How to get the best from a 48-hour Avignon City Pass

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Hello fellow wanderers! Are you planning to visit Avignon? Here is our two-day itinerary, using the Avignon City Pass with tips and insights for the best time.

We loved Avignon and if you enjoy medieval history, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exploring enchanting cobbled streets, and generally immersing yourself in the French way of life, read on. Hands up who’s off to get the croissants for breakfast?

Why visit Avignon?

You could easily “do” Avignon in a day, but that’s not our style. We’re into slower travel these days. We prefer to linger a while and see what happens in a place after the tourist buses have disappeared.

One of our loveliest moments was our first evening. We arrived from Lyon by train, all very easy, good value and to be recommended. We’d just been given the keys to our wonderful apartment and had wandered out into the beautiful cobbled streets inside the walled city of Avignon.

We were in search of a bite to eat, we didn’t get far. Drawn in by the sound of music through open windows at the Conservatoire de Musique, Danse, and Theatre du Grand Avignon. We grabbed a simple dinner of salad and quiche from Restaurant Francoise opposite and watched the comings and goings and ever-changing sounds. It was like being in a French version of Fame! Avignon was certainly endearing.

We discovered, thanks to a pedestrianised zone, a city perfect for walking. The City of Popes is encircled by 4km of city walls, you will earn your glass of wine in the evening. No stress! Avignon is also the gateway to the Côtes du Rhône vineyards, you have plenty of choice.

We had a fabulous day wandering Villeneuve lez Avignon across on the other side of Avignon’s Rhone River. Dare I say it? I think I enjoyed this even more than Avignon because it was unexpected and quieter.

Our lovely Airbnb apartment was located centrally and gave us access to everything we needed. We could have stayed longer. Avignon is much more than just a bridge for sure!

Read on for all the information you need to know about visiting Avignon.

What to see and do in Avignon

Avignon City Pass

Thanks to the Avignon Tourist Office we used the Avignon 48-hour City Pass. With this, we had an immediate plan of what to see and we were able to skip the line at the Palais du Papes. The City Pass is a great way to save time and money. But it’s more than that, it meant that our 48 hours were mapped out for us. We like a challenge and of course, wanted to do and see all that was included.

The pass includes entrance to all the sites we visited below. It can also be used for discounts on guided tours and certain activities such as excursions, Segway, and canoeing. You can also park in one of Tourism Avignon’s car parks for the duration of your pass.

Tip! Whilst at the Tourism Office ask for the Loisirs & Patrimoine guide. This brochure presents heritage sites to visit in Avignon and Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, as well as themed walking tours to do on your own.

DAY ONE Avignon

St Benezet Bridge

We choose to start bright and early at the famous St Benezet Bridge known as “Pont d’Avignon.” This turned out to be a wise move as it filled with school kids by the time we finished. What I had no idea learning the song ‘Sur la pont d’Avignon‘ with my Grandmother at her piano, was that we were only going to find half a bridge!

Actually, half a bridge is generous. The original bridge built in the 12th century had twenty-two arches. It connected Avignon with Villeneuve lez Avignon. Extensive subsequent damage from war and flooding from the Rhone River means that only four arches remain.

However, it is still a charming visit. It was architecturally impressive back in the day, and worth the wander but beware, you will have that song in your head all day!

Tip! Avoid the popular times to visit.

Palais des Papes

Welcome to the biggest Gothic palace in the world. Our visit to the Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) was thoroughly enjoyable.

The iPad technology that they offer allows you to take a self-guided tour. You’ll see the building as it would have looked back in the 14th century with 3D imagery at the time when Avignon was the epicenter of the Catholic world. There are many areas to visit from ceremonial halls, chapels, cloister, and the Pope’s private apartments with their priceless frescos. You will need 2-3 hours (maybe more) to enjoy the Palais and gardens.

Tip! Make sure that your iPad works before you leave the ticket area as some were faulty.

Palais des Papes Gardens

Our City Pass entrance ticket included the Palace Gardens which we came across in the middle of our visit to the Popes’ Palace. The gardens give a good view of the bridge and are a pleasant stroll.

Tip: You can only buy a ticket to the gardens at the Popes’ Palace entrance, not at the entrance to the gardens in the Palace. Also for your information, we found a vending machine in the Popes’ Palace Gardens but I was surprised there was no cafe or restaurant on site.

Lunch: Le Violette

After the intensity of the morning’s wanderings, we were whacked and ready to enjoy lunch. We chose the popular Le Violette in the courtyard of the Avignon Lambert Museum. The daily set lunch menu on the terrace was great value with entree/plat/dessert €29 and beautifully presented. It was just one of those thoroughly lovely French lunches that had it not been that we had so much to see and do, we could easily have lingered longer.

