Visiting Aix-en-Provence means strolling along the Cours Mirabeau, stepping into the courtyards of the grand town houses of the Mazarin quarter and following in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne, who was born and died here, as far as his studio and the viewpoints over the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. What to do in Aix-en-Provence in one or two days, where to stay and, above all, when to go: this guide uses Météo-France normals to show when the heat becomes oppressive.
The key figure: the Aix-en-Provence station records on average 55 days a year above 30 °C (86 °F), almost all between June and August, against 14 at Paris-Montsouris (Destination de Voyage calculation based on Météo-France 1991-2020 normals). The best times for walking around town are therefore May, June and September, with spring and autumn for hikes towards the Sainte-Victoire.
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Aix-en-Provence at a glance
- Location north of Marseille, between the Sainte-Victoire and the Trévaresse range
- By train Aix-en-Provence TGV station, south-west of the town, linked to the centre by shuttle bus; Aix-Centre station for regional TER trains
- Ideal length 1 to 2 days for the town and the Cézanne sites, more with the Sainte-Victoire or Marseille
- Best time May-June and September-October
- Heat on average 21 days at or above 30 °C (86 °F) in July (Météo-France)
- Entry Schengen rules for France; see entry requirements
- Local speciality the calisson, the town’s almond sweet
Things to do in Aix-en-Provence: the highlights
The Cours Mirabeau
A broad avenue lined with plane trees, fountains and cafés, the Cours Mirabeau separates the old town, to the north, from the Mazarin quarter, to the south. Several 17th- and 18th-century town houses line it, such as the Hôtel de Castillon at no. 21. It is the logical starting point for any visit: the Rotonde fountain marks its western end.
The old town: town hall, Albertas and Saint-Sauveur Cathedral
North of the Cours, the lanes lead to the Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, dominated by its 17th-century façade and clock tower, then to the Place d’Albertas and the law courts. Higher up, Saint-Sauveur Cathedral combines several periods, with a late 12th-century cloister. The Tourreluque, a 14th-century tower, is the last remnant of the medieval walls.
The Mazarin quarter and the Place des Quatre-Dauphins
Laid out in the 17th century by Archbishop Michel Mazarin, this grid-plan quarter is the quietest part of the centre. The Place des Quatre-Dauphins, surrounded by town houses, is its heart. The church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte, the first Gothic church in Provence, marks the eastern entrance to the quarter. For nature, north-east of Aix, Lac de Sainte-Croix and its beaches make a day by the water by car.
The Musée Granet and the Hôtel de Caumont
Set against the church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte, the Musée Granet is the town’s main museum; it holds works by Cézanne and hosts major exhibitions. The Hôtel de Caumont, an 18th-century town house turned art centre, is close to the Cours Mirabeau. On the outskirts, at Jas-de-Bouffan, the Fondation Vasarely occupies a building completed in 1973 to the artist’s design.
The markets
Aix lives to the rhythm of its Provençal markets, in the town centre as in the surrounding villages. Days and locations vary by product (food, flowers, flea market): check the tourist office calendar before planning your visit.
In Cézanne’s footsteps: the trail
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) spent most of his life in Aix, and he is buried in the Saint-Pierre cemetery. The places linked to the painter are spread between the centre and the hills. Here is a route in logical order, from the centre up to the heights.
| Stop | Where? | What to see | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cézanne’s town centre | Rue de l’Opéra, Cours Mirabeau | Places of the painter’s birth and youth | On foot from the Cours Mirabeau |
| 2. The Musée Granet | Mazarin quarter | Cézanne canvases in the collections | Check which rooms and exhibitions are open |
| 3. The Atelier des Lauves | North of the old town, uphill | The studio where he worked in his last years | Booking recommended; walk up or take the bus |
| 4. The Terrain des Peintres | Above the studio | Viewpoint over the Sainte-Victoire painted by Cézanne | Best late in the day, in low-angled light |
| 5. Jas de Bouffan and Bibémus | West of town / quarries to the east | Family house and the stone quarries he painted | Access and opening vary: check with the tourist office |
| 6. Saint-Pierre cemetery | East of the centre | The painter’s grave | Free access during opening hours |
In summer, do stops 3 and 4 early in the morning: the climb to Les Lauves is exposed, and July has on average 21 days above 30 °C (86 °F).
