8 Best Tours in Avignon

The city of Avignon is a place with many monuments and natural spaces that will captivate you. You'll be able to get up close and personal with all the historical, architectural, artistic, religious and cultural heritage that this French town has managed to preserve over the centuries.

And, to do so, opt for a bike ride along the ramparts, a panoramic walk in the historic centre or the themed tours (gastronomic, photographic...)** that I'll tell you about below, as a tour guide will give you all the details and anecdotes about the city's main monuments.

The Palace of the Popes is a must-see destination during your trip, whether you are passing through the city or you wish to stay for 3 days in Avignon, or even longer. If you book tickets for the Papal Palace of Avignon, you will learn a lot about the history of the city and the reason for its splendour in the medieval period.

You will be amazed by the imposing size of the palace which, according to experts, its volume corresponds to 4 Gothic cathedrals, i.e. about 15,000 m2. You should also focus your attention on the architectural details present in the doors, columns, arches and ceiling.

You will then have access to a total of 25 rooms, including the Grand Audience, the Cloister of Pope Benedict XII, the banqueting hall, the chapel of St. Martial, the rooms of the Popes who lived in the palace throughout the 14th century, among others. All of them, with furniture, frescoes and tapestries. You can also visit the shop-bookshop with souvenirs and interesting objects, the Pope's private gardens and the terraces with privileged panoramic views.

Interesting details

• Price: the average cost is €12 per person; the reduced price is €10, and children pay €6.50.
• Duration: you will need at least half a day to discover and enjoy each of the spaces in this Gothic-medieval palace.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to discover an important part of Avignon's history.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

One of my personal favourites is the Lavender Tour of Sault, a great way to visit Provence, although you can only do it during the spring and summer seasons when the lavender is in bloom and you can take some postcard-perfect pictures.

This tour lasts about 5 hours and is for groups of no more than eight people, and you will travel in a minivan. Together with an expert guide you will visit:

• Sault: Protected by UNESCO, on the slopes of this village you will find lavender fields. You will visit a lavender farm where you will learn how the essential oils are extracted.
• Gordes: medieval village where you will visit the Place Genty Pantaly, the Castle, the Church of Saint Firmino and some panoramic sites on the Luberon river.
• Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey: Built in the 12th century by Cistercian monks and located in a valley surrounded by lavender fields, it is an architectural jewel that has been preserved to perfection.

Interesting details

• Price: 60 € per person.
• Duration: 5 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to witness some dreamlike landscapes.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for people with limited mobility.

One of the best tours of Avignon is the walking tour of the old town. It's a quick and easy way to see the different architectural monuments of the city, while immersing yourself in the history and culture of the place.

You can do this type of activity on your own or you have the option of joining a guided experience, where you will walk through the streets of the city with a local guide, who will tell you the history of each place as you pass by. Whichever option you choose, you'll walk around the outside of a number of must-see monuments in the city. Some of them are:

• The Palace of the Popes, which is one of the most important buildings in Avignon and a true example of the Gothic-medieval style.
• The Cathedral of Notre Dame des Doms, the local Catholic place of worship.
• The Saint Bénézet bridge, considered a medieval ruin of great historical value.

The tour cannot be complete without a walk along the imposing defensive ramparts, which surround Avignon. And if you want to feel like a local, you must go along the Rue des Teinturiers, lined with stone houses. You will also find the wheel mills which, between the 14th and 19th century, were used to dye silk.

Interesting details

• Price: from €57 per person. However, if you do the activity on your own, it is free of charge.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see the highlights of Avignon in a short time.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not usually include admission to the attractions.

There are several ways to explore the city on your trip, one of them being a bike tour of the imposing ramparts. This is an activity included in the guided tours of the Roman sites of Avignon, which will allow you to discover the historical value of these walls built in the 14th century. This experience generally starts at the Saint-Bénézet bridge, a medieval ruin from where you will have a privileged view of Avignon.

The circular route covers just over 4.3 kilometres along the ramparts. Along the cycle route, you will be able to admire the 3-metre wide and 8-metre high ramparts which surround the city and which today protect it from the occasional flooding of the Rhône.

You will have the opportunity to take a close look at a total of 14 14th century gates and the defensive tower system of the walls, made up of 3 semicircular and 36 square structures. There are also some excavations and remains. For example, the Plaza del Reloj, which was once the Roman forum.

Interesting details

• Price: from 150 € per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: electric bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the city from another perspective in addition to the historical value of this defensive wall.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will need to be in good condition to cycle the whole route.

Among the other day tours and excursions in Avignon that might interest you, this photo tour will allow you to make beautiful memories of your trip. You will tour some of the city's destinations with a photographer and learn how to take professional-quality photos. For this experience, you will meet the photographer-guide in the city centre and start the tour through the streets in search of the best scenery for your photos.

