If, during your stay in the South of France , you wish to visit Provence, here is my route from Arles to Marseille which you can save on your GPS to follow the map of my detailed itinerary.
This road trip in Provence will allow you to discover some of the most beautiful landscapes in France: Arles, the city of Avignon, the lavender fields, the Alpilles, the charming villages of Provence, ending in Marseille with its old port and its famous calanques.
Are 4 days enough to visit Provence?
The best way to truly explore the Provence region, and especially to do so freely and at your own pace, is by car. However, it's true that four days isn't enough to visit all the most beautiful spots in Provence. See my most amazing road trip in Provence, which requires seven full days.
However, 4 days can be enough to discover the essential sites of Provence, the “postcard” places. To do this, simply follow my tourist route presented below by car.
And if you only have 3 days to visit Provence, you can eliminate 1 or 2 stages (Montagne Sainte Victoire + Sénanque Abbey for example) and complete almost the entire tourist circuit.
Itinerary to visit Provence in 4 days
Here is the program for 4 days in Provence and the road trip itinerary:
- 1 DAY:
- Arles
- Montmajour Abbey
- The Baux de Provence
- 2 DAY:
- Saint-Remy-de-Provence
- Avignon
- Notre Dame de Sénanque Abbey
- Gordes
- 3 DAY:
- Roussillon
- Salon de Provence
- Aix en Provence
- Route of Sésanne
- 4 DAY:
- Sainte Victoire mountains
- Marseille
Google map of the route of this tourist circuit
My tour starts from the beautiful city of Arles and ends in Marseille but it can be done in the opposite direction. It represents approximately 250 km of road. Here is the Google map route to follow in GPS mode:
First day in Provence – Itinerary and visits
To start this circuit, the visit of Arles will take you in the morning.
Visit the city of Arles
If you are lucky enough to be there on a Wednesday or Saturday, you will be able to discover one of the most beautiful markets in Provence. Here are the addresses where the 2 weekly markets are held in Arles:
- Wednesday morning on Boulevard Émile-Combes;
- Saturday morning on boulevard des Lices and boulevard Georges-Clemenceau.
Then, you will visit the city of Arles, which has inspired many paintings, including those of the famous Van Gogh (see Vincent Van Gogh Foundation). A former provincial capital of ancient Rome , Arles boasts numerous Roman remains:
- The Roman Amphitheater;
- The Ancient Theater;
- The thermal baths of Constantine;
- The Saint-Trophime cloister ...
Here is my walking tour to visit the must-see sights of Arles and walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh.
At the end of the morning, you will take the road (10 minutes) to the Abbey of Montmajour which dates from the year 948. From there, you will have a magnificent view of the Alpilles.
The Baux de Provence
After less than 30 minutes by road, you will arrive at one of the most beautiful villages in Provence which is also classified. Surrounded by the ruins of its citadel, the village of Baux de Provence will enchant you with its small cobbled streets, its pretty squares, its old houses, its square and its Sain Vincent church ... Perched on a rocky outcrop, the village offers the most beautiful views of the natural landscapes of Provence. It is a site of breathtaking beauty.
It is in this dream setting that you can rest for the evening and the night.
Which hotel in Les Baux de Provence?
In such an exceptional setting, why not choose an exceptional hotel? If that's what you're looking for, here's the best address in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence: La Baumanière
You will be able to enjoy a beautiful evening in its gourmet restaurant!
Second day in Provence – Itinerary and visits
This morning, I advise you to hit the road very, very early because the day is quite busy.
The first stop is only 11 kilometers from Les Baux de Provence. So in just half an hour, you'll be in Saint Rémy de Provence.
Saint Remy of Provence
Take some time to stroll through the historic center where pretty artisan shops and small producers await you. Maybe a little café on a terrace in the shade of the plane trees. And we leave without delay if you wish to visit the Saint Paul de Mausole Cloister.
This 18th century monastery is famous because it hosted Vincent Van Gogh who painted there, among other things, Sunflowers and Cypresses.
You can visit the health house (psychiatric hospital) where the painter stayed for 53 weeks in a room in the “men's pavilion”, the reconstruction of which can be seen.
