🇫🇷 Arles, France
Hôtel Le Voltaire
📍 1, Place Voltaire, Arles, 13200
Photo: official website
Your stay — Hôtel Le Voltaire
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Arles.
The Property — Hôtel Le Voltaire
Hôtel Le Voltaire sits on a quiet residential street near Arles’s Roman arena, its small lobby all pale stone floors, an antique desk and a faint trace of lavender. It is the kind of place that does not try to impress — clean lines, decent beds, a simple courtyard for morning coffee — which suits the independent traveller who wants a solid base rather than a performance. The USP is location: five minutes on foot from the amphitheatre, the same from the Rhône, and a fraction of the price of the four-star places nearer the ring road.
Chronicles of Arles
Arles was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC as Arelate, then took off under the Romans as a key port on the Rhône; its arena, theatre and baths are among the best-preserved in Provence. The medieval period left a web of narrow lanes and the iconic Saint-Trophime cloister, while the 19th and 20th centuries gave the city its Van Gogh association — he painted over 300 works here between 1888 and 1889. Contemporary Arles is the capital of the Camargue region, a quiet provincial centre whose economy leans on tourism, rice and bull-rearing, and whose cultural identity is defiantly Provençal.
Best Time to Visit
Full Arles guide →Best months
April, May and September — temperatures 18–25°C, clear skies, and the crowds of July–August are still weeks away or have only just thinned. The light is sharp and the mistral is less frequent than in spring or autumn.
Peak / festival surge
July, especially the first two weeks of the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival which runs July–September. Hotels double their rates; the town is packed with festival-goers and cruise-ship day-trippers. The peak event is the opening weekend of the festival (early July) and the Feria d'Arles in mid-September.
Budget shoulder season
Late May–early June and late September–early October. Discounts of 20–30% off summer rates, still good weather (22–26°C), and far fewer queues at the Roman monuments. The mistral can blow in October, but it clears the air.
Weather & packing
July in Arles is reliably hot and dry — expect 30°C afternoons and a coolish 16–18°C evening. Pack one long-sleeve and a light jacket for dining outdoors after sunset, and always carry a sun hat; the sun here is brutal even at 6pm.
Live City Briefing — Arles
- The Rencontres d'Arles photography festival began on 6 July and runs until 28 September 2026; expect entry fees at the main venues and later opening hours for the outdoor exhibitions.
- The Arles ring road (N113) has had a weekend closure for resurfacing in the town centre; check local signage if driving in from the A54 on 14 July.
- The municipal public bike-share scheme (Le Vélo Bleu) has added 50 new e-bikes for summer 2026, with a docking station now outside the main railway station, Gare d'Arles.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel Le Voltaire, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the courtyard (rear of the building). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle, and the courtyard side is shielded from Place Voltaire traffic. If courtyard rooms aren't available, a front-facing room on the 3rd floor still gives a quieter perch above street level.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those fronting the square): they catch direct street noise from Place Voltaire—a busy roundabout with cafés, traffic, and market activity. Also skip rooms right by the lift shaft on any floor; the lift in a 3-star older building is often noisy at all hours.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on floors 2–3 overlook Place Voltaire—a lively Provençal square with plane trees, a fountain, and daily market stalls. It's not pristine, but it's authentically Arlésien. Back-facing rooms see a quiet courtyard and neighbours' rooftops—more peaceful but less character.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are quietest—away from ground-floor street noise and the restaurant/bar area (if it has one). With no lift data, these floors force stair use but reward tranquillity. Top-floor rooms under a mansard roof might be stuffy in summer but quieter still.
🔊 Noise notes
Place Voltaire is a small square with a through-road, so mopeds and delivery vans start early (7am). The weekly market (Wednesday and Saturday mornings) sets up directly below, creating shouting and stall-building noise from 6am. Summer evenings bring diners to terrace tables until late.
Insider tips
1. Parking: There's no hotel garage; use the free street parking on Boulevard des Lices (5 min walk) or the paid lot at Parking Saint-Trophime (8 min walk). 2. Check-in: Request a courtyard room at booking—not upon arrival, as they go fast. The hotel's own breakfast is basic; walk to Café La Nuit on Place du Forum for a better spread.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hôtel Le Voltaire
Free, password provided at check-in; speed adequate for browsing and email, not for streaming HD video (approx 5 Mbps down). Single device per room.
A small lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections in the main building.
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader on a shared tablet in the lobby; no physical papers delivered. The building is a converted 19th-century townhouse with the original spiral staircase retained.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop possible at reception from 09:00. Late check-out until 12:00 is free, after 12:00 charges apply (€20 until 14:00, subject to availability).
Free for guests; a locked room is available behind reception.
No step-free entrance (one low step at the front door); no adapted rooms or wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Ground-floor public areas are accessible, but the lift is narrow (fits one wheelchair with a slight squeeze).
No on-site parking. Public parking lot 'Parking Voltaire' (50 m away) costs €12 per night (open 24h). No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.65 per person per night, mandatory
Deposit & card hold: A pre-authorisation of €100 for incidentals is taken at check-in; for rates without prepayment, a 30% advance deposit may be charged at booking.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Saint-Blaise (177 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Cloître Saint-Trophime (214 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles (251 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Église Notre-Dame de la Major (257 m · ~3 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Jardin d'été — 152 m · ~2 min walk
Conservatoire du santon provençal — 219 m · ~3 min walk
Théâtre antique — 82 m · ~1 min walk
Jeux de table romain — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 39 m · ~1 min walk
Pharmacie de l'Hotel de Ville — 299 m · ~4 min walk
O'Delices — 377 m · ~5 min walk
Gare Routière — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in central Arles for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Gare d'Arles or tourist offices as they add high fees.
