Avignon.

Hint: Do a little research to figure out what day(s) each town holds its weekly morning market so you’re in town on the right day!

I’ll list the market days of the towns I mention below (accurate to the best of my knowledge, as of Dec 2024).

Another hint: I highly recommend having a car for this day of your Provence itinerary. The Luberon villages are not well connected by train or bus, so your best options are car or day tour.

If you don’t want to drive, opt for a Luberon village day tour! That way, you can enjoy the villages without worrying about directions, parking, etc.

From Avignon, you’ll head east and do a loop through the villages, bringing you back to Avignon for the night. There are lots of little villages to choose from, but I’ll highlight a few that stood out to me.

• L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (35 min from Avignon): Known for its charming water wheels and antique shopping; markets on Thu & Sun
• Gordes (20 min from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue): Known for its castle, with a lavender field and stone village nearby; markets on Tue
• Roussillon (15 min from Gordes): Known for its colourful buildings and ochre trails; markets on Thu
• Apt (15 min from Roussillon): Known for its candied fruit and cute old town; markets on Sat
• Lourmarin (25 min from Apt): Known for its castle and for having one of the largest markets in the Luberon; markets on Fri

And from Lourmarin, it’s a one hour drive back to Avignon!

If you want to take your time, you can also stop in the villages of Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes and Oppède le Vieux on your way back to Avignon. Or extend further east to Ansouis, home to a Renaissance castle and the Extraordinary Museum.

We didn’t make it to every Luberon village above, but the few we made it to were so charming. I loved shopping around the Tuesday market in Gordes and admiring the ochre-coloured houses in Roussillon.

On our way to Gordes, we stopped at the nearby Village des Bories, which is a very cool ancient village of stone houses you can walk through. I’ve never seen anything like it!

And if you happen to be visiting during lavender season, don’t miss Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque (just outside of Gordes) for the quintessential lavender field photo. I hear the abbey itself is also well-worth touring!

Day 5: Discover Aix-en-Provence and WWII history

On your final day in Provence, you’re making the big trek from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence. While this looks far on a map, it’s actually only a one hour drive or two hour train journey.

Depending on your plans after Aix (pronounced like the letter X), you may want to stay here rather than head back to Avignon. You could also carry onto Marseille, where there’s an international airport, or to the port town of Cassis and the Calanques National Park for some outdoor adventures.

Or do what we did, and drive your car right on over to the French Riviera for more South of France exploring!

But first, let’s enjoy a day in Aix-en-Provence. Many people actually choose Aix as their base for exploring Provence. I found Avignon to be more centrally located and more of a charming destination, so we opted to base there instead.

But Aix is definitely worth a visit. It actually struck me as the type of place where you’d want to live, rather than just visit, as it seems to have lots of amenities that would make everyday life pretty fun.

While we were in Aix, we enjoyed a delicious brunch and roamed the streets getting to know the city. We arrived too late in the day to shop at the markets, but if you’re earlier birds than us, know that Aix has a market on every day of the week!

If you’re into art, Aix is a great place to explore. There’s the Fondation Vasarely with its big pattern art , the Musée des Tapisseries with its large-scale tapestries inside a Gothic palace, and Musée Granet, home to many paintings by Aix-born Paul Cezanne.

One place you really shouldn’t miss near Aix is Camp des Milles. Camp des Milles was a WWII internment and deportation camp; it’s the largest camp in France that is still in tact and open to the public.

Colin and I spent a few hours touring Camp des Milles and it was an extremely impactful experience. We got to learn about the history of the camp, see the internment spaces and spend time reflecting thanks to memorial galleries, exhibits and artifacts.

I know a WWII internment camp doesn’t exactly go with an itinerary full of markets, monasteries and Roman arenas, but it’s an important part of Provence’s history and, in my opinion, one worth learning about.

After your full day in Aix, you can return to Avignon (1 hour drive, 2 hour train ride), stay put in Aix, or carry onto the next wonderful destination on your France/Europe itinerary!

How to get around: Provence road trip!

I would recommend a rental car for this Provence itinerary. It’s the best way to get to towns both big and small, as well as keep your schedule flexible.

We often use Discover Cars for our rentals abroad, as they compare all of the major retailers and provide you with the best options. Check out Discover Cars here!

