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4-Day Itinerary in Provence: Tips, What to See and Where to Stay
Provence is a land that fascinates with its authentic beauty, made of picturesque villages, colorful markets, and relaxing atmospheres. After already visiting Marseille on a previous trip, we decided to return to Provence for four days dedicated to discovering new corners of this region.
And if you prefer not to rent a car?
The bigger cities like Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Arles are easily reachable by train. To explore the small villages in the Luberon area and those further inland, you can rely on comfortable guided tours. On GetYourGuide, you can find many organized options to visit Provence without stress. I’ll leave some interesting tours for you down here 🙂
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With a Ryanair flight, we landed at Marseille airport, where we immediately rented a car to explore all the wonders of this land with complete freedom.
If you don’t have a car, I recommend staying first in Marseille or Aix-en-Provence, and then in Avignon. You’ll see they are perfect bases for your tour.
Day 1: Aix-en-Provence
Our first stop was Aix-en-Provence, an elegant and refined city that perfectly represents the soul of Provence. It wasn’t our first time in Aix, yet, walking through its little streets, we fell in love with its atmosphere all over again.
Aix is best known for being the city of the famous painter Paul Cézanne, who was born here and lived here until his death. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit the Atelier des Lauves, the studio where Cézanne created some of his most famous works, because it is closed for renovations and will reopen on June 28, 2025. You can find the official website to buy tickets HERE.
Where to stay?
We chose an accommodation just 5 minutes on foot from the center, with the convenience of free parking and a swimming pool we could use. I must say we had a great time! You can find it HERE on Booking under the name “La Chambre Cezanne.” Potete trovarla QUI su Booking “La Chambre Cezanne”.
What to see in Aix-en-Provence:
- Cours Mirabeau: the elegant tree-lined boulevard full of historic cafés and refined shops.
- Place d’Albertas: a charming little square famous for its fountain.
- Place de l’Hôtel de Ville: known for its clock tower and surrounded by historic buildings.
- Historic fountains: Aix is nicknamed the “City of a Thousand Fountains.” Don’t miss the Fontaine Moussue, the Fontaine de la Rotonde, and the Fontaine des Augustins.
- Saint-Sauveur Cathedral: an architectural gem mixing different styles, from Romanesque to Gothic.
- Musée Granet: for art lovers, this museum hosts a rich collection of paintings and sculptures.
We also spent some time at the local markets, which I especially love. Aix offers several markets, including:
Textile, craft, and antique market: every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Cours Mirabeau, Rue Thiers, and Place Verdun.
Food market: open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Place Verdun and Place des Prêcheurs.
Fish and food market: every day in Place Richelme.
Flower market: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, and Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday in Place des Prêcheurs.
At the end of the day, we enjoyed a relaxing sunset in the beautiful Pavillon de Vendôme, a historic park featuring a splendid 17th-century palace surrounded by well-kept gardens.
Day 2: Lourmarin, Roussillon and Gordes
We said goodbye to Aix-en-Provence and headed toward Lourmarin, just a 35-minute drive away. If you prefer public transport, you can take bus 909. Use Google Maps with the “public transport” option — it’s always accurate in showing the best way to get around — and then check the updated schedules online.
Where to stay?
Here we stayed in a very charming accommodation that we really loved. We chose the “studio with kitchen” option so we could return in the evening and have dinner in our patio surrounded by nature. A big plus for me: the swimming pool! It’s called Les Chêneslierres and you can find it HERE on Booking.
In my opinion, Lourmarin is one of the most beautiful villages in Provence, with cozy alleys, local boutiques, and the impressive Château de Lourmarin, a Renaissance castle you shouldn’t miss.
After a walk through the village, we drove to Roussillon, famous for its amazing ochre quarries that color the landscape with unique tones, offering postcard-perfect views and breathtaking scenery. Here I recommend stopping for a sweet snack at Boulangerie Au Temps Passé.
Finally, we headed to Gordes, a village that will charm you with its ancient beauty. Perched on a hill, this village offers spectacular views over the surrounding valley and streets full of artisan shops and traditional restaurants.
Day 3: Avignon
We dedicated the third day to Avignon, a city full of history. Although I have to admit that out of all the villages we visited, this might be the one I liked the least.
What you shouldn’t miss here:
The Palais des Papes, the symbol of the city and one of the greatest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe.
The Saint-Bénezet Bridge, famous thanks to the well-known folk song.
Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral.
Les Halles Market, perfect to discover local flavors.
Rocher des Doms gardens (partly under renovation at the moment).
Petit Palais Museum.
Barthelasse Island for a relaxing walk.
For lunch, we stopped at Chez Nine, a small place where the menu changes every day because all the dishes are prepared fresh on the spot. I had a ricotta and spinach quiche that was truly delicious. In the evening, we returned to Lourmarin for a quiet dinner.
Avignon could still be a great place to stay and continue your trip in Provence from there, exploring nearby villages. Maybe if I could go back, I would choose to stay here for the last night. 🙂
Day 4: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Arles
Our last day started with Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a little gem full of art and history.
Things not to miss here:
Nostradamus Fountain
Boulevard Mirabeau
The archaeological site of Glanum
Estrine Museum, dedicated to Van Gogh
Hôtel de Sade Palace
Château de Roussan
Les Alpilles Natural Park, for those who have more time for nature hikes
For lunch, we chose Le Goustarou, where I had a savory buckwheat galette with ratatouille and egg. So good!
Before leaving Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, we made an unmissable stop at the former Monastery of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. This place was once a psychiatric hospital, especially famous because Vincent Van Gogh spent a whole year here, during which he created extraordinary works like the famous Starry Night.
Today, for only €9, you can visit the faithfully recreated room where he stayed, walk through the gardens that inspired many of his paintings, and admire the evocative medieval cloister. A unique experience that I definitely recommend! There’s no need to book in advance — you can buy your ticket on the spot.
In the afternoon, we headed to Arles, another city full of history and known for its connection to Van Gogh.
Must-see sights:
Saint-Trophime Cathedral and Place de la République
The Roman amphitheater, built in the 1st century AD
The Ancient Theater, one of the first stone theaters of the Roman era
Espace Van Gogh, the former hospital where Van Gogh was admitted, now a cultural space with gardens
The Baths of Constantine, Roman baths from the 4th century
Arles is also close to the Camargue Natural Park, famous for its pink flamingos and white horses — perfect for an extra visit.
We had an amazing meal at Saveurs et Terroirs, with a sandwich overflowing with melted grilled cheese, and a view of the amphitheater!
Provence is truly a region full of charm, with so many other beautiful villages and breathtaking spots just waiting to be explored.
My dream is to return one day, maybe at the end of June, to finally see the lavender fields!
I hope this article was helpful in planning your next trip to Provence.
Have a great journey!✨