12 Best Day Trips from Aix-En-Provence, France You Can’t Miss
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Looking for a day trip from Aix-En-Provence? This idyllic region is perfect for exploring on a day trip or two!
We agree that it may be hard to pull yourself away from the charming, winding streets of the Ain-En-Provence itself.
But, after you’ve explored Aix, you’ll see it really is an ideal location to use as a home base for visiting the surrounding area on a day trip or guided day tour!
From intoxicating lavender fields, to following in Vincent Van Gogh’s footsteps and basking in the Verdon Gorge’s shimmering emerald waters, you won’t be disappointed by any Aix-En-Provence day trip you decide to do.
Keep reading to discover the 12 best Aix-En-Provence, France day trips. Let’s go! Allons-y!
Looking for an organized day tour from Aix-En-Provence? Here are our top picks.
✔ Most idyllic day trip from Aix: Luberon Villages Tour
✔ Best Water Activity: Cassis Boat Ride and wine tasting day tour
✔ Can’t Miss Day Trip: Lavender Full-Day Tours to Valensole
12 Best Day Trips from Aix-en-Provence, France
Read more on 12 of the best day trips from Aix-En-Provence, and get excited for your trip!
1. Hike the Calanques de Cassis (after visiting Cassis town)
Known for its pebbled beaches and rocky cliffs, Cassis is one of our favorite day trips from Aix. First, we suggest you explore the Mediterranean fishing port, which is lined with colorful houses. Then, plan to visit the town’s most famous attraction: the Calanques de Cassis.
If you’re wondering what a calanque is, it’s an inlet that is surrounded by rocky high points. For the adventurous, you can take a three-hour hike through the calanques. Start in Cassis at Port Miou, continuing along a path next to colorful boats. As you reach the highest and most challenging of the three calanques, the path does get steeper and rockier. But, the views are worth it!
While we love a good hike, we also love a good boat ride! If you’re not up for hiking, this half day tour is perfect. On the tour, you’ll take a minibus to Cassis, stopping for photos at the picturesque Cap Canaille. Admire the bluffs before heading out on an (optional) boat trip to see the limestone cliffs (the calanques) up close!
2. Enjoy the lavender fields at Valensole Plateau
One can hardly think of Aix-en-Provence without thinking of lavender. Luckily for travelers, the Valensole lavender fields are nearby. Stretching for miles, they are a sight and a scent you won’t want to miss!
The Valensole Plateau is one of the most popular places to see lavender in Provence. On this small group tour, you’ll visit the lavender fields, stopping many times to take pictures.
Then, you’ll visit one of the region’s many distilleries. There, you’ll learn all about lavender from a local producer. Be sure to pick up any dried lavender, essential oils, or another lavender product that you want to bring home! (By the way, the dried lavender sachets let off a divine scent. I like to use them inside plastic storage bins.)
Peak bloom is in late June and July, so you may want to take that into account as you plan your day trips from Aix.
3. Paint with Van Gogh in Arles
For art and history lovers, a must-do day trip from Aix en Provence is to immerse yourself in the famous works and haunts of Van Gogh. On this tour, discover Arles and St. Remy, the provencal towns where Van Gogh lived and painted the works we all know and love.
Begin your journey driving through the Alpilles Mountains to Saint-Rémy. There, you can visit the open-air market, which is surrounded by ancient Roman walls. Saint-Paul de Mausole, once a monastery, is also an important place to visit — this is where Van Gogh was treated as a patient after he cut off his earlobe!
Next, visit Les Baux de Provence. Officially classified as “one of the most beautiful villages in France,” it’s rich in history. The village has undergone much restoration work, retaining its historic feel, including its narrow streets from the Middle Ages.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the UNESCO town of Arles. Van Gogh lived and painted in Arles for just over a year. Enamored by Provence, he actually painted about 300 works of art during that time. The city has plaques that mark many of the spots where the artist painted, including the inspiration for the famous Café Terrace at Night.
Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to insure your trip, whether you’re planning to do some light exercise or not. Travel insurance can cover trip interruptions, injury, and other mishaps. Don’t leave home without out it; we certainly don’t! Get a quote.
4. Cool off in the Lac D’Esparron
If you’re in the mood for a day at the lake, Lac D’Esparron is a perfect destination for a day trip from Aix en Provence by car. Its pristine beaches and shimmering waters don’t give away the fact that it’s actually an artificial reservoir! Instead, all you see is a magnificent landscape and lots of people out enjoying nature, especially on the weekends and in the summer.
At Lac D’Esparron, there are many different water activities for you to enjoy. Specifically, pedal boats, kayaking/canoeing, and sailing. Of course, swimming and sunbathing are options, too.
A ride on the lake’s biggest electric boat on the lake, Perle du Verdon, offers amazing sightseeing opportunities. Don’t miss out!
Don’t forget to bring food for a picnic!
The best time to visit the lake is during the summer season so that you can take full advantage of everything it has to offer. It’s located around one hour outside of Aix by car.
5. Shop at the Luberon Villages
The Luberon Villages were unknown to many tourists before the 1980s. However, since then they have become known as some of the most picturesque villages in France. In other words, if you have a fairy tale idea of Provence in your head, it probably matches the Luberon Villages very well!
We suggest you spend a day wandering around the cobbled streets of the Luberon Villages, which is one of the very best day trips from Aix-en-Provence. There, you can shop at local boutiques, see what’s for sale at the markets, and sip coffee at a sidewalk cafe. Not to mention, the scenery is breathtaking.
Some of the most charming villages are Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, and Bonnieux.
You can visit several villages on a full day tour from Aix. In the summer, you’ll also stop to see the blooming lavender fields at Senanque Abbey on the tour. A half day tour is also available.
6. Flutter with flamingos in the Camargue
Just a short trip away from the city of Aix-en-Provence is a natural region known as Camargue. Here, the Rhone river delta (the longest delta in Europe) meets the Mediterranean. You can expect to see lagoons, marshes, farmlands, and salt flats.
There are actually hundreds of species of birds in the area, but the magical pink flamingos are the real draw for visitors (I was absolutely amazed by their fiery red underwings). The best place in Camargue to sight the beautiful birds is in the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau. Plan to take a walk along the boardwalks and observe the flamingos and other creatures in their natural habitat.
We suggest you bring a picnic, binoculars, and plenty of insect repellent. You may also want to wear long sleeves and pants as the mosquitoes can be fierce!
The park is open every day to view the flamingos, no matter the season. The cost to enter the park is €7.50 for adults and €5 for children.
The best way to get to Camargue is by renting a car as it’s just an hour to the west of Aix-En-Provence. You can also plan to visit the Camargue Regional Natural Park and the nearby roadside museum.
7. Take a day trip to Avignon
In the southern region of France, there is a small city that makes for an easy day trip destination from Aix-en-Provence: Avignon. It is very close by and easy to get to by bus.
Known as the “Gateway to Provence,” Avignon is a city where you can easily lose yourself exploring the old city streets, eating baked goods from a traditional boulangerie (bakery), and visiting the city’s many historical points of interest.
Most notable, visit the Pont D’Avignon. Once a major route, the bridge used to have 22 arches stretching across the river. However, today it’s no longer a full bridge, but the remnants of one. You can wander atop the bridge for a fee, or simply admire it from below.
Additionally, you’ll want to see the Papal Palace (Palais des Papes), the one of the largest gothic palaces in Europe. We recommend you get a combined ticket to see the palace, its magnificent gardens, and the bridge.
8. Sip rosé in Sainte-Victoire
For wine lovers, a wine tour to Mont Sainte-Victoire is a must do day trip from Aix-En-Provence.
The Coôtes de Provence is one of the premier winemaking appellations in France. Rosé lovers will be happy to learn that 80% of the wines made here are rosés. But, on this day trip, you’ll taste all three varieties — red, white, and rosé. Explore this smaller sub region, Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire to learn all about the different grapes used in the winemaking process.
