One day in Avignon, Provence: must-see sights for your itinerary

Dominated by the gothic, fortress-like Papal Palace, the charming walled city of Avignon is one of the major draws for tourists visiting the Provence region in the south of France.
Avignon is a beautiful city and a great place to spend time. Whether you visit for a short break, or even if you only have one day in Avignon, you’ll be treated to historical architectural landmarks, picturesque open spaces and streets, and an abundance of eateries to choose from.
Read on to find out the best places to visit during one day in Avignon and why this special city should be on your list of destinations to visit, especially if you are in Provence. You’ll also find information on how to get to Avignon at the end of this post.
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About Avignon
Avignon is in the Provencal region and is among the most beautiful cities in southern France.
It is known as the City of the Popes because it became the papal seat in place of Rome for around 70 years in the 14th century. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a monumental building.

Adding to Avignon’s allure are its impressive city walls which were built around the time of the papal move. These miraculously survived, despite centuries of wear and tear. The ramparts measure just over 4 kilometres in length and have also been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
The ramparts, together with the mighty Rhône River which flows around the city, provide some wonderful images and photo spots as you soak in the sights during your one day in Avignon.
Avignon’s location
Avignon is about 100 kilometres northeast of Montpellier and roughly the same distance north west of Marseille. It’s also very close to other charming cities such as Arles, Nimes, and Orange, all of which have relics to see dating from Roman times.
Another major attraction not far away is the Pont du Gard. This is a stunningly well-preserved aqueduct from the Roman period. It is less than 30 kilometres from Avignon and, like the others above, can be easily reached.

You can book day tours to visit this which include visits to Les Baux-de-Provence and the wider Provence region. For other day trips from Avignon, including wine tours, trips to local lavender fields and to small towns in the surrounding area, click here.
How to get around Avignon
On foot
The main sights of Avignon are pretty close together. It’s therefore really easy to explore the city on foot.
You can take a leisurely stroll around the old town, wander onto the bridge, and see the Popes’ Palace and other attractions. We did this and managed to see all the sights and areas outlined below.
Walking tours
You can also book walking tours. These are an excellent way to see the attractions and learn some history of the city from a local guide during your one day in Avignon.
There is this walking tour of the city which includes entry to the Popes’ Palace. The guided tour lasts for three hours and includes a glass of Cote du Rhone wine.
Alternatively, if you’re short on time, this express tour lasts for one hour.
The tourist train
Another great way to get around some of the main sights is on the city’s small tourist train (Le Petit Train). You’ll find the departure point in front of the Papal Palace in the Place Du Palais.
Its 45 minute route includes going up to the Rocher des Doms, by the Pont D’Avignon, and through some of the small streets. It comes with an audioguide in 10 different languages.
By public transport
Avignon has an excellent system if you prefer to get around by public transportation. TCRA operates buses which generally run from six in the morning until eight at night (frequency is more limited outside of the working week).
Is Avignon worth visiting?
With its arts and culinary scene, superlative historic landmarks, and romantic appeal, the simple answer is yes: Avignon is highly recommended as a place to visit and is the perfect place for a short break or day out.
You could either base yourself here and do day trips to other cities and towns in Provence and the Cote d’Azur or spend one day in Avignon while staying elsewhere in either region.
Avignon is without doubt one of the best day trips for tourists who want to explore the wider charms of one of France’s most stunning regions.
Top things to do on one day in Avignon
Below, we have listed the top things to put on your Avignon itinerary, covering the major attractions you should see on your day out.
Visit the Palais des Papes – the Popes’ Palace
One of the top things to do on one day in Avignon is to visit the Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes). This is justifiably a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you don’t have time to go inside, make sure you walk up to see it from the outside.