Visa/Mastercard contactless is widely accepted in shops, cafés and restaurants; Amex is rare. Small markets and some bakers prefer cash under €10.
No tipping expected; rounding up to the nearest euro for coffee or leaving small change (€1–2) for a meal is fine. Taxis and hotel staff do not expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standing espresso at a bar costs about €1.50; sit-down café coffee is €2.50–3.
Takeaway baguette sandwich or quiche from a bakery for €6–8; a sidewalk crêpe is €5–7.
Pizza or plat du jour in a modest restaurant: €12–16 for a main.
The weekend market on Boulevard des Lices has cheap sandwiches, socca and grilled merguez; also look for food trucks near the amphitheatre on summer evenings.
Carrefour City, Intermarché and Lidl are common in and around Arles.
Chain stores like Kiabi and H&M in the centre; second-hand shops near the Place du Forum for budget finds.
Walking is free; a single bus ticket within Arles costs about €1.50. For airport connections, take the bus to Avignon TGV (€5–8) then train to Arles (€10–15).
Eat at lunchtime market stalls or bakeries instead of sit-down restaurants; buy a multi-attraction pass for Roman monuments (€10–15) to skip separate tickets; fill water bottles at public fountains.
Good to know — Arles
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Arles, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel Le Voltaire
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 39 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de l'Hotel de Ville — 299 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Arles city centre (Place Lamartine) → Mas du Prieur (stop: Mas du Prieur)
💡 Tickets from the driver or Envia app. Bus 1 runs along Route de Crau; the stop is literally outside the hotel. Avoid Sundays when service is reduced.
Marseille Provence Airport → Arles city centre
💡 Buy tickets at the airport kiosk—cheaper than online. The bus drops you at Place Lamartine; from there, it's a 15-minute walk or quick cab to Mas du Prieur.
Avignon TGV station → Arles train station
💡 If flying into Paris, take a TGV direct to Avignon TGV (2h40), then connect. From Arles station, Mas du Prieur is a 10-minute taxi ride (€12–15).
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) → Mas du Prieur, Arles
💡 Book ahead with a local company like Taxi Arles for a fixed rate; avoid airport touts. The drive via A54 is straightforward.
About Arles
Wikipedia ↗
Arles (French: [aʁl]; Provençal: Arle [ˈaʀle]) is a coastal city and commune in southern France, a subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the former province of Provence. A large part of the Camargue, the largest wetlands in France, is located w...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the courtyard (rear of the building). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle, and the courtyard side is shielded from Place Voltaire traffic. If courtyard rooms aren't available, a front-facing room on the 3rd floor still gives a quieter perch above street level.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those fronting the square): they catch direct street noise from Place Voltaire—a busy roundabout with cafés, traffic, and market activity. Also skip rooms right by the lift shaft on any floor; the lift in a 3-star older building is often noisy at all hours.
Is Hôtel Le Voltaire noisy?
Place Voltaire is a small square with a through-road, so mopeds and delivery vans start early (7am). The weekly market (Wednesday and Saturday mornings) sets up directly below, creating shouting and stall-building noise from 6am. Summer evenings bring diners to terrace tables until late.
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Front-facing rooms on floors 2–3 overlook Place Voltaire—a lively Provençal square with plane trees, a fountain, and daily market stalls. It's not pristine, but it's authentically Arlésien. Back-facing rooms see a quiet courtyard and neighbours' rooftops—more peaceful but less character.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
1. Parking: There's no hotel garage; use the free street parking on Boulevard des Lices (5 min walk) or the paid lot at Parking Saint-Trophime (8 min walk). 2. Check-in: Request a courtyard room at booking—not upon arrival, as they go fast. The hotel's own breakfast is basic; walk to Café La Nuit on Place du Forum for a better spread.
What time is check-in at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Check-in at Hôtel Le Voltaire is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel Le Voltaire have Wi-Fi?
Free, password provided at check-in; speed adequate for browsing and email, not for streaming HD video (approx 5 Mbps down). Single device per room.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel Le Voltaire?
€1.65 per person per night, mandatory
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Takeaway baguette sandwich or quiche from a bakery for €6–8; a sidewalk crêpe is €5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel Le Voltaire?
Walking is free; a single bus ticket within Arles costs about €1.50. For airport connections, take the bus to Avignon TGV (€5–8) then train to Arles (€10–15).
When is the best time to visit Arles?
April, May and September — temperatures 18–25°C, clear skies, and the crowds of July–August are still weeks away or have only just thinned. The light is sharp and the mistral is less frequent than in spring or autumn.
Top Attractions in Arles
💡 Sit at Café Van Gogh (Le Café la Nuit) – it’s the one from his painting, but prices are high for drinks. For a cheaper coffee, try Bar de la Rue behind it.
💡 Open 24/7, but best at sunset. Bring water – no shade late afternoon. Few tourists know about it.
💡 Buy a combined ticket with the Théâtre Antique for €12, valid 2 days. Go early morning to avoid crowds and heat.
💡 Free to view from the rue de la Calade steps outside. If entering, the best spot is the top row of seats for a city view.
💡 Visit late afternoon for cool shade and good light for photos. Combined with the Musée de l’Arles et de la Provence antiques for €6 total.