Violette, Le Restaurant de la Collection Lamber, 5 Rue Violette, 84 000 Avignon

Tip! For the foodies amongst us check out Les Halles covered market. Here you’ll find over 40 traders offering an array of fresh local produce, cheeses, meats, and artisanal goods. From truffle-infused treats and creamy goat cheeses, a wander in this market gives you a real feel for Provencal cuisine.

Avignon Collection Lambert

The Collection Lambert opened in 2000 for Yvon Lambert to share his private collection with the public. The contemporary art museum is housed inside a pair of magnificent 18th-century mansions in the center of Avignon.

It was closed to set up for a future exhibition but I found this online review which made me sad to miss it! ‘I travel a lot and I can say that this museum has one of the best collections of contemporary art that I have seen in the last 2 years’.

Tip! Plan ahead to check they are open!

Avignon Musée Angladon

Another museum, located in the heart of Avignon, in a beautiful 18th-century mansion. At Musee Angladon you will find paintings, drawings & sculptures by legendary artists such as Picasso, Degas, Cézanne, and Van Gogh. It is small but really worth a visit.

The highlight of this little gem of a museum for me was the bootmaker MASSARO’s exhibition entitled “A life at your feet” The closet Imeda Markos in some of us, loved all the designer shoes!

Open: Tuesday – Sunday 13h to 18 h Address: 5 Rue Laboureur 8400 Avignon

Avignon Musée Louis Vouland 

This is why I love the Avignon City Pass experience. We probably wouldn’t have found this beautiful private mansion of the wealthy industrialist Louis Vouland without it. Here were introduced to the only museum of decorative arts in Avignon. You can spend a very pleasant hour discovering its 18th-century collections, china collection, and Provençal paintings all in the heart of the City of the Popes.

The garden is a wildlife haven, and nice for a stroll. It offers an unexpected break. The garden is an LPO refuge (Bird Protection League) which acts to promote biodiversity.

Dinner Le Vintage

We enjoyed this restaurant and wine bar that offers a selection of 60 regional wines and a lot of cocktails. We followed the crowd, it was packed! I took the good value three-course Formule du Soir for €30. The menu changes weekly and offers French home cooking with seasonal produce. Lovely authentic French restaurant up one of Avignon’s side streets. Beautiful food and service.

Le Vintage: 10 Rue Galante, 84000 Avignon Tel 04 86 65 48 54

DAY TWO Villeneuve lez Avignon:

This quaint French town on the other side of Avignon’s Rhône River is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Villeneuve les Avignon was founded by Philippe IV Le Bel on the west bank to compete with Avignon. Join me as we wander through picturesque lanes, learn more about its rich history, and savor the flavors of the local cuisine.

Tip! All the attractions below were included in our 48-hour Avignon City Pass.

Travel to Villeneuve lez Avignon: by bus

We took TCRA bus n°5 Limbert/Villeneuve-Cigalières from in front of Avignon bridge.

Tip! The advice is to get off the bus at the stop in front of the Villeneuve lez Avignon Tourist Office or at the attraction Chartreuse on Avenue de Verdun. However, we decided to start our day at Tour Philippe Le Bel and wander through the sites of Villeneuve lez Avignon until we reached the Fort standing high on the hill.

Tour Philippe Le Bel

This tower was built in the 13th century and found at the end of Pont d’Avignon. Now isolated, this fortress was once at one of the most important crossroads of the medieval south of France. Its sparse interior has a few audio-visual presentations of the history. We enjoyed learning about the Middle Ages bridge construction methods. The virtual tour of the bridge in the Middle Ages gives a feel of how impressive the construction was back in the day.

Tip! Climb the 120 spiral staircase to the terrace for one of the finest panoramic views of Provence. You’ll have a lovely 360-degree view of Avignon and the Rhone Valley and across to Fort St André. Although at this point, you’ll realise you have got a lot more walking ahead of you!

The walk from the Tour Philippe Le Bel to Musée Pierre de Luxembourg, the next museum, across cobbled streets is just gorgeous. We pass beautiful houses, with shutters and colourful flower boxes. For art lovers, the town is dotted with art galleries and workshops that showcase both contemporary and traditional works.

Tip! Allow time in your day for a wander, and to stop off to see the unexpected in your day! We stopped off to enjoy a free art exhibition in the church and wished we could linger longer at the tempting cafes.

Musée Pierre de Luxembourg

Here at the Musee Pierre de Luxembourg, we find four floors to explore. The museum is set in a beautiful 17th-century mansion and former old abbey residence. The art relates to the importance of religion to the region of Avignon and paintings of the 17th century. I found this small museum an interesting way to learn more through its art, about the history of this fascinating time of French history. In each room, there are information boards in various languages which give further details of the artwork on display.

