Provence 7-day Itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Provence to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Bucket list experience:
Set on a low hill, this is the biggest and one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in France, where 20,000 would come to watch gladiators fight to the death. Built in the late 1st century AD, it was inspired by Rome’s Coliseum, which had been built a decade earlier – and was later converted into a fortress in the Middle Ages (an era from which three towers still survive). Originally the amphitheatre had a third level of arcades, but even now there are lovely views over the rosy tile rooms of Arles from the top level.
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s now used an arena again, it’s used for bullfights during Arles’ Easter and September festivals, as well as the bloodless Courses Camarguaises bullfights, and occasional gladiatorial re-enactments.
Be sure to visit the ancient theatre, too, which is included in the ticket – built in the century before the amphitheatre, it’s not as well-preserved, but still used for performances.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
France
Where to go and what to see in Provence to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Located right in the centre of town. There are no guided tours, but there are information boards in English.
The amphitheatre is open all year round, seven days a week – except on days when it’s not hosting modern-day spectacles. Go early or late in the day when the shadows in the arcades are at their most evocative.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Avignon
€75 | Rating 4.82 / 5 [29 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Marseille
€135 | Rating 4.47 / 5 [17 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Arles, Provence, France[0.3 miles]
A stylish, storied hotel full of character and charm in the historic heart of Arles. Rich in local history, and a favourite of visiting bullfighters.
Official star rating:
Arles, Provence, France[0.6 miles]
Arles’s most luxurious boutique hotel occupies an elegant townhouse dating back to 1824; centrally located, opulently romantic and with a spa, garden and pool.
Official star rating:
Paradou, Provence, France[14.3 miles]
An intimate retreat: ultra-contemporary, minimalist hotel secluded in the olive groves under the Alpilles. Expect high design luxury suites, a spa and a gourmet restaurant tucked under the Les Baux-en-Provence castle.
Official star rating:
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[14.4 miles]
Legendary country hotel and three-star Michelin restaurant, in a magical setting just below Les-Baux-en-Provence.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Provence, France
Gorgeous landscapes peppered with beautiful villages, sunflowers and lavender, art-filled towns, lively cultural festivals and exquisite food and wine. Provence is everything you imagined it would be.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Arles, Provence, France[0 miles]
Provence’s bloodless bullfights are one of the region’s most exciting and best-loved sports, a cultural phenomenon held in the magnificent Roman amphitheatre of Arles.
Best for ages: 8+ | £8 | 1+ hours
Arles, Provence, France[0.3 miles]
Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps around Arles, the town where he painted some of his best-known works.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1-2 hours
Arles, Provence, France[1.3 miles]
An archaeology museum housing a fascinating collection of sculptures, mosaics and much more from the ancient Arles region – artifacts date from prehistoric times until the 6th century AD.
Best for ages: 13+ | £5
Arles, Provence, France[7.1 miles]
A massive, wildlife-filled river delta, where gardians (French cowboys) ride white ponies and herd black Camargue bulls amid vast flocks of pink flamingos. Brilliant for horse-riding, hiking, cycling, and wildlife safaris.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Arles, Provence, France[0.4 miles]
Arles is world-famous thanks to Van Gogh, but to the city’s eternal regret no one bought any of his paintings. This foundation, in the newly renovated Hotel Leautaud de Donines, is dedicated to art exhibitions inspired by the artist.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9
Arles, Provence, France[0.6 miles]
An evocative, romantic Roman burial ground – once the most famous cemetery in medieval Europe. It’s the burial site of the legendary St Trophime and the first bishops of Arles, and remains an important stop on the pilgrimage to Compostela.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[16.4 miles]
In the stunning setting of Les Baux, learn all about Provence’s greeny-golden nectar on these free tastings of these award-winning oils. Open all year-round, but short walks through the olive groves and visits to the mill are also offered from June to September.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2 hours
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Provence, France[19.6 miles]
The asylum where Van Gogh spent 1888-89 is a masterpiece of Provencal Romanesque, and today specializes, appropriately, in art therapy. His room and reproductions of the paintings he made there are on display, along with temporary exhibitions.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
Multiple countries
Leading European travel writer Dana Facaros, with a passionate interest in archaeological sites, round-ups the best ruins and remnants of arguably the world’s greatest empire.