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:
When the popes abandoned tumultuous Rome in 1309, they came to Avignon. Seven reigned here until 1377, in a colourful period of greed and depravity that the poet Petrarch labelled the ‘Babylonian captivity’. They left behind nothing less than the biggest Gothic palace of all time, built for luxury as well as defence.
Although much of its decoration has been lost over time, it has lost none of its power to amaze. It’s a big site not really suited to younger children, though ‘Les Luminessences’ – an outdoor 3D show, held every evening from mid-August to late September – is good for all the family.
The palace’s Musée du Petit Palais houses an outstanding collection of medieval and early Renaissance art, including a lovely Botticelli Madonna and an altarpiece by Enguerrand Quarton.
Within the palace grounds, you’ll find an excellent wine shop selling 55 different Cotes du Rhone wines at vineyard prices.
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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.
Guided tours are currently only in French (pre-COVID they used to have English tours too – check the website to see if they’re back). Even without a tour, the new multimedia installations recreating the sumptuous 14th century bring the palace and popes to life.
The palace is open all year round, seven days a week. In summer, arrive at opening time to avoid queues. It’s more of a treat in the winter, when you practically have it to yourself.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Avignon
€56 | Rating 4.28 / 5 [70 ratings]
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Avignon
€122 | Rating 4.5 / 5 [8 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Avignon
€275 | Rating 5 / 5 [14 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Avignon
€440 | Rating 4.62 / 5 [8 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Avignon, Provence, France[0.1 miles]
A magnificent, evocative and aristocratic luxury hotel, right next to Avignon’s Palace of the Popes.
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Avignon, Provence, France[0.3 miles]
An uber-luxury, boutique hotel set in a 16th-century mansion right in Avignon’s medieval centre. The city’s oldest hotel oozes elegance and class.
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Avignon, Provence, France[0.7 miles]
Quirky, bohemian and great value boutique hotel conveniently located within easy walking distance of Avignon’s attractions. One for the budget-conscious traveller.
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Saint-Remy, Provence, France[17.9 miles]
An elegant, historic 19th-century chateau hotel just outside historic Saint-Remy, set in glorious grounds.
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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
Avignon, Provence, France[0.1 miles]
Nearly a thousand shows and exhibitions over three weeks, showcasing world-class drama, music and dance. France’s answer to the UK’s Edinburgh Festival.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 3 weeks
Avignon, Provence, France[0.5 miles]
A superb private art collection in a townhouse, including the only Van Gogh in Provence. There are also paintings by Chardin, Manet, Cezanne, Degas, Modigliani, Sisley and Picasso.
Best for ages: 18+ | £7
Provence, France[14.7 miles]
Postcard-perfect vineyards yielding world-famous wines – Provence is the home of the most prestigious Cotes du Rhone wines, including the reds of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Beaumes-de-Venise.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Provence, France[19.5 miles]
Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps through the landscapes around Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where he painted some of his best-known works.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 1+ hours
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Avignon, Provence, France[0.2 miles]
Papal Avignon was the centre of the European art for decades, and over 300 works of (mostly) Italian medieval and renaissance paintings and sculptures commissioned by the wealthy prelates of the church, including a Botticelli Madonna, are displayed in this 14th-century palace.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Provence, France[19.5 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
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[23.8 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
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.