A visit to Avignon will smell of lavender and antiquity, and boasts both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Museum. This city, which changed hands from conqueror to conqueror throughout history is now much more relaxed than it was in ancient times, when a full wall was required to protect the city from invaders. Today, you’ll find a happy respite from the more bustling cities in France, and it’s small size makes it easily explorable in a day. With this one day Avignon itinerary on hand, you’re sure to find a fun-filled day in this quiet town that is well worth visiting.
Morning: Visit Palais des Papes
The Palais des Papes is most people’s primary reason for visiting Avignon, France. This UNESCO World Heritage site was built in 1335 and is the largest gothic palace in all of Europe. With over 25 rooms decorated with wall murals and frescos, this place packs in nearly 650,000 visitors a year. The audio-visual guide that comes with your entrance ticket shows you a revamped version of these now-faded paintings, and tells the dramatic history of this site. Here, you’ll find a beautiful maze of historic rooms, and the interactive tour ensures fun for all ages.
Lunch: Grab food near Rue de la République
Near the Palais de Papes is Rue de la République, we recommend grabbing lunch along this historic strip in Avignon, France. The central, main street in the city, a walk along this strip offers man shopping and dining options. Here you can find outdoor, open-air seating, making it the perfect place to sit back, relax, and people-watch after a morning of traversing through a large and stair-filled palace. With all the options available, you may feel a bit overwhelmed, but you can’t go wrong with any of these places, as all cook up fantastic French cuisines.
Afternoon: Explore the Musée du Petit Palais
A UNESCO Heritage Museum, the Musée du Petit Palais in Avignon, France features over 300 pieces of Italian, religious art from the pre-renaissance era. Here you’ll find captivating works from Boticelli, Carpaccio, and Giovanni di Paulo. Despite its small exterior in contrast to the looming Palais des Papes across the street, the towering inside corridors flaunt massive statues sure to make even the tallest of visitors feel small. These statues sit alongside antiquities and frescos that give the museum a truly elegant feel. The crowning jewel of this museum though is Boticelli’s La Vierge et L’enfant painted in 1470.
Evening: Bar hop!
As a quiet town, Avignon, France doesn’t feature an extravagant or over-the-top nightlife scene. Instead, this sleepy town prefers long nights sipping away at wines and beers, taking in the company of those around you. Because of this, a classic night out in Avignon means bar hopping from place to place as you take in unending plates of tapas and glasses of regional wine. If you’re unsure where to begin with your night endeavors, the main street of Rue de la République is a great place to start, and so are the welcoming bars at Lalogéne, La Place, and HO36 along the strip.