12 Fun Things to Do in Arles, France
Arles, France is an absolute gem of a city in southern France. Located in the Provence region, sandwiched between much large Marseille to the south, and Avignon to the north, its famous for its Roman ruins and also for the works of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who lived and painted in Arles from 1888-1889. Van Gogh was drawn to Arles by the magnificent light and colorful people.
Many people who visit Provence skip Arles all together, or if they do come to Arles, just stay for a few hours. This is a big mistake! Arles is the kind of place that’s not loud and boisterous, but charming and quaint, and takes some time to get to know. It’s not a place to race around quickly, but to relax and enjoy, and get to know. There are so many wonderful things to do in Arles, here are just a few favorites.
Visit the old Roman arena (Les Arènes)
No need to go to Rome! Arles has a beautifully preserved Roman “colosseum” that is a must-do on your trip to Arles. Not only is it fun to walk around the inside and think about what life must have been like in Roman times, but there’s a wonderful view from the top of the entire city. You’ll delight in seeing the river Rhone in the distance and all of the colorful red roofs! The arènes is open almost all year long, but is especially active during the two main ferias (festivals) which take place Easter weekend each year and also in September for the Feria du Riz (Festival of Rice). The town really comes alive during the feria with great food, drinks, dancing and more, and is not to be missed!
Visit the other Roman sites
In addition to the arènes, Arles also has a Roman amphitheater that’s also used for concerts throughout the year in the open air. You can tour it during the day, and come back in the evening for a wonderful concert. You can also visit the old Roman baths, and if you’d like to learn more about all of the Roman history of Arles, it’s a must to visit the Musée départemental Arles antique! You’ll find so many amazing Roman artifacts here, like sculpture, dishes and glassware used in Roman times, and many interesting models, that show you what Arles looked like in Roman times. It’s really impressive! Plan to spend a couple of hours in this museum to really learn more about Roman life in Arles.
Take a walk along the Rhone River or rent a bike
Arles is blessed to be surrounded by beautiful nature trails, some are along the mighty Rhone River, and there’s a fabulous bike trail called the ViaRhona to enjoy too! Did you know the ViaRhona trail starts all the way up in Switzerland and ends at the sea, in the area known as the Camargue? You can rent a bike at the Arles train station and ride along the ViaRhona trail, which is flat. You’ll see sunflowers and vineyards, and sometimes horses and sheep too! If you have enough energy, you can ride all the way to the sea.
Enjoy one of the best markets in Provence
Provence is fortunate to have so many cute towns and most of them have fresh open-air markets at least once a week. Arles has its weekly markets on Wednesday and Saturdays. The Saturday market is one of the biggest in the region and here you can find all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, and lots of things like lavenders, soaps and even clothes. It’s really fun to walk through and super popular with locals too!
Visit a real abbey
Not too far from Arles is a wonderful, historic abbey call the Abbey of Montmajour. Stepping inside is like stepping back in time to a land time forget. The abbey was a fortified Benedictine monastery built between the 10th and 18th centuries. Now, mostly in ruins, it’s still a really interesting place to visit and understand what life must have been like here.
Visit Chateau d’Estoublon
One of the most wonderful chateaux in the region, dating to 1489 is Chateau d’Estoublon, located a short drive from Arles near the village of Fontvieille. Surrounded by vineyards and amazing scenery, you can both stay here and enjoy an incredible meal. Their chocolate mousse is to die for, the best I’ve ever had, so save some room for dessert!
Visit LUMA
LUMA Arles is the most exciting thing that’s happened in Arles in the last few years. It’s an art center, an exhibition center and often has special activities, such as workshops or special screenings, as well as an auditorium and cafe. You can also get some amazing views of Arles from the tower, which was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry. Built upon the ashes of an old rail road warehouse, it also has a large park which provides a nice place to stop and take a rest.
Les Rencontres de la Photographie Festival
Arles has festivals galore in summer, but one of the most famous is the photography festival. Taking place from early July to the end of September, it show cases in various venues, interesting photography and video works from photographers, videographers and artists. There are special events and talks, and evening events too. It’s a wonderful event that draws people from all over the world.
Walk in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh
Famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh arrives in Arles in February 1888. Seeking a respite from Paris, he found the light in Arles to be captivating and set up his canvas here for a year. Some of his most famous works were painted here, like Café de la Nuit, and the café he painted all those years ago is still a café now! There are various spots where you can view his painting, and what he was painting looks like now. The Arles Office of Tourism has a map of spots where Van Gogh painted that you can visit.
See pink flamingoes and more in the Camargue
The famous regional park of the Camargue is an area of wetlands located just to the south of Arles. You can go by car or bus, and there are so many stops along the way. Ride a white horse, stop in and see the pink flamingoes at the Parc Ornithologique, as well as many other species of birds. The Camargue eventually ends at the Mediterranean sea, where you can stop and have a picnic on the beach. Visit the towns of Aigues Mortes or Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. In Aigues Mortes, you can even see how salt is made nearby, have you ever climbed a mountain of salt? It’s an experience not to be missed!
Delicious dining
Arles has so many wonderful restaurants to suit all tastes. Whether you prefer more casual dining like pizza and sandwiches, or more upscale dining, you can find it all. Some of the most popular restaurants in Arles are Les Piques ou Rien, Le Galoubet, L’Oriel, L’Apsara, and Le Criquet.
Have a fun photo session!
What better way to remember this wonderful time in Arles than with a photo session, highlighting the beautiful neighborhoods and monuments of Arles? Karina of Karina Leigh Photography lives in Arles and Paris, and offers photo sessions for couples and families visiting Arles, infusing the photo session with personal tips about Arles itself. It’s a super fun way to see the city with a local and have wonderful memories to cherish forever!
There is so much to do, that the biggest problem will be to decide! Make sure to visit the Arles Office of Tourism web site ahead of your trip, or, you can stop into their office when you arrive.
