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:
The impressive Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman theatres have survived across the Mediterranean, but few can match the glorious one in Orange, where the massive stage wall (much admired by Louis XIV) has survived intact.
Built early in the 1st century AD, it’s one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman theatres in the world and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It served as a venue for theatre and spectacles until the 4th century AD, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire and the Church shut it down, believing the spectacles to be unholy.
Today up to 10,000 spectators can still sit and enjoy its pitch-perfect ancient acoustics, under the watchful eye of a statue of Augustus, when it’s used for live performances including summer’s fabulous Les Choregies d’Orange opera festival. A ticket to the ancient theatre includes admission to the Musée d’Orange (Museum of Orange), which contains archaeological finds and paintings from the area.
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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.
The Roman Theatre is located in the centre of Orange, 30 minutes’ drive from Avignon. There’s a free car park 800m away. The nearest train station is at Avignon.
Save time and avoid queues in peak season by buying tickets online and printing them out at home. Free audio guides are available in multiple languages upon arrival. You can also download an 8-minute audio guide to your mobile phone, that will take you to 21 points of interest.
There’s a good restaurant and snack bar onsite, with beautiful views from the terrace. In popular July and August, Orange’s restaurants fill up with opera-goers dining before the festival performances. So book a restaurant table when you book your ticket – Easter isn’t too early.
The theatre is open all year round, seven days a week. It looks its best in the late afternoon light on a fine, sunny day.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Avignon
€122 | Rating 4.06 / 5 [81 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Uchaux, Provence, France[10.9 miles]
A charming 16th-century chateau and spa in rural surrounds just north of Orange – ideal for relaxing in the Provencal sun.
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Beaumes-de-Venise, Provence, France[19.8 miles]
Unique boutique guesthouse on an 18th-century farm, set in the beautiful wine region of Beaumes-de-Venise.
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Avignon, Provence, France[20.6 miles]
A magnificent, evocative and aristocratic luxury hotel, right next to Avignon’s Palace of the Popes.
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Avignon, Provence, France[20.6 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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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
Orange, Provence, France[0 miles]
France’s oldest festival, featuring exceptional lyrical and opera performances, held in the beautiful, crumbling 1st-century Theatre Antique.
Best for ages: 18+ | £30 | 5 weeks
Provence, France[6.8 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
Avignon, Provence, France[20.5 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[20.6 miles]
The world’s biggest Gothic palace was home to popes during their 14th-century exile from Rome. Seven reigned here until 1377, in a colourful period of greed and depravity.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Avignon, Provence, France[20.3 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
Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence, France[24.3 miles]
In Vaison, north of Avignon, the modern city, the medieval city, and the extensive remains of their Roman predecessor lie jumbled charmingly together. Ruins include four grand mansions, a theatre, a fine museum, and a picturesque bridge that still connects the two parts of the town.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Round-ups that include this experience
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.