Looking for things to do in Avignon? Visit the Palais des Papes, walk onto the Pont Saint-Bénézet (the « pont d’Avignon » of the song), climb to the Rocher des Doms garden, stroll along Rue des Teinturiers, see the Italian primitives at the Petit Palais, follow the ramparts, then cross the Rhône to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. Allow 1 to 2 days for the city, more to explore Provence. The best times are May-June and September; in July, the city lives to the rhythm of its theatre festival. Over in the Gard, our Pont du Gard guide covers prices, opening times and swimming in the Gardon.
Seat of the papacy in the 14th century, Avignon has kept its walled town, and its historic centre (Palais des Papes, episcopal ensemble and bridge) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. This guide covers the sights, day trips, the Festival and the month-by-month climate from Météo-France, with figures we calculated ourselves: days of strong heat and strong wind over a one-week stay, and a comparison with Paris.
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Avignon at a glance
- Location Vaucluse, on the Rhône, in ProvenceProvence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region
- Getting there Avignon TGV high-speed station, plus Avignon Centre station · details
- Ideal stay 1 day for the city, 3 to 4 days with day trips
- Best time May-June and September; July for the Festival
- Tickets Palais des Papes combined ticketPalace, gardens and bridge €19.50; Avignon City Pass from €24 (official tourist office site, checked 26 October 2026)
- Entry Schengen area: no visa for up to 90 days for US citizens (tourism or business) and UK citizens (in any 180-day period) · US: travel.state.gov · UK: GOV.UK
- Currency euro (€) · currencies
- Climate Mediterranean, hot and dry in summer, windy (mistral)
Things to do in Avignon: the highlights
The Palais des Papes
One of the largest Gothic palaces in Europe, the Palais des Papes was the residence of the popes in the 14th century. The visit takes in the Old Palace and the New Palace: state rooms, chapels, private apartments with frescoes and terraces overlooking the Rhône. A guided tour or the Histopad (an augmented-reality tablet) helps you picture the rooms as they were furnished. For a trip into the Luberon, our page on things to do in Gordes covers the village and Sénanque Abbey.
The Pont Saint-Bénézet
The famous « pont d’Avignon » of the French nursery song now has only four arches and the Saint-Nicolas chapel; it stops halfway across the Rhône. You reach it through a gate in the ramparts, with the bridge ticket or the combined ticket. To photograph it in full, climb to the Rocher des Doms or cross to the Île de la Barthelasse. With children, Parc Spirou Provence in Monteux is another outing in the Vaucluse.
The Rocher des Doms and Notre-Dame-des-Doms
Just above the palace, the Rocher des Doms garden is a free public park with a pond, viewpoints and views of the Rhône, the bridge, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and, on clear days, Mont Ventoux. Notre-Dame-des-Doms cathedral, next to the palace, is topped by a gilded statue of the Virgin.
The museums: Petit Palais, Calvet, Lambert, Angladon
The Petit Palais museum, at the far end of Place du Palais, holds a large collection of medieval and Renaissance Italian paintings. The Musée Calvet (fine arts) and the Musée Lapidaire are among the municipal museums, which the official tourist office site lists as free (checked 26 October 2026). The Collection Lambert is devoted to contemporary art, and the Fondation Angladon shows works by Van Gogh, Cézanne and Modigliani, among others.
Streets and squares inside the walls
Place de l’Horloge, with the town hall and the opera house, is the lively heart of the city. Rue des Teinturiers, cobbled and shaded by plane trees, runs along the Sorgue and its old waterwheels. Les Halles, the covered market with a plant-covered façade, is the place to buy Provençal produce. The city is surrounded by more than 4 km (2 mi) of medieval ramparts, which you can follow on foot.
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and the Île de la Barthelasse
On the other bank of the Rhône, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon has Fort Saint-André, the Chartreuse du Val-de-Bénédiction and the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, which offers the most complete view of Avignon. In between, the Île de la Barthelasse, linked by a free river shuttle in some seasons, has paths along the water.
The Avignon Festival
Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, the Festival d’Avignon is one of the largest theatre festivals in the world. It takes place every year in July, for about three weeks, with performances in the Cour d’honneur of the Palais des Papes and in many venues around the city. Alongside it, the « Off » festival brings together several hundred independent companies in the city’s theatres and halls. The dates of the 2027 edition had not yet been published on the official Festival site in mid-October 2026.
- Accommodation: book several months ahead; prices rise sharply during the Festival.
- Tickets: the « In » programme is announced in spring on the official site; tickets for the « Off » are sold by each theatre.
- Heat: July has an average of 22.0 days at 30 °C (86 °F) or more according to Météo-France: choose morning and evening shows, and carry water.
- Outside the Festival: the Maison Jean Vilar traces the Festival’s history all year round. See also our ideas for where to go in July.