Itinerary: Aix-en-Provence in 1 or 2 days
| Time | Day 1: the town | Day 2: Cézanne and the Sainte-Victoire |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Cours Mirabeau, old town, town hall, Saint-Sauveur Cathedral | Atelier des Lauves then the Terrain des Peintres |
| Lunch | Lunch in the old town | Lunch in town |
| Afternoon | Mazarin quarter, Quatre-Dauphins, Musée Granet | Fondation Vasarely or a trip towards the Sainte-Victoire (by car) |
| Evening | Café terraces on the Cours Mirabeau | Hôtel de Caumont or back to the TGV station |
Aix combines easily with Marseille and Cassis to the south, or the Verdon Gorge further north-east. For more ideas, see our cheap weekend breaks.
When to go to Aix-en-Provence
May, June and September are the best months to visit Aix-en-Provence: 23.4 °C (74 °F) in the afternoon in May, 27.9 °C (82 °F) in June and 25.9 °C (79 °F) in September. July and August average over 30 °C (86 °F) in the afternoon (31.0 °C (88 °F) in July) and are very dry (15.9 mm (0.6 in) in July). Autumn is the wettest season: 88.2 mm (3.5 in) in September, the wettest month, often in a few stormy episodes, then 77.1 and 78.6 mm (3.0 and 3.1 in) in October and November. Winter is cold in the morning (1.6 °C (35 °F) average low in January) but bright.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun / day | Sun vs Paris | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.8 °C (53 °F) | 1.6 °C (35 °F) | 52.8 mm (2.1 in) | 5.5 | 4.9 h | +3.0 h | ⚠️ Cold mornings, bright |
| February | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 1.5 °C (35 °F) | 35.9 mm (1.4 in) | 4.6 | 6.3 h | +3.3 h | ⚠️ Cool, little rain |
| March | 16.3 °C (61 °F) | 4.3 °C (40 °F) | 33.2 mm (1.3 in) | 4.8 | 7.5 h | +3.2 h | ✅ Mild, first café terraces |
| April | 19.1 °C (66 °F) | 7.1 °C (45 °F) | 58.4 mm (2.3 in) | 6.5 | 8.1 h | +2.2 h | ✅ Mild, ideal for walking |
| May | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 11.0 °C (52 °F) | 47.5 mm (1.9 in) | 5.3 | 9.6 h | +3.1 h | ✅ Ideal, before the heat |
| June | 27.9 °C (82 °F) | 14.7 °C (58 °F) | 36.4 mm (1.4 in) | 3.4 | 11.0 h | +4.2 h | ✅ Warm, long evenings |
| July | 31.0 °C (88 °F) | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 15.9 mm (0.6 in) | 2.0 | 11.9 h | +4.8 h | ❌ Very hot, ~21 days ≥ 30 °C |
| August | 30.8 °C (87 °F) | 16.8 °C (62 °F) | 33.8 mm (1.3 in) | 2.8 | 10.7 h | +3.8 h | ❌ Very hot, ~20 days ≥ 30 °C |
| September | 25.9 °C (79 °F) | 13.4 °C (56 °F) | 88.2 mm (3.5 in) | 5.2 | 8.6 h | +2.7 h | ✅ Warm, but the wettest month (storms) |
| October | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 10.3 °C (51 °F) | 77.1 mm (3.0 in) | 6.0 | 6.1 h | +2.3 h | ✅ Mild, more rain |
| November | 15.4 °C (60 °F) | 5.5 °C (42 °F) | 78.6 mm (3.1 in) | 7.5 | 5.1 h | +2.8 h | ⚠️ Rainy, cool |
| December | 12.2 °C (54 °F) | 2.4 °C (36 °F) | 51.0 mm (2.0 in) | 5.2 | 4.5 h | +2.7 h | ⚠️ Cool, bright |
How many very hot days?
| Month | Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F) in Aix | Days ≥ 25 °C (77 °F) in Aix | Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F) in Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 1.0 | 10.7 | 0.4 |
| June | 9.6 | 22.9 | 2.5 |
| July | 21.2 | 29.4 | 5.5 |
| August | 19.7 | 29.7 | 5.0 |
| September | 3.7 | 18.5 | 0.6 |
| October | 0.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
In July and August, two days out of three on average exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in Aix. In May there is only about one a month, and four in September. If you dislike heat, these two months offer the best compromise: more than 11 days above 25 °C (77 °F) in May, about 18 in September.