Tip! The highlight is Enguerrand Quarton’s painting Le Couronnement de la Vierge.

Chartreuse de Villeneuve lez Avignon

You’ll need 1-2 hours for a gentle wander around the cloisters and gardens of the 14th-century monastery of the Val-de-Bénédiction. We started with a coffee as this is one of the largest Carthusian monasteries in France.

Then armed with a guidebook from reception we set off to explore and found stunning vista after vista. There are 40 monk cells (many open for public viewing) which encourage my own reflection about the solace and meditation of the lives once lived within these walls.

Tip! Stop off at Cafe Saint Jean, and enjoy the wonderful setting!

Lunch: Aubergine

There are many choices for lunch from local cafes to Michelin restaurants in Villeneuve les Avignon. We stopped in a Place Jean Jaures a quintessential tree-lined French square full of people shaded under large umbrellas, enjoying lunch. From Ratatouille to Bouillabaisse, the local dishes here are a culinary celebration of Provencal flavors.

We chose Aubergine at 15 Rue de la Republique. After a morning wandering it was a welcome break.

Tip! Don’t forget to pair your meal with a glass of the region’s finest wines – santé!

Abbaye St André and gardens

It’s a worthwhile climb up the steep picturesque lanes to the Abbey and Fort. Combined with a stroll in the terraced Abbey grounds it’s a great way to work off lunch.

The gardens are classified as the most beautiful in France. We enjoyed our wander finding the old roses, Mediterranean natives, and olive and pine trees which date back more than a century quite charming. The gardens are peaceful and you will also find remains of Romanesque-style churches and tombs from the 6th century. 

Tip! Enjoy an ice cream from the cafe in the gardens!

Fort St André

Until the 15th Century, the Rhone separated the lands of the Holy Roman Empire from those of the Kingdom of France. The Saint Andre Fort, facing the western bank and defended by the city of Avignon stood guard over the frontier. This is the grand history of the place and the towering ramparts are impressive. You will find a stunning view of the surrounding countryside here.

Our entry was included with our 48-hour Avignon city pass.

Tip! As you walk down from the Fort check out Place Charles David, a bustling square adorned with fountains and vibrant flowers.

Where to stay in Avignon

You will not be short of options for places to stay in Avignon. We decided to stay within the city walls, which was a good move, even if it meant carrying our bags along cobbled streets as taxis have very limited access to the centre. Be aware also if booking a private apartment to check how many flights of stairs you will need to lug your suitcase up!

We can recommend Marie-Anne’s first-floor one-bedroom apartment in the old city found via Booking.com & Air BnB as Loft Hyper Centre. We stayed three nights.

Tip! You can see the room tour here on Little Wandering Wren’s IG.

Dinner Tapis Rouge Avignon

Dinner was one of those let’s go for a wander and see what we find. We ended up going no further than the last empty table outside at Tapis Rouge. The cellar, wine bar restaurant in the heart of Avignon was perfect. Friendly welcome, and serving fantastic ‘planches’, with for example various meats or various cheeses. 

Transport to Avignon

By Train

There are two train stations in Avignon. Avignon Centre and Avignon TGV where the high-speed trains arrive on the outskirts of the city

If you’re arriving at Avignon TGV station, it is just a short transfer to the city centre. The escalators take you down to the main level where you can find buses, taxis, or a shuttle train into town, which takes just five minutes. We used Avignon Taxi, a long-term operator in the area since 1969. They have 40 vehicles Tel: 0490 82 20 20

We arrived by the InOui Train from Lyon on a Grande Vitesse (TGV) High-speed train. The journey took just over an hour and cost €18, what a bargain.

Eurostar

We loved the train service in France you can get to Avignon from London St Pancreas by taking a Eurostar train to Paris or Lille and changing on to a connecting TGV InOui train.

Final Thoughts

The Avignon City Pass was a great way to see all the major attractions in Avignon. I am so happy that Avignon lived up to my childhood expectations having loved the song “Sur la Pont Avignon.” Phew! I was as enchanted by the place, as I was sitting beside my Grandma on her piano stool and singing along over 50 years ago. Oh yes, Avignon you were a long time coming and well worth the wait.

Disclosure: Little Wandering Wren’s Avignon City Pass was kindly supplied by Avignon Tourism. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy wandering!

For more Southern France wanderings check out Discovering Magnificent Montpellier.

Follow us on Social Media: Find more photos of my travels and stories on Instagram @littlewanderingwren.

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