Itineraries for Your Trip to Avignon
3 Days in Avignon for First Timers
Avignon first captured my attention as a kid, but it wasn’t until I returned in my twenties that my time-faded memories of scrambling along the ancient city walls and skipping through Provence’s lavender fields were brought back into focus. Several subsequent stays in Avignon have cemented its place as one of my most recommended cities for travelers to France. It has a bit of everything: fairy-tale medieval architecture, a buzzing arts scene, delicious Provencal cuisine, and rolling countryside on the doorstep.
Three days in Avignon give you enough time to sample it all. For a first-time visit, this itinerary splits the time between city sightseeing, wine tasting, and village-hopping—the perfect introduction to Provence.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Palace of the Popes.
In winter and spring, watch out for the mistral winds that blow down from the Rhône Valley—pack warm clothes, as it often feels colder than it is.
If it’s your first time in Avignon, then the first stop has to be the Palace of the Popes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit on a guided tour (a skip-the-line ticket is also essential in peak season) to learn about the papal city of Avignon in ancient times, peek inside Avignon Cathedral, and admire the landmark St. Benezet Bridge (Pont d'Avignon).
This afternoon, explore more must-see attractions in Avignon during a narrated bus tour. After taking in the views from Barthelasse Island, cross the Rhône River to the fortress town of Villeneuve-les-Avignon with its hilltop Fort St. André.
Provencal cuisine is renowned as some of the best in France, and a food tasting tour is one of the best things to do in Avignon for first timers. Spend day two browsing the stalls at Les Halles Market and tasting fougasse (Provence’s classic bread), tapenade, quiche à la Provençale, and other regional specialties.
This afternoon, head to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine region (just 15 minutes from Avignon), known for its rich, fruity red wines. Visit the traditional winemaking village, enjoy magnificent views of the Rhône Valley, and stop at two different wineries to sample a selection of wines.
Complete your 3-day Avignon itinerary with a day trip to the Lubéron Valley in the heart of Provence. Visit the hilltop villages of Gordes and Roussillon, known for their charming buildings and lively Provencal markets, and stop to admire the 12th-century Senanque Abbey, which is surrounded by purple lavender fields in summer.
For your final evening, squeeze in another wine tasting at the Brotte Wine Museum, then set sail on a romantic dinner cruise along the Rhône with a view of the glittering city skyline, or book a table at one of Avignon’s top restaurants (the Michelin-starred La Mirande is worth splashing out on).
