Top 27 Day Trips From Aix En Provence In France

Centrally located in the South of France, there are endless possibilities for places to visit near Aix en Provence. It makes a great base city to tour the rest of the region. Here I’ve listed 27 of the best Aix en Provence day trips to get you started.

There’s a day trip from Aix for everyone on this list. The beach is a 30 minute drive away, hiking trails are less than 20, and there are countless little South of France towns all around to explore. You can easily visit lavender fields, wineries, and historical sites too.

Oh, and Aix itself is a pretty nice spot all on its own! So, here’s the ultimate list of the top 27 day trips from Aix en Provence.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

A Little Bit About Aix-En-Provence

Aix-en-Provence is my favourite city in the South of France. It’s not too big and not too small. There are more than enough cafés to enjoy, museums to visit, and breathtaking scenery to take in! 

It’s also famous for being the birthplace of impressionist painter, Paul Cézanne. You can follow his entire life from birth to death in this city (more about the city’s romance with Cézanne!). 

Planning Day Trips From Aix

You have four options for getting around the South of France for your day trips from Aix en Provence; the train, the bus, renting a car, or going on organized tours. We never took the train, but we did take the bus once and go on one organized tour. But our main mode of transportation was renting a car and driving.

The towns surrounding Aix-en-Provence are for the most part quite small. With this in mind, you’ll likely want to visit more than one in a day. There are a few exceptions (like Marseille) that are large enough to fill an entire day. More often than not, we found ourselves driving to 2 to 3 towns/attractions in one day.

Because you’ll probably end up going from town to town to see the main sites in each, the easiest and most flexible option is to drive. You can also opt to do half-day trips.

Aix En Provence Day Trips By Bus

The bus is one of the least stressful and cheapest modes of transportation for Aix en Provence day trips. You don’t have to worry about driving and parking in a foreign country.

The downside to taking the bus, of course, is that you are bound to their schedule. Another problem is that you have to make sure there is enough to do in the area you’re visiting. We were able to take the bus to Marseille for the day from Aix.

Again, since most of the towns aren’t that big, I wouldn’t devote an entire day to seeing them. If you aren’t going too far out of the city you can take public transport, but they also have intercity buses. 

Organized Tours From Aix En Provence

Organized tours are a great option for day trips from Aix en Provence. You can find all the organized tours the city offers from the tourist centre or you can book a tour through Viator.

As I said, the towns are quite small and remote. So either, there’s no bus or train that will take you there, and then there isn’t enough to fill the day with.

Day tours from Aix en Provence are peaceful ways to see all the main sites surrounding the city. The downside is that I find it’s definitely on the pricier side and you’re bound to the tour’s schedule.

See all the organized tours from Aix en Provence offered by the city or see Viator tours from Aix en Provence.

Renting A Car & Driving In Provence

Renting a car and driving is both the easiest way to get around and the most stressful for day trips from Aix en Provence. You can read my in-depth guide to driving and renting a car in the South of France.

There are a few things you need to take into account when driving through Provence. First, driving in Aix is not a thing. The streets are narrow, there’s no parking, and it’s all around pretty terrible, so you’ll want to rent a car for one day at a time. That means picking it up and returning it all in the same day. 

With driving it’s also important to add more time than you think you’ll need for driving from point A to point B. You might want to stop along the way to take photos and you have to take into account the time it takes to find parking in each city. 

You also have to plan your route carefully. For example, it takes an hour to drive from Aix to Avignon, and an hour and 10 minutes to drive from Aix to Gordes. But! Don’t think that it’s only going to be 10 minutes to get from Avignon to Gordes, it’s actually 45! That’s because you are now off the highway taking side streets.

If you are driving, you also need to take into account the time it takes to look for parking in each place.

Related

Provence Driving & Parking Tips For a Stress Free Vacation

Places To Visit Near Aix En Provence

1. Mont Sainte-Victoire

This is a famous mountain just outside in Aix. Mont Sainte-Victoire was the subject of many of Cézanne’s paintings.

There are several hiking trails with breathtaking views, for any desired hiking level. You don’t even have to hike to the top, which is 2 hours each way. There are also two dams you can hike to, or the Bibémus Quarry.

This is one of the day trips from Aix en Provence that you can make into what you want! The mountain is accessible by car and city bus. You can either spend your entire there or just go for the morning or afternoon. 

Just be sure that you pack a picnic lunch to enjoy with a view! Read more about hiking Mont Sainte-Victoire!

2. Bibémus Quarry

Within the mountain is the Bibémus Quarry. It was Cézanne’s second love, but he painted it just as much as the mountain.

Visiting Bibémus Quarry can be an alternative to or combined with visiting Sainte-Victoire. 

