Arles

Roman Ruins and Van Gogh’s Inspiration

Arles sits along the Rhône River in southeastern France where Roman history meets modern life. The city displays ancient amphitheaters and well-preserved streets alongside contemporary galleries and markets. Local cuisine features fresh produce, olive oil and regional wines from nearby vineyards. Walking through Arles feels like moving between eras; Roman architecture stands beside 19th-century paintings inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s time here. Markets fill with flowers, fruits, cheeses and breads while cafes provide places to sit and watch daily life unfold along the riverbanks.

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Town in France

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.9

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

Basic English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, but locals primarily speak French. Some museum staff and guides speak English well, but in smaller shops and markets, French is preferred.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Arles Summary

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Strong in Roman history and art heritage. Explore ancient arenas, visit museums, walk historic streets and follow Van Gogh locations around town.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Guided tours

Walkable

Spotless

Fine dining

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

💻 9

Digital Nomads

France – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.

Bastille Day (July)	Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other:	France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Arles, France

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Mar

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Apr

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High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Rencontres d'Arles photography festival runs early July to early October, with many exhibitions across the city

Easter Feria with bullfights and parades, and the Feria du Riz in mid September

Mistral wind blows most often in winter and spring, bringing cold, dry gusts

Don't miss

🏟️ Explore the UNESCO-listed Arles Amphitheatre
⛪ Visit the medieval Cloître Saint-Trophime and church
🎨 Stroll through Van Gogh's favorite painting spots
🏛️ Discover Roman ruins at the Théâtre Antique
🌳 Wander the shaded Place de la République square

You've been here?

Why travel to Arles?

Arles is a paradise for history lovers and art enthusiasts alike. The town boasts incredibly well-preserved Roman ruins, including a grand amphitheater still in use today. Vincent van Gogh found inspiration here, painting some of his most famous works in its sunlit streets. Every corner feels like stepping into a painting, with vibrant markets, charming cafés and colorful Provençal buildings. However, the summers can be scorching and the Mistral wind can be surprisingly strong. Some areas get crowded in peak tourist season and while Arles is charming, it’s smaller than nearby cities like Avignon or Marseille, so nightlife and shopping are limited.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Roman theatre
2 Thermes de Constantin
3 Arles Amphitheatre
4 Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles
5 Musée Réattu
6 Luma Arles
7 Forum Square

🎡Places for activities

1 Espace Van Gogh
2 Théâtre antique
3 Musée de l'Arles antique
4 Fondation Vincent Van-Gogh
5 Cargo de Nuit
6 Le Méjean

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Pont de Langlois
2 Étang de Vaccarès
3 Domaine de la Palissade
4 Le salin d’Aigues-Mortes

🎈Events

Rencontres d’Arles (Photography Festival)
Feria d’Arles (Easter Bullfighting Festival)
Fête des Gardians (May 1st)
Drôle de Noël (Christmas Festival)
Jazz in Arles
Fête du Costume (Traditional Costume Festival)
Camargue Horse Festival
Journées Romaines (Roman Days)
Provençal Market Festival
Flamenco Festival

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Stay central; most sights are walkable in the pedestrian old town.
Arriving Saturday morning means traffic restrictions because the huge weekly market fills central streets.
Consider the city pass if visiting multiple Roman and Romanesque monuments in one day.
Use Arles as a base for a Camargue day trip – flamingos, salt flats and wild-horse landscapes nearby.

How to travel to Arles

Arles is well connected by train, with direct TGV links to Paris, Marseille and Avignon. The nearest major airport is Marseille-Provence (MRS), about an hour away. Buses and rental cars are available for getting around Provence.

Access summary

From Marseille Airport (MRS): Shuttle to station, regional train to Arles (~1.5 h).
From Marseille city: Direct regional trains to Arles in about 1 hour.
From Avignon or Nîmes: Frequent regional trains or buses, roughly 40–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Arles

Arles offers boutique hotels in historic buildings, charming guesthouses and countryside stays in nearby Provence. Accommodations range from budget to luxury, with many places embracing the town’s artistic and Roman heritage.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Domaine de Manville Hotel

9.3

Hotel Arles Plaza

8.3

Jules César Hotel & Spa Arles - MGallery Collection

Hotel Spa Le Calendal

9.1

Hotel Amphitheatre

9.2

Mercure Arles Centre Arènes

9.0

Le Vallon de Valrugues Hotel Spa & Villas

8.4

Mas de la Chapelle

8.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Arles

Arles is best explored on foot, with most attractions within walking distance. Buses connect different areas, but schedules can be infrequent. Renting a bike is a great way to explore both the town and nearby nature spots like the Camargue.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-10 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 10% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Nimes, France - 28 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£60	£132	£350
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£60	£135
🍝 Food per day	£27	£64	£191
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£8	£23

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9
☕ Cappuccino	£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£14
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£22
🤧 Cold medication	£4.10
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Arles is generally safe, but be cautious of pickpockets in busy areas and markets. At night, some areas near the train station can feel less safe, so stay in well-lit places.

Health & Medical

Medical services are good, with hospitals and pharmacies available. Emergency care is accessible in nearby Avignon or Marseille for serious cases. No specific health risks, but summer heat can be intense.

Accessibility

Most main sites are accessible, but cobblestone streets and uneven terrain can be challenging for wheelchairs. Some historic buildings lack full accessibility features.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink and widely available. Many restaurants serve bottled water by default, but you can ask for tap water ('une carafe d’eau') for free.