Sunshine in Aix compared with Paris
The Aix station records on average 2,873 hours of sunshine a year, against 1,717 at Paris-Montsouris. The gap is widest in summer (11.9 hours a day in July against 7.2 in Paris) but remains clear in winter: 4.9 hours a day in January against 1.9 (Destination de Voyage calculation based on Météo-France). See also our ranking of the sunniest cities in France.
Where to stay in Aix-en-Provence
| Area | Best for | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | First visit, no car | Everything on foot, restaurants; narrow streets, sometimes noisy in the evening |
| Mazarin quarter | A quiet stay | Town houses, close to the Musée Granet |
| Around the Rotonde and the bus station | Arriving by bus or TGV shuttle | Handy for the shuttles |
| The countryside around Aix | A stay with a car | Country houses, pools; useful for the Sainte-Victoire |
Getting there and getting around
- By TGV: Aix-en-Provence TGV station is south-west of the town; shuttle buses link it to the centre (according to Wikipedia; check on the local transport network’s website).
- In town: the historic centre is explored on foot; much of it is pedestrianised.
- By car: useful for the Sainte-Victoire and the countryside; park in the car parks on the edge of the centre.
- From Marseille: Aix lies just north of Marseille, whose airport (Marseille Provence) is the nearest international gateway.
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in the Schengen area, including France, for tourism or business; your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your stay, and you may be asked for proof of funds and a return ticket (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. Under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), fingerprints and a photo may be taken at your first entry (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
- Health: UK travellers need a GHIC or valid EHIC for state healthcare; everyone should have travel insurance covering medical costs. Emergency numbers: 15 (medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire), 112 (European emergency number) (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov).
- Wildfires on the Sainte-Victoire: in summer, access to the wooded hills of the Bouches-du-Rhône can be restricted or banned depending on the wildfire risk; check the prefecture’s map for the day before hiking. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026) notes that causing a wildfire in France is illegal, even by accident.
Practical tips for Aix-en-Provence
- Heat: in July and August, sightsee in the morning, keep museums and town houses for the afternoon and drink regularly.
- City Pass: according to the official site of the Aix-en-Provence tourist office (checked 26 October 2026), the City Pass gives free access or guided tours at 16 sites and unlimited use of the local bus network; it comes in 24-, 48- and 72-hour versions. Check current prices on its site.
- Museums: check closing days and book Cézanne’s studio.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need to visit Aix-en-Provence?
One day is enough for the centre (Cours Mirabeau, old town, Mazarin, Musée Granet). Allow two days to add Cézanne’s studio, the Terrain des Peintres and the Fondation Vasarely.
What is the best time to visit Aix-en-Provence?
May, June and September. According to Météo-France (1991-2020), July and August each have about 20 days above 30 °C (86 °F), against one in May.
Is it very hot in Aix in summer?
Yes: an average high of 31.0 °C (88 °F) in July and 55 days a year above 30 °C (86 °F), against 14 in Paris (Destination de Voyage calculation based on Météo-France).
Where can you see the Cézanne sites in Aix?
In the centre (Rue de l’Opéra, Cours Mirabeau), at the Musée Granet, the Atelier des Lauves, the Terrain des Peintres, the Jas de Bouffan, the Bibémus quarries and the Saint-Pierre cemetery where he is buried.
How do you get from the TGV station to the centre of Aix?
The TGV station is south-west of the town; shuttle buses link it to the town. Check timetables on the local transport network’s website.
Our sources
- Météo-France: climate data sheet, 1991-2020 statistics, Aix-en-Provence station (Les Milles, 173 m); Paris-Montsouris station for comparison (sheets consulted on 23 October 2026)
- Destination de Voyage calculation: compared hot days, sunshine hours per day and difference with Paris
- Aix-en-Provence tourist office (aixenprovencetourism.com: City Pass), checked 26 October 2026
- Wikipedia: « Aix-en-Provence » (heritage, Cézanne, museums) and « Gare d’Aix-en-Provence TGV » (location, shuttles), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, France country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for France (updated 22 October 2026).
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip, see our guide to Provence, Avignon and our other destinations in France.
