Avignon is renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, it attracts thousands of visitors yearly thanks to its prestigious monuments, famous festivals and unique atmosphere. Here’s all the information you need to know about how to get to Avignon.
A strategic geographical position since ancient times
Since ancient times, Avignon has occupied a strategic geographical position on the banks of the Rhône. Its location has made it an important crossroads for trade and commerce since Roman times. The city prospered over the centuries thanks to its proximity to the Mediterranean and its role as a gateway between northern and southern Gaul. In the Middle Ages, this advantageous geographical location favoured its development as an economic and religious centre, culminating in the installation of the papacy in the 14th century. Even today, Avignon enjoys a central position in Provence, well served by modern transport infrastructure such as the TGV and motorways, making it a popular destination.
Get to Avignon, a unique destination.
An exceptional heritage
Avignon’s architectural heritage is one of the richest in France. The Pope’s palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the strongest symbol of this past grandeur. It bears witness to the time when Avignon was the seat of the papacy in the 14th century. Not far from there, the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet, better known as the ‘Pont d’Avignon’, is another icon of the city, immortalised in the famous song.
A recognised cultural dynamism
Avignon is also renowned for its cultural dynamism, not least thanks to the Festival d’Avignon, one of the biggest theatre festivals in the world. Every summer, artists from all over the world come here to present their work, attracting fans of the performing arts and reinforcing the city’s image as a cultural center.
A city looking to the future
Today, Avignon harmoniously combines its prestigious past with its openness to the future. Thanks to its commitment to sustainable development and its economic appeal, the city continues to evolve while preserving its unique identity and heritage.
How do I get to Avignon?
Given that Avignon was considered the new Rome in the 14th century, we can adapt the famous saying by saying that all roads led to Avignon.
How to get to Avignon: available means of transport
Because of its geographical location, Avignon has excellent public transport links. Here’s how to get to Avignon by public transport.
By car:
There is a highway that passes near Avignon, the A7. There are two exits: Avignon Sud and Avignon Nord.
If you’re coming from Orange, the best exit is Avignon Nord, which is 15 minutes from the city centre.
For those coming from Marseille or Aix-en-Provence, it is currently more attractive to exit at Avignon Nord. This exit is 8 kilometres from Avignon Sud. It offers you the advantage of avoiding the traffic jams that often occur around the Rocade. If you need to get to the Montfavet district or Agroparc, the Avignon Sud exit is the most interesting.
If you are coming from Nîmes or Montpellier, you have several options.
Exit at Remoulins: it will then take around thirty minutes to get to the centre of Avignon.
Exit at Roquemaure: You then have a dual carriageway that takes you to Avignon or Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.
By bike:
Avignon is on the Eurovelo route. At Tarascon, two roads come together: Route 8 and Route 17. This connection means that you can cycle directly to Avignon from southern Spain, Athens or Geneva.
In recent years, the Communauté de Communes du Grand Avignon has invested in green paths that are ideal for cycling. You can now travel from Avignon’s city centre to Villeneuve-lez-Avignon on an exclusively cycle route. So it’s safe. The icing on the cake is that you’ll be cycling along the Rhône, passing through some magnificent spots.
Avignon’s proximity to Mont Ventoux, a legendary stage in the Tour de France, makes it an ideal destination for a cycling holiday.
Getting around by bike during your stay:
As mentioned above, there are many facilities for visiting Avignon and the surrounding area by bike. In the city centre, you can take advantage of the Vélopop system, which gives you access to a range of packages for a day or a week. After that, you can use a bike for free for half an hour.
If you want to book a bike for the day (electric bikes are available), we recommend South Spirit Bike. The bikes are recent, the welcome is warm, and the advice is sound. Everything you need for a successful cycling trip.
By train :
Since 1 June 1851, Avignon has been connected to Paris, Lyon and Marseille by train. Since 1981, it has been possible to travel to Avignon from Paris or Marseille by TGV. In 1992, a new TGV line made it possible to travel from Paris to Avignon in 2 hours. Finally, since 2013, it has been possible to travel to Avignon from Madrid or Barcelona.
There are also good connections with regional trains from the Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and PACA regions.
There are two stations in Avignon: Avignon Centre and Avignon TGV. The first, as its name suggests, is in the centre of Avignon, opposite the city walls. The second is 5 kilometres from the city centre. Two buses serve the TGV station: line 10 takes you to the centre, and line 14 goes to Le Pontet via the ring road.
By bus :
Avignon is well served by long-distance bus routes linking major French and European cities. Several companies, including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus and Eurolines, offer journeys to Avignon from Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Barcelona and other destinations. Buses usually arrive at the Avignon bus station, located close to the Avignon Centre SNCF train station, making it easy to connect with local transport. Bus tickets are often a cost-effective alternative to the train, with overnight travel options to maximise your time. Once you’re here, the Orizo public transport network makes it easy to get around the city.
By plane:
Avignon has its airport. Unfortunately, with the closure of Flybe, there are no longer any scheduled flights. The airport is still open to private aircraft. Its geographical position 10 kilometres from the city centre, the lack of public transport infrastructure and the loss of interest in the airport mean that I can’t wait for it to close for good.
By boat:
There are plenty of cruises that leave from Avignon or make a stop in Avignon. You can check out the Croisierenet, Croisieurope or Rhône Croisière websites.
Now that you know how to get to Avignon, all you have to do is plan your trip. If you’d like to visit the city and the surrounding area, take a look at our various tours, which will take you around the city originally and unexpectedly.