Once home to the Avignon Popes, this massive building is the largest gothic palace in the world (it apparently covers 15,000 square metres). The palace dates back to the 1300s and was the substitute papal seat for Rome for around 70 years after disorder erupted there.
Visiting the Popes’ Palace
You might want to pre-book your entrance ticket to avoid queuing. It’s a popular place, so there can be long lines.
Once you’re in, make sure you pick up the audio guide – it provides a wealth of fascinating material on the building, its history, and its occupants.
The guide comes with a scanner that you hold over numbered points along the tour, and which activates different information panels on your device. It is a must, given that most of the written information boards are in French.
Inside the Popes’ Palace
When we visited in June 2024, although some building work was taking place, you could still visit large sections of the palace. Note that a lot of the parts require climbing up steps and stairs so it might not be suitable for you if you have mobility issues.
On the route through the building, you’ll pass through some spectacular rooms (unfortuantely photography is banned so we don’t have any images to share with you).
These include the cavernous Grand Tinel, the palace’s banqueting hall where various big events, such as the crowning of new Popes took place. You can also go into the Pope’s Chamber – this has a large mural decoration on the walls that is thought to have been painted in the 1330s – and the Stag Room, which was Pope Clement VI’s study.
Another highlight is the 52 metre-long Great Chapel, a Clementine Chapel. This room measures 15 metres in width, is 20 metres high, and is where all the major religious events took place.
Along the way, you’ll learn some fascinating facts. For example, the Lower Treasury room was apparently the most protected in the entire palace because it was where they stored all the church’s riches. Only the Pope, the Chamberlain (the highest-ranking official), and the Treasurer could access it.
Presumably as extra protection, they kept the most valuable items underneath the floor. Amazingly, these were only discovered in 1985!
The palace roof and garden
Once you’ve seen all the rooms, climb the stone staircase and visit the palace’s roof. You’ll be rewarded with views down to the Place Du Palais and the Notre Dame des Doms d’Avignon.
There is also a garden attached to the palace. We didn’t go in, however, as a local told us that they wouldn’t recommend it as a priority if you’re short on time.
But if you do want to see it and have enough free time, you can buy a combined ticket for it and the main palace.

Wander through the old town and have lunch
Avignon’s old town oozes charm. It’s worth pottering around and seeing the various squares, streets, and old historic buildings you come across.
Some of the streets near the Popes’ Palace and the Place de L’Horloge also have lovely little souvenir shops where you can buy local products such as lavender, soap, olive oil, and biscuits.
For this reason, the main part of the city is best explored on foot. Many of Avignon’s narrow streets are car-free, so you can explore at a leisurely pace.
You’ll come across many attractive open spaces and squares as you walk around. You’ll see the locals sitting out drinking and dining in the small cafes and restaurants.
One of the first squares you might discover is the Place des Corps Saints. This is just a short walk from the central train station and is one of Avignon’s most popular squares. Standing in the shadow of the Celestins church, there are lots of bars and eateries here to choose from and where you can sample some French cuisine.
There is also Place Pie. Two highlights here are the pretty sand-coloured clocktower (Tour Saint-Jean) and the fabulous green-coloured indoor market Les Halles D’Avignon. Pop inside the market and explore and, if you like, stop off for a coffee or a glass of wine. You could also grab a snack if you want a quick bite for your lunch.

Another attractive square we would recommend is Place St-Didier. We ate at Grand Café Baretta and had a fantastic lunch.

You can also eat in the highly recommended L’Epicerie bistro in Place St-Pierre. This is a tiny square, and the restaurant has tables right underneath the ornate St Pierre church. It’s a really unique place to dine.

There are also various drinking and dining options in the Place du Palais, where you can sit out and get views of the Popes’ Palace.

Stand on Avignon’s famous bridge
Apart from the Popes’ Palace, one of the most photographed sights in the city is the famous Avignon bridge – Pont Saint-Benezet.
This is best pictured from the opposite bank on Barthelasse island. So if you have enough time, consider catching the small boat across here. You can pick this up near the bridge. The journey takes just five minutes and is free.

You’ll notice that the bridge is incomplete – storm waters from the Rhone River smashed into it and damaged it over the centuries. According to one of the information panels on the short bridge tour we went on, the Rhone is the fastest-flowing and most powerful river in France. So it’s perhaps not surprising that most of the bridge was washed away.
Originally completed in the 12th century, the bridge was over 900 metres in length before the river took its toll. It also originally had 22 arches rather than its remaining four.
You can pay to walk on what remains of the bridge and see the small Saint-Nicolas Chapel, which dates from the 14th century, halfway along.

It’s definitely worth going onto the bridge. As part of the ticket price, you’re given a handset. At each numbered station, you can press the relevant button to learn more about the bridge’s fascinating history.
This includes the story behind the famous children’s song ‘Sur le Pont D’Avignon’, which was first sung in Paris in the 1850s.
See Avignon Cathedral and stroll up to the Jardin des Doms
A short walk up from the Place Du Palais is the small, albeit lovely garden, Jardin des Dom/Rocher des Doms. You can take the steps past Avignon cathedral, or the flat, winding slope. The latter is the route the tourist train takes to reach the garden.
En route, you can see Avignon Cathedral – Notre Dame des Doms d’Avignon – a 12th century cathedral situated between the Popes’ Palace and Jardin Des Doms. In a city that was once home to the Popes, it’s perhaps not surprising that you come across lots of attractive catholic churches. However, this majestic one probably tops the list.