Once again, you can either drive or take the bus here but you can only visit the Quarry with a guided tour. The guided tours stop at the end of October, during the low season.

3. Musée Calisson

You won’t find a Calisson anywhere else in the world; these sweet treats are local to Aix. One of the main attractions in Aix is to visit the largest manufacturers of these desserts, Roy René.

This is one of the best places to visit near Aix en Proence if you don’t want to rent a car. It will fill up about half your day, but you can take the city bus there, which will take about 20-minutes.

The manufacturer offers tours, or you can wander the museum at your own pace. You’ll learn everything from their history to how Calisson are made today.

4. Visit A Winery (Or Two)!

As many of you are probably aware, France is all about wine. But Provence is actually all about rosé. It’s important to taste and indulge in the local culture, right? So it’s a must to visit at least one winery while in Aix-en-Provence.

Lucky for you, there are many places to visit near Aix en Provence that offer wine tastings. The downside is that it can be quite a challenge to get to them. You’ll most likely need to rent a car or book an organized tour.

One of the more well-known wineries to visit is Château La Coste. It’s at a large castle, surrounded by huge grounds filled with art sculptures that you can explore. You can actually make it here by bus, but it involves a 4 km walk and trusting a sketchy bus schedule. I’d recommend renting a car for the day if you want to come here.

Or you can go on an organized tour. We chose the half day (english) tour with Vignevasion (see all the tours they offer in Provence) loved it! We booked it through the tourist office and was guided by a local from Provence.

She was knowledgeable about both wine and Provence, and gave us useful tips for wine tasting and the rest of our stay in Aix! The best part about the tour is that there’s a max of 10 people in the group so it’s a pretty personal tour.

If you do decide to rent a car and go on your own, please make sure you have a designated driver.

5. Camps des Milles

A day trip (or half-day trip) to Camps de Milles is the ultimate outing for history buffs. This is an internment camp in the South of France that opened in 1939.

You’ll most likely need a car to get here, from what I could tell it isn’t along any bus routes, but it’s only a 20 minute drive away by car.

6. Cassis: Bec De L’Aigle (45 mins)

Cassis is a quintessential beach village where all the locals from Aix go on a beautiful summer day because it’s so close to the city. You will need a car to get here though.

As we didn’t visit Aix during beach season, we didn’t end up visiting Cassis. But it’s on our list if we ever get to come back. If you’re not much of a beach person (like us), there are also hiking trails, or you can go on boat tours.

If you want to escape the tourists for a bit, our Airbnb host recommended heading to Bec de L’Aigle (the Eagles Beak). It’s a lookout point outside the town.

7. Lourmarin (45 mins)

Lourmarin is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France. There’s a castle to explore, along with many cafes and restaurants for coffee and dining (each one more delicious than the last as I hear it).

They’re very proud that Nobel Literature Prize winner Albert Camus was born here too.

8. Marseille (1 hour)

Marseille is the capital of the Provence region. Although it hasn’t had the best reputation throughout the years, it has really improved. But if you’re still a bit uneasy about it, making a day trip there from Aix is the perfect excuse to check it out so you avoid staying overnight.

There’s more than enough to fill your day here; museums, outstanding views, and of course, the beach!

Plus, there’s a bus to Marseille from Aix every 30 minutes! So it’s one of the easiest day trips from Aix en Provence to plan. I was advised not to even attempt driving to and in the city. Apparently the driving in Marseille is worse than driving in Aix!

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Is Marseille Safe? The Truth About Marseille & What It’s Like To Visit

Day Trips From Aix En Provence To The Côtes D’Azur

This is the Mediterranean coast of the South of France, famous for all its bougie beach towns. There are four main cities that you can visit in the Côte D’azur aka the French Riviera: Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice, and Èze.

You can visit a few of them in one day from Aix, or you can spend an entire day exploring just one.

You’ll want to rent a car to get to these beachside cities though. You can either drive straight there on the highway (paying for toll roads) or you can take a scenic route along the coast (but it can add quite a bit of time). Google Maps will be your best friend here, you’ll want to compare several routes and choose the best one for you!

9. Saint Tropez (1h 40)

Saint Tropez is one of the closest places to visit near Aix-en-Provence in the Côte D’Azur. I really wanted to make it to Saint Tropez but we didn’t have enough time to stop there in the end.

The biggest draw for me was the Butterfly Museum, but there are loads more things to do there! Like stare in awe at all the yachts on the coast, or take part in their booming nightlife.

10. Cannes (1h 40)

Next along the coast is Cannes, famous for the Cannes Film Festival. Of course, if you aren’t travelling during the right time of year, there won’t be much to see here.

There’s a beach to relax on, the Musée des explorations du monde, and church at the top of the hill. 