Keep in mind that small towns can get crowded in the summer, especially on market days. Research your parking options ahead of time – or visit in the off-season like we did when parking is plentiful (and often free!).

Don’t want to rent a car? You can travel around Provence by train, but only through the bigger cities. Buses are much slower and more limited.

If you’re going to rely on trains/buses, I’d make sure to base in a big city, like Avignon or Aix, and plan to mostly visit other big cities/towns with good transit connections.

You can also get around Provence by day tour. This is a great way to still be able to see the highlights of the region and small towns without having to worry about driving/parking your own car.

Day tours also mean you can have a glass of wine (or two) with lunch without worry!

Here are some of the top Provence day tours:

Where to stay in Provence

I often prefer to pick a central base to do day trips from, rather than change hotels every night. All that moving can become exhausting, plus it’s fun to be able to frequent the same cafe each morning before you head out for the day.

We chose to stay in Avignon during our time in Provence, as it was centrally located and worked well as a great base for day trips. I included all of the drive times from Avignon in my itinerary above.

Avignon is also just a very charming city, especially in the historic district, and it was nice to be able to walk by the palace on cobblestone streets each day.

Check out these hotel recommendations in Avignon:

• Kyriad Avignon – Palais des Papes: This is where we stayed and I highly recommend it. While the rooms were small, the location was great, everything was clean and it was very affordable.
• Garlande Hôtel Avignon Centre: Upgrade to slightly larger rooms in this beautifully designed hotel, still in an awesome location.
• Hotel d’Europe: If you want to splurge, this luxurious option looks fit for royalty, with a great view of the palace!

Another option would be to split your Provence itinerary by location and have two bases. For example, you could stay in Avignon for three nights and then in Aix for two nights.

Check out these hotel recommendations in Aix:

• Hôtel Paul: A cozy but cute budget option just outside the historical part of Aix.
• Hôtel Escaletto: In the historic centre, and with a really chic, yet minimal, design style that I love. This would be my pick if we had stayed in Aix!
• Villa Saint-Ange: If you want to splurge, enjoy this incredible 18th Century villa complete with pool, on-site restaurant and gorgeous furnishings.

Provence itinerary FAQs

How many days do I need in Provence?

While my itinerary above is for five days, I think you could get a good feel for Provence in about three days.

That would give you enough time to see Ancient Roman sites, shop in cute towns on market days, and admire the stunning scenery.

How do I plan a trip to Provence?

Start by doing a little bit of research into what Provence is known for and see how those things line up with your interests. That way, you can prioritize the history, cuisine, nature, etc. of the region accordingly.

Through this research, you should be able to narrow down what parts of Provence you want to visit. Plot these areas on a map and string them together to create your ideal Provence road trip!

Or skip all of that travel research and just copy my itinerary above!

What is the best base to explore Provence?

This will depend on what areas of Provence you most want to see, how much time you have and whether you prefer a big or small town. Personally, I found Avignon to be an excellent base in Provence.

Avignon is perfectly for day trips by car, train or tour thanks to its central location. It’s also a big enough city that you could spend time doing things in Avignon without having to leave town every day.

Do you need a car to get around Provence?

While you can get around Provence without a car, I would highly recommend having one. A lot of the smaller villages are only accessible by car and having a car allows you to spontaneously stop in at a cute market or field you pass on your trip.

Rent your car in Provence here!

But if you don’t have a car, you can still enjoy Provence. Stay in a well-connected city, like Avignon, where you can take the train to other larger cities/towns. And to explore the smaller towns and countryside, hop on a day tour!

Wrapping up your 5 day Provence itinerary

Provence had long been on my France bucket list. I dreamt of the small towns, lavender fields, markets and ancient sites we’d explore one day.

And I’m happy to report: Provence lived up to the hype!

Even in the off-season before the lavender was in bloom, I was fully charmed by Provence. And while I came for the markets and monasteries, I think it was actually the history that made me fall in love with Provence.

This region – and my five day Provence itinerary above – make for the kind of trip that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re here to shop, eat, hike, castle-hop, go to museums, or explore Ancient Roman sites, you’ll find it all in Provence!

If you’re planning your own trip to Provence France, I hope my itinerary above has got you inspired with lots of ideas and places to see.

You’re going to have an amazing time and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be dreaming of your next trip back to Provence as soon as you get home!