11 Best Things to Do in Aix-en-Provence

In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France lies the city of Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of the important post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. Its streets offer a combination of history and beauty, reflected in its monuments, squares and buildings.

During your stay , you won't have to worry about what to see and do in Aix-en-Provence, as there is a wide variety of activities on offer. You can explore the old town, discover the wine culture, admire the architectural features of Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, visit the Provençal Market or sample fresh produce, among other activities. Want to know more?

If you are a wine lover, you must book the Mont Sainte-Victoire wine tour, where you will discover the flavours and aromas of different vintages of red, rosé and white wines.

These tours usually include the company of an expert guide and take place in the wine region located behind the Sainte-Victoire mountain (30 minutes from the city centre), as there are several vineyards in this area. For example, Vignerons du Mont Sainte-Victoire.

You can enjoy picturesque natural scenery, learn about the process of growing, harvesting and pruning vines, and find out how the product is made and bottled. The experience ends with a tasting of award-winning wines.

Useful information

• Price: you can find this activity for prices ranging from €84 per person.
• Duration: the wine route usually lasts a maximum of three and a half hours.

Another ideal plan is to book an excursion to Cassis, a fishing village of unparalleled beauty that you will get to know in great detail thanks to the accompaniment of a professional guide who will take you to the region's points of interest: the Corniche des Crêtes coastal road, the Cap Canaille cliff and the picturesque Port of Cassis.

This activity, lasting approximately four hours, takes you to the jewel of the French Riviera, where you will also have free time to walk around the village, enjoy the local cuisine, take the best photos or buy unique souvenirs.

The excursion, in small groups of no more than eight people, includes return transport by minibus.

Useful information

• Price: you can book this excursion from €74 per person.
• Duration: the excursion lasts a maximum of four hours.

Among the best tours, I recommend booking a sidecar tour of Aix-en-Provence, either with an audio guide or a local guide. You can discover the interesting history of its buildings, monuments, squares with ornamental fountains and other places of interest located along the streets.

With audio guide

With the audio guide system, you will explore Aix-en-Provence with information from your mobile phone, but at your own pace, as you can pause and resume playback whenever you wish. Thanks to the GPS system, you will follow a route from the Town Hall of Aix-en-Provence to the Fontaine de la Rotonde, an ornamental fountain dating from 1860.

• Price: the audio guide usually costs €7.49.
• Duration: the audio guide lasts approximately 75 minutes.

With a local guide

On this type of tour, the guide will provide you with interesting facts and anecdotes that only locals would know. You will stroll along the Cours Mirabeau where you will see the famous four fountains: La Rotonde, the Fountain of the Nine Cannons, the Moss-Covered Fountain and the Fountain of King René. You will discover the Town Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, monuments, squares, terraces and much more.

• Price: guided sidecar tours start at €123 per person.
• Duration: the average time for this guided activity is 45 minutes.

Visit the Terre Ugo family farm and admire its beautiful lavender field without leaving Aix-en-Provence. Just a 15-minute drive from the historic centre, you'll find this magical place with a long history and an eco-friendly approach.

Once you enter this field , you'll immediately relax thanks to the sweet fragrance of lavender and the sound of cicadas. You can admire a truly dreamlike landscape covering three hectares, where this iconic flower takes centre stage. During the tour, you will learn everything you need to know about the organic cultivation of lavender, its origin, benefits and variety of uses. You will also have free time to take photographs, lie down and sunbathe on one of the deckchairs provided or sit in the shade.

Before the end of the experience, you can visit the restaurant area and try some refreshing lavender ice cream, or pop into the shop to buy oils, herbal teas or soaps. Another option for exploring the lavender fields is to book an excursion to the Verdon Natural Park.

Useful information

• Price: the tour of this lavender field in the heart of Aix-en-Provence costs €7 per person. Children under 12 can participate for free.
• Duration: the experience usually lasts a maximum of 2 hours.

If you are interested in learning about the life and work of post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, Aix-en-Provence offers a tour that you can do at your own pace. Start at La Rotonde, outside the Tourist Office, where you will see markings on the ground with the image of the city's coat of arms that you should follow. Among the more than 30 places you will discover along the way, the following stand out:

• The Statue of Cézanne, made in bronze by Gabriel Sterk.
• The Société des amis des arts, at 2 bis Avenue Victor Hugo, known for being the place where Cézanne held two exhibitions.
• The Collège Mignet, at 41 Rue Cardinale, where the artist studied.
• The town hall, where he legally married Hortense Fiquet.

You can also add to this experience with a visit to Cézanne's studio at 9 Av. Paul Cézanne. There you will find his work tables, fruit bowls, the usual skulls, vases, clothes and all his instruments. And if you want to continue exploring Aix-en-Provence from an artistic point of view, be sure to book an excursion on Van Gogh.