11. Nice (1h 50)

Nice reminded me of an Aix-en-Provence on the beach! It’s a lot warmer here because it’s on the water, but it’s also quite a bit more expensive to stay overnight (hence why we chose to stay in Aix instead!).

Nice is a beautiful destination for a day trip from Aix en Provence. You can sit (or walk) along the beach, hike up to the top of the mountain for a view, or get lost in the narrow winding streets.

12. Èze (2h 00)

Èze is a small seafront town is sandwiched between it’s more well-known neighbours, Nice and Monaco. If you don’t get back on the highway, you’ll end up driving through it on your way from Nice to Monaco.

We didn’t have enough time to get out and walk around, although I would have loved to. If you decide to stop here, there is a botanical garden and hiking trails to explore.

Day Trips From Aix En Provence

13. Monaco (2h 10)

Monaco, Monaco, Monaco. The hotspot for the rich and famous! This independent microstate is the strangest place I’ve ever been to and you can visit it in just one day from Aix en Provence. Monaco is an entire country, but you can walk from one side to the other in a matter of minutes.

Monaco is separated into Old Town and New Town. New town is made up of quaint streets and the port. Old town is up the hill with museums, the palace, and botanical gardens to explore.

But for me, a stop here was all about taking in the breathtaking views of the homes built all the way up the mountain. You also can’t forget to make your way to the infamous Monte Carlo casino… what is it famous for anyway? Does anyone even know?

14. Les-Baux-de-Provence & Carrières des Lumières (1 h)

Les Carrières de Lumières is a must-see in the South of France. This is an art exhibit that is literally built into its surroundings. Every year it features a different artist whose art is projected onto the walls. The experience is incredibly immersive and like no other art exhibit I’d ever been to before.

Less than a 15-minute walk from the exhibit is the small town, Les-Baux-de Provence. This stunning and medieval town is filled with tourist shops and fancy restaurants.

There’s also a castle to explore at the top with rewarding views of Provence. You can also check out the Santon Museum while you’re visiting!

Organized Tours From Aix en Provence

15. Saint-Remy de Provence (1 h)

If you aren’t interested in Les-Baux-de-Provence, you can visit Saint-Remy de Provence instead. It’s not walking distance, but it’s only a short drive from Carrière de Lumières.

Instead of exploring a castle, there’s a Monastery you can tour as well.

16. Avignon (1h)

If you grew up in Quebec, then you’ll know all about Avignon. That’s because It’s the subject of a popular French nursery rhyme ” Sur Le Ponts D’Avignon” (On the Avignon Bridge).

We were very pleased to find out that there is in fact a bridge in Avignon, and it used to be very important. Today only half of the giant influential bridge remains, but you can walk on it and learn all about it’s history. 

If you aren’t interested in the bridge, there are some museums to explore and incredible views. Avignon is one of the bigger cities, so it’s one of the only day trips from Aix en Provence that you can do in only one city.

We only spent the morning in Avignon, splitting the afternoon visiting L’Isle-Sur-La Sorgue, Gordes, and Roussillon. Read about our road trip from Aix.

17. L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue (1 h)

L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, A.K.A. the Venice of the Comtat (Venice of the County). The Sorgue river runs through this town with water mills, making it a picture-perfect location.

Honestly, the best thing to do here is to walk along the water and do some antique shopping! Did you know it hosts one of the largest antique markets in France!

18. Gordes (1 h 10)

Gordes is another enchanting medieval town but it’s built entirely on the mountainside. It was built like this for protection, as fortification from enemies.

The biggest draw of visiting Gordes is the view of the city itself. It’s incredible! We didn’t even bother going inside because we heard that the driving might be difficult.

But there are things to do in the town as well, like explore the castle and caves.

19. Roussillon (1 h 10)

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you arrive in Roussillon. Roussillon is known for producing ochre (yup, the paint colour). The town is surrounded and built on red ochre rocks. The colour palette of the town was painted to match the rocks, it’s unbelievable!

The main attraction is hiking the Sentier de Ochre. This trail gives you a front seat to the beautiful and unique terrain.

Related

The Best One Day Road Trip From Aix [Avignon, Gordes, Roussillon]

20. National Park de Camargue (1 h)

National Park de Camargue is one of the best Aix en Provence day trips for nature lovers. This massive National park is filled with wetlands and unimaginable wildlife. It’s not uncommon to spot cattle, beautiful white horses, and even flamingos here!

Make sure you bring your tripod and zoom lens on this day trip from Aix en Provence.

Read more about The National Park de Camargue.

21. Nîmes (1 h 20)

Nîmes is all about Roman history (along with Arles and Uzès). In fact, there are several well-kept Roman monuments that you can still see today.