Not only will you get to learn about and taste some exquisite wines, but you’ll also be surrounded by the beautiful landscapes that inspired French impressionist painter, Paul Cezanne. Follow in his footsteps as you explore the countryside by mini bus on this wine tour.
9. Visit L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue & Fontaine de Vaucluse
If you desire scenery and Provincial markets, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the perfect excursion from Aix-en-Provence. This charming town near the river is brimming with artists, antique stores, and weekly markets.
Start with a visit to the Village des Antiquaires (“Antique dealers’ village), which houses nearly 70 antique vendors! The atmosphere alone is worth the visit, even if you aren’t an antique collector.
The best days to visit (and also the most crowded) to enjoy the town’s markets are Sunday and Thursday mornings. Foodies will especially love the local cheese, produce, and wine. Who wouldn’t?
Another nearby trip in the region is Fontaine de Vaucluse. Just a short 5 miles (8km) drive south of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the spring is the largest source in France. Spend the afternoon wandering the city streets, shopping in the many souvenir shops, and strolling down the banks of the Sorgue river. You can even rent a kayak or a canoe!
The best way to get to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue from Aix is by bus. Or, you can always rent a car to explore any of the areas on this list.
10. Have fun at Verdon Gorge and Moustiers Ste-Marie
One day tour from Aix you won’t want to miss is a trip to the Verdon Gorge and Moustiers Sainte-Marie.
The Verdon Gorge is one of the most popular places to visit in the South of France, and it’s not surprising. The turquoise and emerald-colored waters, flowing naturally through the rocky walls of the canyon, are absolutely beautiful.
Located at the entrance of the canyon lies the enchanting Moustiers Sainte-Marie. It’s just a small village of only 700 residents, sitting between rock faces. As it’s mostly pedestrianized, its narrow, cobbled streets are best explored on foot. Have lunch, and visit the local boutiques and craftsmen shops.
This full day tour will take you to see the canyon, relax at nearby Lake Sainte-Croix, and drop you off in the village for free time and lunch.
11. Explore Martigues, the “Venice of Provence”
Martigues is a village located along a lake and is linked to the sea by the Caronte channel. Because of the colorful buildings, boats, and bridges along the canal, it’s actually been nicknamed “Venice of Provence!”
Other than exploring the river bank and stopping in the various cafes and shops, there are several other interesting things to do and see in Martigues.
The Church Saint-Genies, located in the charming Jonquières district, dates back to the 17th Century. Next to it, you’ll find the more impressive and ornate Chapelle de l’Annonciade (also 17th Century).
Art lovers, you need to put visiting the Musée Ziem (Ziem Museum) on your list! Here, you can find all sorts of contemporary and historical works here, free of charge.
Additionally, be sure to visit one of the various beaches in the area for view of the coastline and a walk in the sand. Plage de La Saulce and Plage du Verdon are the main beaches.
Lastly, Martigues has multiple hiking opportunities in town and nearby. The Parc de Figuerolles offers nature trails and scenic views of the lake, Etang de Berre. You can also explore ancient Roman ruins and archeological sites.
Certainly, with so many things to see and do, Martigues makes an excellent day trip by car or bus when visiting Aix-en-Provence.
12. Go truffle hunting in Provence
A fun activity to do near Aix-En-Provence is to go truffle hunting!
Truffles are notoriously hard to grow and store, lending to their high costs. France is known for its truffles, and if you’re visiting in the winter, you’re in luck as it’s peak cultivation season for truffles there.
On a truffle plantation outside of Aix, your guide will teach you all about truffles — growing truffles, training dogs to sniff out the delectable fungus, and hunting them yourself!
You’ll also spend some time in the vineyard, amongst the olive trees, and maybe even the bees!
Of course, after all that hard work truffle hunting, you’ll sample some truffle hors d’oeuvres with a glass of champagne. Be sure to take home some delicious souvenirs, too!
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