The Aix-en-Provence Travel Guide
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aix-en-provence
Where is Aix-en-Provence
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is aix-en-provence worth visiting?
Why You Should Visit Aix-en-Provence
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using aix-en-provence as a base
A Central Location for Exploring Provence
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when is the best time to visit aix-en-provence
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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how much time to see aix-en-provence
Exploring Aix-en-Provence at Your Own Pace
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Things to do in aix-en-provence
The Best Things to Do and See in Aix-en-Provence
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day trips from aix-en-provence
How to Visit Other Provencal Destinations from Aix-en-Provence
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Where to stay in aix-en-provence
The Best Aix-en-Provence Hotels and Airbnb Rentals
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How to get to aix-en-provence
Getting to Aix-en-Provence by Train or Driving
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aix-en-provence
Aix-en-Provence is a major hub and larger city in the Provence region of the South of France. Aix-en-Provence sits North of Marseille, south of the Luberon and east of the Camargue.
Aix-en-Provence is a university town bustling with college students, and is also a major hub for all things Provence. It is a Provencal city of daily markets scattered throughout the center, delicious French cuisine, and historical sights.
is aix-en-provence worth visiting
Planning a trip to Provence can feel incredibly overwhelming, as the region is vast and there is endless beauty that can’t all be discovered in one trip.
If you’re planning a trip to Provence and wondering if Aix-en-Provence is worth visiting, it depends on the type of vacation you are looking to have.
Here are a few scenarios where Aix-en-Provence is worth visiting:
Aix-en-Provence is worth visiting if you’re looking to discover the Provence region without a car. Aix-en-Provence has one of the major train stations and access points of the Provence region, meaning you can arrive without a car. Additionally, many of the guided tours in Provence have pick up points in Aix-en-Provence, making Aix-en-Provence ideal for discovering the Provence region without a car.
Aix-en-Provence is worth visiting if you want to stay in a more populated, bustling destination in the Provence region of France. Aix-en-Provence doesn’t have as much of a rural feeling as other Provencal villages (like Lourmarin), however it feels a bit more exciting with many boutiques, shops and restaurants to fill your days.
Aix-en-Provence is worth visiting if you’ve been to Provence before and are looking to discover more of what the region has to offer.
If you’re looking to discover the natural beauty of Provence in a more peaceful, relaxing setting, I would recommend skipping Aix-en-Provence and focus on exploring the Luberon region and its breathtaking villages (with a car).
using aix-en-provence as a base
If you’re wondering how to visit Provence without a car, Aix-en-Provence is a great option. You can take the train into Aix-en-Provence from destinations such as Marseille, Avignon, Paris and Nice.
In addition to being a centralized public transit destination, Aix-en-Provence is a major spot for the regional guided tours, if you’re looking to explore Provence without a car. From Aix-en-Provence, you can take guided tours to the Luberon villages, tours to wine tastings and lavender fields and bike tours through the region.
Here are a few of our favorite guided tours from Aix-en-Provence:
When is the best time to visit aix-en-provence?
Aix-en-Provence is a great destination to visit any time of year, as the city will always have food, markets and museums to discover regardless of the season.
Visit Aix-en-Provence in the shoulder seasons (April-June, Sept-Oct), if you want wonderful weather, less crowds and fresh local produce from the markets.
In July and August, Aix-en-Provence will be quite warm and crowded, however in July, you can access the famous Provencal lavender fields from Aix-en-Provence and enjoy peak produce in the region.
August in vacation season in France, so you might have less crowds in Aix-en-Provence, as most locals have headed towards the beach.
During the holidays, Aix-en-Provence does host a Christmas market, Marché de Noël, normally starting around mid-November and running through the end of December.
how much time to see aix-en-provence
Aix-en-Provence can be digested at your own pace, and you could spend a few weeks exploring all that the city has to offer.
Aix-en-Provence is walkable, with many car-free streets in the city-center, and is compact so that you’re only a short 5 to 10-minute walk away from everything within Aix-en-Provence.
You can also spend just a couple of hours in Aix-en-Provence if you’re passing through on your way to another Provencal destination. You can spend your hours strolling through whatever daily market is occurring and grabbing lunch at one of the delicious restaurants available.
Things to do in aix-en-provence
A Provencal city full of history and culture, you won’t run out of things to do in Aix-en-Provence is the perfect combination of slow Provencal living with plenty to do to keep you busy.
aix-en-provence markets
Aix-en-Provence is the city of Provencal markets, with markets happening every day of the week. The markets of Aix-en-Provence are scattered throughout the city center and you can stumble upon them through your aimless wanderings.
Although there are many markets in Aix-en-Provence, I will warn that these markets are a bit (more than a bit) less charming than the Provencal markets you will find in the smaller villages of Provence, but are still worth it if you are in Aix.
You can find the market times and locations on the Aix-en-Provence tourism site.
aix-en-provence museums
Aix-en-Provence boasts many museums highlighting the art, history and culture of the region. Below are a few museums worth visiting in Aix-en-Provence, especially if you are using it as a base for your travels, or if you’re visiting in the off season where the weather is cooler.
Le Musée Granet: Houses two rooms of works from the Aix-en-Provence and French master, Paul Cézanne. (unfortunately was closed during our travels).