The main one being the Roman amphitheatre that is still in use today (like a mini-coliseum). Not too far from the city, you also have the Pont du Gard…

22. Arles (1h)

Like Nîmes, Arles has remnants of the Roman Empire, like an amphitheatre and a coliseum. But, what sets Arles apart is that Vincent Van Gogh spent a lot of time here, and took inspiration from the town.

Many of his famous works are in fact of Arles, like the painting of a room was based off of his apartment in Arles!

Day Tours From Aix en Provence

23. Pont du Gards (1h 20)

This was one of my favourite places to visit near Aix en Provence. We were almost going to skip it but decided not to at the last minute, and I’m so thankful we didn’t.

This world relic dates back to the first century AD! It’s part of an aqueduct the Romans built to get fresh water from Uzes down to Nîmes. The size is unreal for something built in those times.

You can spend an entire day at the Pont du Gards, especially during the summer months. Pack a picnic lunch, go on a hike, or even go swimming, all with views of this piece of history insight. Read my post about how to spend an entire day visiting the Pont du Gards!

We only spent half the day here since we combined it with a stop in the morning at the Carrière de Lumières and les Baux-de-Provence. But you can also add it to a stop at either Arles, Uzès, Nîmes or even Avignon!

24. Uzès (1h 40)

Past the Pont du Gard is the city of Uzès. You won’t hear about the Roman Empire here but the 12th-century castle Duchy. It’s actually still lived in today by the current Duke of Uzès and his family.

You can go on a tour to see the underground cellars, the current family apartments, and climb the tower for outstanding views.

25. Gorge de Verdun (2h)

Gorge de Verdun is one of the most magnificent areas in the South of France. It’s one of the most rewarding yet terrifying day trips from Aix en Provence. This is where the driving is at times the most terrorizing, but the views make it all worthwhile.

Depending on your interests, you can spend your day at the Gorge doing many different outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and horseback riding.

You can also spend the day in the car driving around the Gorge from viewpoint to viewpoint. There are several towns along the way where you can make a pit stop.

26. Sillans-La-Cascades (1 h 10):

Into waterfalls? From the town of Sillans-la-Cascades, you can go on a short hike to see one! ‘Cascades’ actually translates to waterfall.

Aside from the waterfall, there isn’t much else to do here. You can walk by the Remparts which is the last standing wall of the old castle that used to be here. You can also make friends with the many outdoor house cats you’ll meet on the streets of the town.

We stopped here in the morning before driving to the Gorges de Verdun.

27. Montpellier (1 h 50)

Tired of jumping from small town to small town on day trips from Aix en Provence? Then make the trip to Montpeillier. It’s the third-largest city in the South of France (after Marseille and Nice).

This is a great option if you’re looking to stay in one spot for the day. It’s a real city to explore with museums and aquariums, and even a city hall.

Bonus! Day Tours From Aix En Provence To See Lavender Fields

If you’re lucky enough to be in Provence from mid-June to early July you can visit the lavender fields in bloom on day trips from Aix en Provence. There are many fields within reasonable distance from Aix. You can either drive to one yourself, or you can go on an organized tour.

Vignevasion (the wine tour company we went on) offered day tours from Aix en Provence to lavender fields that sounded amazing! Check out all their tours.

You can also book tours from Aix en Provence to see the lavender fields through Viator.

Hotel Recommendations In Aix?

Aix en Provence is a very small city in the South of France so there’s no bad location to stay during your visit. We stayed at an Airbnb in Aix because we were visiting for a month. Here are some hotel suggestions I found to stay at while in Aix en Provence.

I would recommend staying in an apartment get a more local taste of this small South of France town and a balcony is a must-have! I love Loft “Le Petit Séquoia for both of those features. You can sleep 5 people in this apartment on the edge of town and it has an unbeatable balcony for everyone to enjoy. See room rates and availability.

For a truly luxury getaway with a pool and spa to relax in the South of France, book a room at the Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire Hotel & Spa. Although it is further outside the city centre, they offer a truly relaxing South of France getaway. I mean, they have not one, not two, but THREE swimming pools! See room rates and availability.

If you want a luxury stay in the city, book Luxury Design Hotel Particulier le 28 where every room is different! They also have an indoor pool and give you one of a kind stay in Aix en Provence. See room rates and availability.

For a budget-friendly option in the city centre (on Cours Mirabeau) stay at Séjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau. They offer a full kitchen and apartment amenities to live like a local in Aix! See room rates and availability.

For more hotel accommodations in Aix en Provence, see Booking.com.

My France Day Trip Essentials

More Provence Travel Guides

• Souvenirs To Buy From Provence
• Guide To Driving Through Provence
• Discover Aix-en-Provence: The South of France Hidden Gem
• South of France in The Fall

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Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API