Itinerary: Avignon in 1 or 2 days
Avignon in 1 day
- Morning: Palais des Papes at opening time (about 2 hours), then Notre-Dame-des-Doms
- Late morning: Rocher des Doms garden and the view of the bridge
- Lunch: Les Halles or Place de l’Horloge
- Afternoon: Pont Saint-Bénézet, Rue des Teinturiers, Petit Palais or Musée Calvet
- Evening: sunset from the Rocher des Doms or the Île de la Barthelasse
Avignon in 2 days
- Day 1: as above
- Day 2: Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (Fort Saint-André, Chartreuse) in the morning, Collection Lambert or Fondation Angladon in the afternoon, then a walk around the ramparts
Day trips from Avignon
- Pont du Gard: the UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct, about 25 km (16 mi) to the west.
- Orange: the Roman theatre and triumphal arch, to the north.
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape: the village and its wine estates, between Avignon and Orange.
- L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse: canals, antique dealers and the spring of the Sorgue.
- The Luberon: Gordes, Roussillon and its ochres, Sénanque Abbey (lavender in summer).
- Arles and the Camargue: Roman monuments in Arles, then lagoons, flamingos and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
- Les Baux-de-Provence: hilltop village and the Carrières de Lumières.
To plan a wider loop, see our page on visiting Provence and our guide to the Verdon Gorge.
When to go to Avignon
The best months are May, June and September. Avignon has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers (average high of 31.5 °C, or 89 °F, in July), winters that are mild in the afternoon but cold at night (average low of 1.9 °C, or 35 °F, in January, with about 11 days of frost) and 649 mm (25.6 in) of rain a year according to Météo-France, concentrated in autumn: September, October and November each get about 90 mm (3.5 in), often in short, intense storms. Wind is the other feature: the station records an average of 109 days a year with gusts of at least 58 km/h (36 mph), mostly in winter and spring, when the mistral blows.
| Month | Max | Min | Rain | Rain days | Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F) | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.7 °C (51 °F) | 1.9 °C (35 °F) | 55.6 mm (2.2 in) | 5.7 | 0.0 | Low | ⚠️ Mild by day, windy, cold nights |
| February | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 2.3 °C (36 °F) | 35.6 mm (1.4 in) | 4.8 | 0.0 | Low | ⚠️ Dry but windy |
| March | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 5.0 °C (41 °F) | 36.1 mm (1.4 in) | 4.4 | 0.0 | Low | ⚠️ Windy spring |
| April | 19.7 °C (67 °F) | 7.7 °C (46 °F) | 59.9 mm (2.4 in) | 6.5 | 0.0 | Medium | ✅ Mild, green |
| May | 23.9 °C (75 °F) | 11.7 °C (53 °F) | 52.3 mm (2.1 in) | 6.0 | 1.9 | Medium to high | ✅ Ideal, a few storms |
| June | 28.7 °C (84 °F) | 15.6 °C (60 °F) | 35.2 mm (1.4 in) | 3.7 | 11.5 | High | ✅ Warm, long days |
| July | 31.5 °C (89 °F) | 18.0 °C (64 °F) | 23.9 mm (0.9 in) | 2.6 | 22.0 | Very high (Festival) | ⚠️ Festival, very hot |
| August | 31.1 °C (88 °F) | 17.6 °C (64 °F) | 35.0 mm (1.4 in) | 3.3 | 19.9 | High | ⚠️ Very hot |
| September | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 13.9 °C (57 °F) | 91.1 mm (3.6 in) | 5.2 | 4.5 | Medium | ✅ Warm and calm; storms possible |
| October | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 10.7 °C (51 °F) | 88.6 mm (3.5 in) | 6.0 | 0.1 | Medium | ✅ Mild; rainy spells |
| November | 14.7 °C (58 °F) | 6.0 °C (43 °F) | 92.0 mm (3.6 in) | 7.5 | 0.0 | Low | ❌ Wettest month |
| December | 11.0 °C (52 °F) | 2.5 °C (36 °F) | 43.5 mm (1.7 in) | 5.2 | 0.0 | Low | ⚠️ Cool, calm, festive lights |
- Spring (April-June): the most pleasant season for walking around the city and day trips; the mistral can cool the days.
- Summer (July-August): strong heat, Festival in July; lavender on the Valensole plateau and in the Luberon blooms from about late June to late July.
- Autumn (September-October): still warm in September, grape harvest in the vineyards; the rain returns with stormy spells.
- Winter (November-March): quiet, often beautiful light but a cold wind; some sites shorten their opening hours.
