Things to Do in Avignon

A large public park atop a limestone hill in the historic centre. Includes a pond with swans, shaded lawns, and a belvedere with panoramic views of the Palais des Papes, the Rhône, and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.

🕐 Open 24 hours. Park lighting on until midnight.

💡 Bring a picnic and sit on the low stone wall at the northern edge around 6pm for the golden hour light hitting the palace. The park has public toilets and a small café with affordable drinks.

Large covered market hall open every morning. Over 40 vendors sell fresh produce, cheese, olives, bread, cured meats, and local wines. You can walk through for free and sample products.

🕐 Tue–Sun 6am–1:30pm. Closed Mon. Some stalls close earlier.

💡 Go between 9am and 11am for the best selection. Bring cash—some stalls don't take cards. Stand at La Petite Cuisine for a €5 glass of rosé to enjoy while browsing. Saturday mornings have the largest selection.

Regional art and archaeology museum in an 18th-century townhouse. The permanent collection covers paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with strong local Provençal work. The temporary exhibitions are pai

🕐 Tue–Sun 10am–1pm, 2–6pm. Closed Mon and 1 May, 25 Dec.

💡 Go on the first Sunday of the month when all exhibitions are free, or check the website for occasional free guided tours in English. Don't miss the courtyard garden—quiet, cool, and rarely crowded.

The Papal Palace is a 14th-century fortress and papal residence. The main interior is paid, but the vast courtyard and peaceful gardens on the Rocher des Doms are free. Views of the Rhône from the gardens are excellent.

🕐 Gardens open daily 7:30am–8pm in summer, shorter hours in winter. Closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan.

💡 Enter the gardens via the ramp behind the palace, not the main tourist steps. Go at sunset for fewer crowds and the best light.

The famous broken bridge from the nursery rhyme. Only the first four arches remain, jutting into the Rhône. Entry to stand on the bridge costs a small fee, but you can see and photograph it perfectly from the free riverside walkway at the base.

🕐 Riverside walk open 24 hours. Bridge entry: Apr–Oct 9am–7pm, Nov–Mar 9:30am–5:30pm.

💡 Skip the paid walkway and instead go to the Île de la Barthélasse for the best free photo angle: the bridge framed by foliage and water. Check low tide times for riverbed access.