Top Que Faire à Arles — Complete Guide 2026
A Roman arena that still hosts bullfights, the trail of Van Gogh, flamingos in the wetlands, and kayaks on the Rhône. The twelve best things to do in Arles — with real prices and practical tips.
1. Walk into the Roman Arena — Les Arènes d'Arles
The monument that defines Arles: a two-tiered Roman amphitheatre built around AD 90, its ellipse measuring 136 by 107 metres, once seating 20,000 spectators. Climb the upper gallery for the best view in town — the old rooftops, the Rhône, and the Camargue stretching south. Uniquely, the arena is still a working venue: corridas and Provençal bull games at the ferias, concerts and events through summer. Allow an hour. Adult ~EUR 9 · combined pass with the theatre ~EUR 15
2. Stand Where the Romans Watched Theatre — Théâtre Antique
Just west of the arena, the 1st-century-BC theatre seated about 10,000. Only two columns of the stage wall survive — one of them nicknamed "the clock tower" since the Middle Ages — but the semicircular sweep of the cavea is unmistakable, and in summer it hosts concerts and the Les Suds world-music festival under the stars. Allow 45 minutes. ~EUR 9 · included in the combined pass
3. Marvel at the Saint-Trophime Portal and Cloister
The 12th-century church of Saint-Trophime carries one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art: a west portal carved with a monumental Last Judgement, its figures still crisp after 800 years. Inside, the nave is serene and cool; the cloister, with four galleries of carved capitals, is a UNESCO-listed jewel. The church is free; the cloister costs a small ticket. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Church free · cloister ~EUR 5
4. Follow the Van Gogh Trail
Between February 1888 and May 1889 Van Gogh painted more than 300 works in and around Arles. Around ten locations are marked with bronze plaques and reproduction panels: the Café du Forum from Café Terrace at Night, the old hospital (now Espace Van Gogh), the Trinquetaille bridge, the Langlois bridge (renamed Pont Van Gogh), and the Alyscamps. Free, self-guided, about 3 km on flat ground — pick up the free map at the tourist office. Free
5. See the Light at the Fondation Vincent van Gogh
Opened in 2014 in the 15th-century Hôtel Léautaud de Donines, the foundation pairs contemporary artists with Van Gogh's legacy — expect bold installations and the occasional original canvas. The rooftop terrace has a fine view over the old town. Allow an hour. ~EUR 9
6. Visit the Musée Réattu — Picasso's Gift
In a 16th-century Grand Priory of the Order of Malta on the Rhône quay, the museum holds a remarkable collection of drawings — including the gift of 57 Picasso drawings made in 1971, the year before his death — plus Cocteau's works and contemporary photography. The quayside setting alone is worth the visit. Allow an hour. ~EUR 8
7. Meet the Flamingos — Camargue Safari
A 30-minute drive south of Arles, the Camargue Régional Nature Park is 100,000 hectares of salt flats, marshes, and lagoons — home to white Camargue horses, black bulls, and thousands of greater flamingos. Options range from 4x4 safaris and guided horseback rides to self-guided bike loops along the dikes. The Étang du Vaccarès at Méjanes is the easiest flamingo viewpoint. Allow a half day. Free to enter · guided safaris ~EUR 40–60
8. Wander the Alyscamps Necropolis
One of the most celebrated cemeteries of antiquity, where the Romans lined the Via Aurelia with stone sarcophagi for centuries. The tree-lined avenue of tombs — painted by Van Gogh and Gauguin in 1888 — is part of the UNESCO site and free to wander. Atmospheric at any hour, haunting at dusk. Allow 30 minutes. Free
9. Watch the Sunset Over the Rhône at Trinquetaille
Cross the river to Trinquetaille and look back at the skyline Van Gogh painted in Starry Night Over the Rhône. The bridge he painted was destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt, but the viewpoint remains one of the great free experiences in Arles — the arena, Saint-Trophime, and the quays glowing gold as the light fades. Best from an hour before sunset. Free
10. Dive into Roman History at the Musée de l'Arles Antique
On the edge of town beside the Rhône, this modern museum (opened 1995) holds the most spectacular finds of Roman Arles — including the Arles-Rhône 3, a 30-metre Roman river barge raised intact from the riverbed in 2011 with its cargo. Mosaics, sculptures, and models of the ancient city complete the picture. Allow 1h30. ~EUR 9
11. Day Trip: Les Baux-de-Provence & Carrières de Lumières
Twenty-two kilometres northeast of Arles, the clifftop village of Les Baux-de-Provence is one of the most dramatic in France: ruined castle, stone alleys, and views over the Alpilles. Below it, the Carrières de Lumières projects giant digital artworks across the walls of a former quarry — an immersive spectacle that sells out in season. Combine both in a half day. Village free · castle ~EUR 11 · Carrières ~EUR 16
12. Kayak the Rhône
Paddle the river that made Arles: gentle, wide, and framed by old quays, sandbars, and herons. Several local operators run half-day guided kayak trips on the Rhône (some starting upriver near Avignon and finishing in Arles), with stops for swimming on the beaches of the Petite Camargue. Summer mornings are best, before the mistral picks up. Half-day from ~EUR 35–45
Practical Tips for Your Arles Itinerary
Plan two days minimum. Day one: arena, theatre, Saint-Trophime, and the old town on foot. Day two: Camargue safari in the morning, Alyscamps and the sunset at Trinquetaille in the evening. With a third day, add Les Baux-de-Provence, or take the 20-minute train to Nîmes for its own arena and the Maison Carrée — or the 25-minute train to Avignon for the Palais des Papes.
Buy the combined pass. The arena + theatre pass (around EUR 15) saves money over separate tickets and skips the queue. The Saint-Trophime cloister ticket tops it up neatly.
Beat the heat and the crowds. The monuments open early; aim to be inside the arena by 9am in summer. Late afternoon is the golden time for photographs, and the feria-free months of May, June, and October offer the most relaxed experience.
Go green. Everything in town is walkable; the Camargue trips run from the centre; and the train connects Arles, Nîmes, and Avignon in minutes. Stay at an eco hotel booked through IMPT — same price as Booking.com, with 1 tonne de CO₂ éliminée par réservation — and your footprint stays as light as the Provençal air.
Questions Fréquentes
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