Heat, wind and rain over a week: our calculations
To show what to expect during a stay, we converted Météo-France’s monthly averages to a 7-day week and compared them with Paris.
| Month | Days ≥ 30 °C in 7 days | Strong-wind days in 7 days | Rain days in 7 days (Avignon / Paris) | Max vs Paris | Sunset (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.0 | 2.6 | 1 / 2 | +3.1 °C (+6 °F) | 17:28 |
| February | 0.0 | 2.7 | 1 / 2 | +3.6 °C (+6 °F) | 18:10 |
| March | 0.0 | 2.3 | 1 / 2 | +3.8 °C (+7 °F) | 18:46 |
| April | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2 / 2 | +3.1 °C (+6 °F) | 20:24 |
| May | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1 / 2 | +3.7 °C (+7 °F) | 20:59 |
| June | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1 / 2 | +5.3 °C (+10 °F) | 21:25 |
| July | 5.0 | 1.7 | 1 / 2 | +5.8 °C (+10 °F) | 21:21 |
| August | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1 / 2 | +5.5 °C (+10 °F) | 20:45 |
| September | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1 / 2 | +4.5 °C (+8 °F) | 19:51 |
| October | 0.0 | 1.9 | 1 / 2 | +4.5 °C (+8 °F) | 18:57 |
| November | 0.0 | 2.4 | 2 / 2 | +3.6 °C (+6 °F) | 17:14 |
| December | 0.0 | 2.4 | 1 / 3 | +3.0 °C (+5 °F) | 17:03 |
- In July, expect about 5 days out of 7 at 30 °C (86 °F) or more, compared with barely more than one in Paris.
- It rains almost half as often as in Paris: 61 rain days a year compared with 109.
- Strong wind is frequent from November to April: about 2 to 3 days out of 7 with gusts of at least 58 km/h (36 mph). Pack a windproof jacket, even in bright sunshine.
- Avignon is warmer than Paris all year round, by 3.0 to 5.8 °C (5 to 10 °F) in the afternoon depending on the month. See also our ranking of the sunniest cities in France.
Getting around Avignon
- By train: high-speed TGV trains stop at Avignon TGV, linked to Avignon Centre station by a short shuttle train; Lyon and Marseille are also on the high-speed line. See our tips for travelling cheaply by train.
- In the city: everything inside the ramparts can be done on foot; Orizo buses and trams serve the outer districts.
- Car: useful for day trips; leave it in a car park outside the ramparts (park-and-ride car parks with shuttles).
- Bike: the ViaRhôna cycle route follows the Rhône; bikes can be hired in the city.
Where to stay in Avignon
| Area | Best for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the walls, around the Palace and Place de l’Horloge | First visit | Everything on foot, historic setting; pricier and noisy in July |
| Inside the walls, Rue des Teinturiers and the Carmes district | A quieter stay | Lanes, restaurants, close to the centre |
| Near Avignon Centre station | No car | Handy for day trips by train and coach |
| Villeneuve-lès-Avignon | Peace and quiet, by car | Views of Avignon, parking |
| Farmhouses (mas) and B&Bs around Avignon | A stay in Provence | Pool, countryside; a car is essential |
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: the UK FCDO notes that the wildfire risk is highest in summer in the south of France, particularly along the Mediterranean, and that causing a wildfire, even by accident, is illegal.
Practical tips for Avignon
- Tickets: the combined ticket for the Palais des Papes, gardens and bridge (€19.50) and the Avignon City Pass (from €24, monuments and museums in Avignon and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon) are sold by the tourist office, according to its official site (checked 26 October 2026); check prices and opening times before you go.
- Heat: in summer, visit early in the morning, take a break during the hottest hours and keep water with you.
- Food: papalines d’Avignon (chocolates), produce from Les Halles, Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.
- ID: carry your passport; hotels will ask for ID at check-in.
- Mobile data: check your home carrier’s roaming charges before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in Avignon in one day?
The Palais des Papes in the morning, the Rocher des Doms garden, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, Rue des Teinturiers and the Petit Palais museum in the afternoon, then sunset over the Rhône.
How many days do you need in Avignon?
One day for the city, two with Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and the museums, three to four to add the Pont du Gard, the Luberon or Arles.
When is the Avignon Festival?
Every year in July, for about three weeks, with the « In » and the « Off ». The dates of the 2027 edition had not been published in mid-October 2026: check the official Festival site.
What is the best time to visit Avignon?
May, June and September: 24 to 29 °C (75 to 84 °F) in the afternoon according to Météo-France, with less heat and fewer crowds than in July and August.
Is the Pont d’Avignon free?
No, there is a charge to walk onto the Pont Saint-Bénézet; it is included in the combined ticket with the Palais des Papes. You can see it for free from the Rocher des Doms or the Île de la Barthelasse.
Is Avignon windy?
Yes: about 109 days a year with gusts of at least 58 km/h (36 mph) according to Météo-France, mostly from November to April, when the mistral blows.
Our sources
- Météo-France: climate sheet « Statistiques 1991-2020 et records » for the Avignon station (temperatures 1993-2020, rainfall 1994-2020) and the Paris-Montsouris station (1991-2020), accessed 15 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculation: heat, strong-wind and rain days for a 7-day stay, difference with Paris, sunset times (NOAA solar algorithm, IANA time zone Europe/Paris)
- Avignon tourist office (avignon-tourisme.com): combined ticket, City Pass, municipal museums, checked 26 October 2026
- Festival d’Avignon (festival-avignon.com), accessed 15 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, discover Provence, the Camargue, our guide to things to do in Lyon, our France travel guide and our weekend break ideas.