The itinerary of this tour can vary, allowing you to choose between going through natural spaces or the façades of the main monuments, among other places of interest. You will also learn some basic photography concepts before setting off. Some of the most frequent destinations are:

• The wheel mills, located on Rue des Teinturiers.
• The facade of the Palais des Papes, with its nostalgic style reminiscent of medieval times.
• The defensive citywall and its square and semi-circular towers.
• The Place de l'Horloge or ancient Roman forum.
• Barthelasse Island, a small natural lung with amazing fauna and flora.

Interesting details

• Price: 250 ¤ per person.
• Duration: approximately two hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to capture in pictures some memories of your visit to Avignon and you will also get some basic notions of photography.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include entry to the main activities, so you will only be able to take photos outdoors.

If you're interested in gastronomy, don't miss the Les Halle market where you'll find bars, restaurants and food stalls with sweet and savoury preparations to delight your palate. You can try the famous local cakes, apple sweets, raspberry tart and apricot tart, accompanied by a delicious coffee.

You will find more than 40 food stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, olives, spices and other products. There is also a wine bar or an oyster bar, where you can have a drink or an aperitif. In fact, you could ask for a wine tasting and learn a little about the wine culture of the region.

It is also important to know that if you visit on any Saturday of the year, from 11 a.m. onwards, local chefs offer free demonstrations. This way, you will learn how to prepare some dishes using products harvested in Avignon.

Interesting details

• Price: free of charge.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will delight your palate with Avignon's desserts, savoury foods and drinks.
• Disadvantages of this option: free cooking demonstrations only take place on Saturdays.

You may not be a religious person, but that's no reason not to incorporate a free tour of the temples of this historic city into your itinerary of at least 2 days in Avignon. You will have the opportunity to discover the hidden gems inside the Cathedral and the Saint Didier Church.

• Avignon Cathedral or Notre-Dame-des-Doms: it is a religious site with a history dating back to the 12th century. When you arrive you will see the sculpture of Saint John and the Virgin Mary. In addition, on the western tower you will find a 6-metre gilded Virgin that crowns the building. Inside, you will see several architectural features: the mausoleum of Pope John XXII, the Gothic-style naves, the choir, the altarpiece of the crucifix from 1520, the baroque tribunes, etc.
• Saint Didier Church: a religious building more than 600 years old and an example of Gothic architecture in the city. You will see its façade of assembled stones, triple arch with columns crowned by anthropomorphic and vegetal capitals. Meanwhile, inside you will find paintings from the late 15th century, such as the bas-relief of the Ascent to Calvary by Francesco Laurana, among others.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to Avignon Cathedral and Saint Didier Church is free.
• Duration: there are no time restrictions on how long you can enjoy each site. However, it is estimated that one hour is enough to visit each destination.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know an important part of the city's architecture and the preserved sacred art.
• Disadvantages of this option: the sites to be visited do not include the option of a guide or audio guide.

A different way of touring Avignon is to take part in a tour on the little tourist train. You'll ride through the streets of the city, while admiring the facades of its monuments, museums and other attractions. All this, while you listen to an audio guide that tells you about the destinations you are seeing.

To enjoy this circuit, you will have to go to the Place du Palais Papal. There, you will board the small train and begin a 45-minute panoramic tour. You will pass through 11 different destinations with free stops. Some of the places on the train route include the following:

• The Jardin du Rocher des Doms, a garden laid out in a monumental rock.
• St-Bénézet Bridge, considered the first bridge of the Romanesque period.
• Place des Saints Corps, former convent of the Celestines (14th century).
• Musée d'Angladon, with important collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century art.

Interesting details

• Price: 9,50 ¤ for adults, about 6 ¤ for children from 4 to 12 years old and free for children under 4 years old.
• Duration: 45 minutes. Each train usually departs every 30 minutes from the Papal Palace Square.
• Means of transport: small tourist train.
• Advantages of this option: you will take a panoramic ride through the heart of the city, allowing you to see the main attractions of Avignon.
• Disadvantages of this option: although the tour has free stops at several attractions, it does not offer admission to these.

Taking a tour of Avignon during your visit is the best way to make the most of your time, as it is a city with many destinations to discover: monuments, museums, religious sites, natural areas and other places of cultural and historical interest.

Basically, by joining one of the Avignon tours, you will have the opportunity to focus on the aspects you really like (architecture, archaeology, history of the city, photography, art preserved over the years, etc.). This way, you will explore each place in more detail.

A tour is one of the best things to do in Avignon. On your trip you will find a wide range of tours that will allow you to discover the city. The duration of such tours can vary from one to four hours. You may even find activities with a longer time span.

For example, guided tours of the old town usually last about a couple of hours. However, if you do the tour on your own, you can wander the streets of Avignon for an unlimited amount of time. In addition, there are places such as the Palais des Papes, which due to their large size, require at least half a day to enjoy.