Avignon
You will then take the road again for around twenty kilometers to arrive in Avignon, the City of the Popes so rich in architectural and cultural heritage.
To visit it, a short walking tour of Avignon allows you to see the must-see sights (Palais du Roure, Palais des Papes, Basilique Notre Dame des Doms, Remparts and Pont d'Avignon).
Notre Dame de Sénanque Abbey
I only recommend this step if your trip to Provence takes place during the lavender flowering period. Indeed, it is at the end of June – beginning of July that the lavender fields are in flower and offer postcard panoramas. Otherwise, outside of peak flowering, I advise you to skip this stage to better enjoy the next one in Gordes!
Gordes
Only 5 kilometers away is another magnificent village which is one of the must-see places in Provence: Gordes.
It is here, that you can spend the evening and the night in a small hotel as nice for its setting as for its style and its services.
Which hotel in Gordes?
Here is the hotel I recommend in Gordes: Le Relais du Silence Le Mas Des Romarins. This hotel is housed in a 10th century building a XNUMX-minute walk from the village center. With its magnificent view, its beautiful swimming pool and its restaurant, it is ideal and for a small price!
Third day in Provence – Itinerary and visits
This morning, the 1st stage of the circuit is 13 kilometers away in Roussillon, a village classified among the most beautiful villages in France.
Roussillon
Salon de Provence
The birthplace of the world's greatest soap makers, Salon-de-Provence is located 60 kilometers from Roussillon. To explore the heart of this village, there is a marked trail called " In the Footsteps of the Soap Makers ." Following this 3-kilometer route, you can admire the beautiful private mansions and discover traditional soap factories such as the Marius Fabre soap factory or the Rampal-Latour soap factory.
Aix en Provence
1 hour drive and you arrive in Aix-en-Provence. It is its historic center that has the most charm with its famous and very lively Cours Mirabeau.
The old town has many mansions from the 18th century, elegant squares with pretty fountains, shaded café terraces… in short, everything for a nice stroll.
Here is a short circuit which allows you to visit the most beautiful sites: Aix en Provence on foot (Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, Clock Tower, former palace of the archbishops, Paul Cézanne's studio).
Which hotel in Aix en Provence?
Here is a dream hotel in the center of Aix en Provence!
Indeed, everything is perfect at the Aquabella Hotel & Spa: the room, the breakfast, the bar, the swimming pool, the spa and especially its location in the historic center of Aix en Provence.
Fourth day in Provence – Itinerary and visits
Sainte Victoire Mountain
If you have enough time, I recommend going through the Grand Site Sainte-Victoire. It is a protected natural area which includes 14 municipalities and which has received the Grand Site de France label.
To discover this nature and its picturesque landscapes (Mont Sainte-Victoire immortalized by Paul Cézanne), there's nothing better than a short hike! A footpath leads to Croix de Provence, at 945 meters altitude, where the panorama is splendid (see on Visorando ).
Otherwise, by road, taking the Cézanne route (classified as a Historic Monument), you will enjoy views which allow you to fully admire the famous Sainte-Victoire mountain.
Last stop in Marseille
The last stop on my Provence tour, Marseille, has many facets (cultural, modern, traditional). If you have limited time, I've shared an itinerary that allows you to see Marseille's must-see sights on foot, which you can discover here: Visiting Marseille in 1 day.
Which hotel in Marseille?
If you're looking for a safe and quiet place to stay, I recommend the NH Collection Marseille hotel . It's an elegant, characterful building dating back to 1864, located in the Joliette district (Marseille's new business and leisure district, very close to Le Panier and the Old Port).
For those who prefer to settle in the same place for the 4 days of discovery of Provence, a rental will be perfect. Here is a house in a splendid setting that you can rent entirely or simply rent one of its large rooms for a small price.
Its location (right next to Gordes) is ideal for wandering around and discovering the most beautiful Provencal sites.
Looking for another route in the South of France? Here's a hiking idea in the Verdon Gorges , my road trip in the Camargue , my sightseeing tour in the Gard , my tour in the Landes , or my itinerary along the Mediterranean coast.