Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Arles?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Arles?

Many visitors spend one to two days in Arles during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This town offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and the beautiful scenery.

Arles is located on the Rhône River in Provence. It is famous as an inspiration for paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and it is filled with Roman ruins and fascinating history. Today the town regularly hosts plays and concerts that visitors can enjoy.

Do you have one or two days to visit Arles? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Arles?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, With a variety of sights and attractions, Arles is a fairly popular choice for tourists. To fully embrace Arles, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to plan one to two days to experience the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and the beautiful scenery. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Arles

Arles is home to renowned museums and iconic landmarks, so dive into the town's famous attractions. The city's historical sites rank among the most awe-inspiring globally. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Arles is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Arles?

A weekend in Arles is often considered ideal, as many tourists spend approximately one to two days here. This amount of time is perfect to browse the museums, admire the historic sights, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the wonderful scenery. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Arles, France

How to spend 2 days in Arles

With a weekend (two to three days) in Arles, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.

The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

A few tour suggestions include:

Arles: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour ($202)

Arles is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This small city is famous for inspiring works by Vincent Van Gogh.

A few tour suggestions include:

Arles: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour ($202)

Public transit in Arles is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Arles, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.