Inside you’ll find some tombs of popes dating from the period when the papal seat moved from Rome. It’s impossible to miss this church or at least the colossal golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing guard over the square.
Near the garden entrance, close to the church, you are rewarded with fabulous views down to the Place Du Palais and the city centre. On the river side, you can look out across the surrounding countryside stretching away before you and marvel at the River Rhone.
The garden itself is a lovely, peaceful place to visit, with a grassy area and benches to sit on if you need to take the weight off your feet. It is also an ideal spot to take photos of the Pont Saint-Benezet and the Ile de la Barthelasse island behind it.


There is a small café here next to a pond where you can stop for refreshments.
People watch in the Place de L’Horloge
A short walk from the Popes’ Palace and the Place Du Palais is an attractive tree-lined open space filled with bars and restaurants called Place De L’Horloge (Clock Square).
You’ll find Avignon’s theatre and town hall (Hotel de Ville) here, both striking buildings. There is also a bright and colourful carousel.


This attractive spot is ideal for people watching with a glass of local wine. It’s located on the route from the Place Du Palais and the Avenue de La Republique that leads down to the central train station.
It’s a really lively, buzzy place that attracts a lot of tourists, so you may find it busier than other squares in the city. But it’s a attractive place to stroll through on your one day in Avignon.
View some art
There are quite a few museums in the city, and even during one day in Avignon, it’s easy to fit in at least one or two as they tend to be quite close to one another. You can get information on the museums in Avignon here.
In particular, there is a good smattering of art museums spanning different periods and styles.
In a city with such a prestigious past, you may want to admire some art from the 13th to 16th century. If that is the case, you’ll find the Musee du Petit Palais at the far end of Place Du Palais, a very short walk from the Popes’ Palace. The highlight here is probably Botticelli’s ‘La Vierge et L’Enfant’.
You may, however, prefer modern art or at least art dating from a later period.
Vincent Van Gogh lived in nearby Arles and this was a particularly productive period in his life as a painter. If you like his work and other impressionists, you may want to set aside some time to pop into Musée Angladon, close to Place St Didier.
The museum houses his painting ‘Railway Wagons’, alongside works by artists like Cezanne, Manet, and Degas.
Have an evening drink in the Rue des Teinturiers
If you happen to be around in the evening during your one day in Avignon, and fancy visiting an area with lots of character and atmosphere, we’d recommend wandering down to Rue des Tenturiers.
This is a very picturesque tree-lined cobbled street that runs along the side of a small river. You’ll spot some old waterwheels in places along here. These are a reflection of the textile industry that was once based in this part of the city and the reason why the street is also known as the ‘Street of the Waterwheels’.
We stopped and tried some local wines at La Cave Des Pas Sages. It was great to sit outside on the street, and compared to the main old town, the prices were a lot cheaper.
There are also a few places serving food, so you could stroll around and find something to eat in this area.
How to get to Avignon
By plane
Avignon does have its own airport – Avignon-Provence, which is a short distance from the city centre. However, it’s not big, and therefore the numbers of carriers that operate to and from it is limited.
For this reason, your best bet is to fly to Montpellier or Marseille as these have better flight connections. You can then catch the train or bus to Avignon.
By train
Two train stations serve Avignon. The closest to the main city centre is Gare d’Avignon Centre. This station can be found south of the city centre, just outside the city wall and a short walk from Porte de la Republique (an entrance gate into the city).
This is, therefore, the best station to aim for if you only have one day in Avignon and need to maximise your time.
The other station – Gare Avignon TGV – is about 4 kilometres from the centre. As the name suggests, this is where France’s fast intercity trains stop. Should you arrive at Gare Avignon TGV, you can catch another train to the central station (a journey time of five minutes) or pick up a bus.
By bus
Avignon’s bus station (Gare Routiere PEM) is conveniently located right next to Gare Avignon Centre. Several companies operate services, including long-distance journeys, to and from the bus station.
This is where you’ll need to get the bus to and from the Pont Du Gare if you choose to travel independently.
One day in Avignon
If you’re in the south of France, you may be interested in another of my posts, which covers the 11 best day trips from Nice.
I also have an itinerary for 2 days in Bordeaux and 2 days in Lyon, and an overview of the best things to do in Menton, a lovely town near the Italian border.
For posts covering other European destinations, check out my website.
Written by Nick Warburton and Emma Marshall