Useful information

• Price: the Cézanne trail is free. However, to access the artist's studio, you will need to pay an entrance fee starting at €6.50. You can also enhance your experience with an audio guide for an additional cost of approximately €3.
• Opening hours: the circuit is available throughout the day, as it is a self-guided activity. The studio is usually open Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence, you can hire an electric bike and explore the city on your own to the foot of Mont Sainte-Victoire, or you can do the activity in the company of a guide who will tell you about this iconic place, which inspired the French painter Paul Cézanne.

During the route , you will ride through the streets of Aix-en-Provence, gaining a different perspective of them, with the first few kilometres being paved. Then you will find off-road trails and some steep hills.

You will pass a series of viewpoints overlooking the imposing mountain. You will also have the opportunity to stop to admire the natural surroundings and take photographs. This is undoubtedly an activity that should not be missed on your itinerary of the best day trips from Aix-en-Provence.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the activity starts at €64 per person.
• Duration: the guided bike tour usually lasts 3 hours.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence, be sure to visit Saint-Sauveur Cathedral. There, you will discover an incredible architectural masterpiece of great beauty and historical importance.

When you arrive at the site, you will see the façade and immediately think that it is a Gothic building. However, when you enter the interior, you will see how the Romanesque style and other architectural trends are intermingled. Throughout the tour, you will see:

• The central nave, with a Gothic vault.
• The right aisle, which was formerly a temple dedicated to the god Apollo.
• A circular baptistery dating from the 6th century.
• The left nave, representative of the Baroque style.

There is also the Romanesque cloister, built at the end of the 12th century, where you will see a quadrangle with the four evangelists (Luke, Matthew, John and Mark), twin columns and vegetal capitals.

Useful information

• Price: admission to the cathedral and the guided tour of the cloister are free.
• Opening hours: the site is open every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Access to the cloister is via a guided tour that starts every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Riding Le Petit Train Touristique is another must-do activity during your visit to Aix-en-Provence. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time aboard the carriages of this small electric train as you travel through the lively streets of the old town.

To enjoy this experience, head to the outskirts of the Aix-en-Provence tourist office. From there, you will set off on a scenic route through the town's main tourist destinations. These include Saint-Sauveur Cathedral and the town hall. You will also see fountains such as La Rotonde, the Fountain of the Nine Cannons, the Moss-Covered Fountain, King René's Fountain, terraces, monuments and more.

In addition, in any of the 57 carriages of the train, you will have headphones to enjoy an audio guide in several languages. This way, you will learn about the history of the city and the places you pass by.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of a ticket for Le Petit Train Touristique is around €10 for adults and €5 for children aged 4 to 12.
• Duration: the ride on Le Petit Train Touristique usually lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The Aix-en-Provence Market offers a unique experience. You will be captivated by the picturesque scene and the intoxicating aromas of fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, cheeses and seafood.

You can visit each of the market stalls accompanied by a local guide who will tell you about the history of the place, the food and products, while suggesting the best places to start tasting. You can also do this activity on your own.

In either case, you will sample products such as olive oil, honey, Provence wines, cheeses, bread, cold cuts, olives and fruits. You will have time to buy lavender, flowers, Corsican meat, fashion items, handicrafts and more. And, if you wish, you can enjoy a prepared meal.

Useful information

• Price: the guided tour costs an average of €45 per person. However, if you do the activity on your own, admission to the market is free.
• Duration: the guided activity usually lasts a maximum of 2 hours, but if you visit on your own, there is no time limit.

During your stay in Aix-en-Provence, you can enjoy the city's thermal waters and spend a different kind of day. You will relax and enjoy the benefits of the waters that have been flowing from the town for over 2,000 years.

You can visit the Sextius baths or the Roman baths, located approximately six minutes' walk from the centre of Aix-en-Provence. This is a place that combines 18th-century architecture with modernity.

Although you will not be able to see the ruins of the ancient thermal baths, as they have not been preserved, you will have the privilege of immersing yourself in these mineral waters at a temperature of 34ºC, set in a beautiful fortification. You can also enjoy mud treatments, hydromassage and steam baths for maximum relaxation.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the thermal baths starts at €32 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Fondation Vasarely is a must-see destination if you are an art enthusiast. Therefore, you should not hesitate to include this visit in your selection of the 10 best museums in Aix-en-Provence.

You will enjoy an amazing artistic display of Op Art, which blends the abstract and the constructivist. All this through lines, colours and shapes that aim to deceive your eyes through illusions.

During your tour of the rooms of this museum dedicated to Victor Vasarely, who is considered the father of Op Art, you will discover the life of the artist and the history behind this movement. You will also see works such as Chessboard (1935), Zebra (1937), Vega-Nor (1969), Vega 200 (1968), Optical Cube (1997), among others.

Useful information

• Price: admission to this museum starts at €12 for adults. There are also reduced prices, group rates and guided tours, which you should check in advance.
• Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except 24 December, when it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.