Great Day Trips from Avignon in 2-Hours or less

If you are here because you have already read about my brief visit to Avignon, you probably recall that I spent a few days there last fall – my first trip back to France after 22 months of absence and my first visit to this wonderful city. Picking up the story from where I left it a few months ago, I am taking you back to Provence on a photo tour of several other places that have left an unforgettable impression and a strong desire to return. They are all within a 2-hour drive from Avignon.

Nîmes (Bar de la Bourse)

After becoming acquainted with the charming Avignon landmarks and spending a few days enjoying the Rhône wine and the delectable Provençal food, it seemed like a good idea to plan some day trips outside the city.

Aix-en-Provence

La Major Cathedral Marseille

Day Trips from Avignon

Thankfully there are so many places the curious traveller could go. There is Châteauneuf-du-Pape for wine tasting. But, then, the Luberon region has its drop-dead gorgeous hilltop towns like Roussillon and Gordes.

Roussillon

Gordes

Bonnieux

There is L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue with its colourful old town and picturesque watermills.

L’isle sur la Sorgue

L’isle sur la Sorgue

Heading south, you can reach Nîmes and Arles in less than an hour, as well as Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, given just a little more time.

Roman amphitheatre Nîmes

It is easy to see how Avignon is a perfect base for exploring the area. The public transport network, fast and reliable, covers most touristy destinations in the Rhône-Alpes region, as well as in neighbouring Occitanie.

St Remy de Provence

Uzès market day

St Remy de Provence

St Remy de Provence

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Uzès are two beautiful towns many other travellers have recommended, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to you. Market days are always fun, but they are just as enjoyable without the crowds. Take your time strolling down all the quaint streets and take in the irrepressible French charm of creamy stone, pastel shutters, and artfully arranged flower displays that make picture-perfect scenes at every step.

Renata Haidle

Renata Haidle is a Romanian-American photographer, writer, and book author. She credits Paris for sparking her photography career after her first visit there in 2014. Her work has been shared by Google, Frommers, The London Evening Standard, The Resident London, France Today, and Taste of France, among others. She has been featured twice in Google Pixel digital installations: The Meadows at the Highline (NYC, May 2017), and The Radical Luxury exhibit at the Old Selfridge Hotel (London, May 2018).

Her first photo book, French Riviera, was published in July 2019. She is currently working on a Paris-inspired poetry collection.

Renata's work can be found at @renatahaidle on Instagram and Twitter and via her website.