Hôtel de Caumont - Centre d’Art: Housed in a historic French “hotel” or large building, that houses historical rooms as well as changing art exhibits. The building has a lovely French courtyard with ensuite cafe, where you can dine indoors or out in the beautiful setting.
day trips from aix-en-provence
When we stayed in Aix-en-Provence, we used it as an affordable hub to access other destinations in the Provence region. During our stay in Aix, we still had a rental car (more on this later), and spent most of our long weekend driving to the destinations outlined below.
The great thing about using Aix-en-Provence as a hub is that many major destinations in the Provence region are under an hour’s drive, whether you go North into the Luberon, West into the Camargue, or East and South into the French Riviera.
Aix-en-provence to the luberon
The Luberon region is a must visit when visiting Aix-en-Provence, as its where you will discover many of the picturesque Provencal villages, vineyards and lavender fields.
Driving from Aix-en-Provence to the Luberon villages is under an hour, and you could spend the day (or many days), hopping from one village to the next. If you’re short on time, or only have one day for a day trip from Aix, here are the Luberon villages I would prioritize:
Lourmarin: A small village at the base of the Luberon with an incredible Friday market. My favorite village in Provence.
Bonnieux: A stunning hilltop village with views
Gordes: Another stunning hilltop village with views
Roussillon: The unique, ochre-colored village of the Luberon
Read our guide to the most beautiful villages in the Luberon region of Provence.
Aix-en-provence to L’isle-sur-la-sorgue (for antiques)
If you’re based in Aix-en-Provence and want to spend the day enjoying French antiques, take the one hour day trip from Aix-en-Provence to L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue.
L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue is the capital of French antiques in Provence and is worth discovering if you’re interested in finding a special French antique or are searching for a large piece to mail back home.
aix-en-provence day trip to the french riviera
Aix-en-Provence sits slightly north of the coastline of the French Riviera, and you can easily take a day trip to discover the beautiful Mediterranean.
We personally took a day trip from Aix-en-Provence to the French Riviera village of La Ciotat, with access points to the Calanques. Another great option would be to drive to Cassis to enjoy Calanques National Park.
Where to stay in aix-en-provence
Staying in the center of Aix-en-Provence provides you with a lot of hotel and Airbnb rental options, whether you’re looking for a more luxurious Provencal experience, or something more affordable.
Below is a short list of beautiful hotels in Aix-en-Provence as well as affordable Airbnb or VRBO rentals.
The Best Hotels in or near Aix-en-Provence
For a chic hotel stay steps from the city center of Aix-en-Provence: Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix - MGallery Collection
For luxury and relaxation just outside of the city center of Aix-en-Provence: Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire Hotel & Spa
For a luxurious, Provencal experience outside the center of Aix-en-Provence: Château de la Gaude
For beautiful chic French luxury on the edge of Aix-en-Provence: Villa Gallici Hôtel & Spa
For a luxurious hotel experience, walking distance to the center of Aix-en-Provence: Villa Saint-Ange
The Best Airbnb Rentals in Aix-en-Provence
A guesthouse on the edge of the city center of Aix-en-Provence with a pool that sleeps four
A chic and simple Aix-en-Provence Airbnb rental in the city center that sleeps six
A bohemian apartment in the center of Aix-en-Provence that sleeps four and has a rooftop terrace
A modern and clean apartment in the center of Aix-en-Provence that sleeps four
where we stayed in Aix-en-Provence
During our stay in the center of Aix-en-Provence, we booked the compact and adorable Airbnb linked and photographed below for three nights.
The Aix-en-Provence Airbnb is centrally located, within walking distance to the markets of Aix-en-Provence as well as all the other highlights to see during your visit.
The Aix-en-Provence Airbnb is also not to far from the perimeter of Aix, meaning if you do have a car while visiting Aix-en-Provence, you can more easily walk to your car parking and get “out of town” more quickly.
How to get to aix-en-provence
There are a few ways to get to Aix-en-Provence, whether you’re visiting from overseas, from France itself or from other parts of Europe. You can access Aix-en-Provence directly by bus, train and car, and indirectly by plane.
Taking the train to Aix-en-Provence
You can access Aix-en-Provence by train from a few major cities in France, including Paris and Lyon, as well as the European destinations of Brussels, Belgium and Geneva, Switzerland.
Most of these trains will arrive at the Aix-en-Provence Tgv station, which is about 20-minutes outside of the city center. However, once at Aix-en-Provence Tgv, you can pick up your rental car, take an uber, or take the shuttle bus that runs every thirty minutes between the Tgv station and the center of Aix.
Flying to aix-en-provence
If Aix-en-Provence is part of a larger South of France itinerary and you’re visiting from somewhere other than the above mentioned cities, you can access Aix-en-Provence by flying into either of the airports listed below and then renting a car.
Marseille (MRS): Marseille Provence Airport is a 28-minute drive to Aix-en-Provence city center.
Nice (NCE): Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is an under two-hour drive to Aix-en-Provence, however, if you’re planning to visit both the French Riviera and Provence during your travels, it is the perfect access point to the region.
Planning for Provence
Need help planning the rest of your trip to Provence
We love Provence and have visited the region five times. If you’re planning a trip to Provence, you can find all of our resources for the region in the South of France section of our website.
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Heading to Provence and looking to discover the most beautiful villages in the region? Discover the most charming and breathtaking villages to visit during your Provence travels in this curated list.