Papal Palace Tickets and Tours in Avignon

Far from the glamour of other French cities such as Lyon or Paris, Avignon shines with its own light. Located in the south-east of France, in the Provence region, this medieval gem continues to dazzle hundreds of thousands of visitors. Located a few metres from the Rhône River, the Papal Palace is the centre of the city.

Visiting the Palace of the Popes is undoubtedly one of the must-see attractions. Over the centuries, this palace has been home to nine different popes, as well as priceless frescoes and sublime architecture. In this article, I will tell you about the best ticket options and tours of this incredible place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most practical option

Avignon Palais des Papes Tickets

A tour of the interior of the Papal Palace in Avignon, including its halls and galleries.

You will tour the largest Gothic building in the world and immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere thanks to a tablet equipped with augmented reality that faithfully reconstructs the building as it was centuries ago.

From £14 at Hellotickets

Buying your tickets to the Papal Palace in Avignon will allow you to explore this Gothic building and all the history it holds within its walls. You can also enjoy strolling through its splendid gardens and, if you choose, enjoy a truly fascinating sound and light show.

These tickets also include the use of the interactive Histopad tablet, which turns your visit into an immersive experience thanks to animated maps, music, 3D virtual reconstructions and an interactive treasure hunt that is perfect for children to have fun while they learn. You will also have free access to the palace's three historic gardens and can admire such emblematic rooms as the Consistory Hall, the Chapel of Saint Martial and the private bedroom of the Popes.

Recommended if... you want to discover the history of the Papal Palace in an interactive way and explore its rooms and gardens at your own pace.

Tickets for the Papal Palace in Avignon start at £14 They can be easily purchased online, saving you unnecessary queues and allowing you to start enjoying all the majesty of the palace right away. Of course, you can also combine your ticket to the palace with tickets to the famous Avignon Bridge or the Papal Gardens, both highly recommended options.

Although there is a single ticket for the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, you can purchase it together with tickets to the beautiful Papal Gardens or the Avignon Bridge. If you choose tickets for two or three of these attractions, you can even get a better price. The ticket includes a histopad available in seven languages, including English, which will be your guide throughout your visit and allow you to learn all the details of this wonderful place.

All these tickets, purchased online, will save you from having to queue for ages at the palace ticket office. This is ideal if you are travelling with children, as waiting can be tedious for little ones and they can easily get irritated, spoiling the visit.

Are tickets to the Papal Palace in Avignon included in any city sightseeing passes?

Yes, like most major cities, Avignon also has its own City Pass, which includes the Papal Palace, as it is the city's best-kept secret. If you opt for this tourist pass, you will save on the cost of admission, although the savings for this attraction are not significant. The Avignon Pass is more suitable if you plan to visit a large number of attractions in a few days.

The Palace of the Popes is included in all the best tours of Avignon, as it is a true national treasure and a World Heritage Site.

Are there tickets that include a guided tour of the Papal Palace in Avignon? Is it worth it?

There are guided tours of the interior of the palace to discover all the history behind this stone colossus, which has been home to nine popes and the seat of the papacy. Although the tour can be very interesting, the ticket to the Palace of the Popes in Avignon includes a histopad, which allows you to learn about the palace as you walk through it. In my opinion, the guided tour is only recommended if you are not comfortable with technology or if you prefer a real-life guide.

The histopad has a geolocation system that detects each room you enter, making it very easy to find your way around the palace. Thanks to its animated maps, you can find your way around and organise your visit. It also indicates which other rooms are nearby.

Book your tour of Avignon with a guided tour of the Papal Palace

The palace offers discounted tickets, however it is worth mentioning that the prices are very affordable, especially considering what we will see on our visit. The Papal Palace offers discounted tickets for:

• Students with a valid certificate.
• People with a disability of at least 80%.
• Children under 17.
• People over 60 with ID.

You can even ask about discounts for large families. All this information is also available on their official website.

Yes, children between the ages of 8 and 17 pay a reduced admission fee of around £10, and children under 8 are free. If you are travelling with children, the Palace of the Popes in Avignon is a place that will fascinate them. During your visit, they will be able to see medieval objects and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful gardens and huge halls and courtyards.

It's always a good idea to tell them some stories about the place (you can even make up names and details to add an extra touch of adventure and excitement). Another thing to bear in mind is that the palace is easily accessible with a pushchair, and there are benches to sit and rest in almost every room.

The histopad offers an interactive treasure hunt for children. Through an animation on the screen, each room displays a virtual object where a coin bearing the mark of the popes is hidden. This is another way to introduce children to the wonderful world of French history.

It is always preferable to purchase your tickets online, as this saves you from queuing, wastes no time and allows you to check and plan your visit in advance. This is definitely one of the attractions you should visit if you are spending two days in Avignon, as there is no better place to learn about the city's past. Centuries of history have passed within its stone walls.

When you buy your tickets online, you can also read reviews from other travellers, as these often reveal details that are worth knowing.

The opening hours of the Papal Palace in Avignon vary depending on the time of year you decide to visit. Here are the opening and closing times from January to December:

• Between 1 January and 3 February, it is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• From 4 February to 28 February, it is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• From 1 March to 5 November, it is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• From 6 November to 22 December, it is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Between 23 December and 31 December, it is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Please note that admission is allowed up to 1 hour before closing time.

The time needed to tour this amazing palace will depend on the type of visit you wish to make. Keep in mind that the site has 25 rooms open to the public, a large number of frescoes, beautiful courtyards and gardens, 5 cathedrals, and much more. In general, you can complete the entire tour in about 90 minutes, but I assure you that it is worth taking the time to enjoy it to the fullest.

There are many attractions in this medieval palace, and the histopad allows you to explore every corner in detail. What's more, if you're an architecture enthusiast, you'll find endless treasures both inside and outside the palace. The frescoes preserved inside are mostly the work of two of the most renowned masters of the Sienese school: Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti.

Any time is a good time to visit this palace, but I recommend avoiding the coldest months of winter, as you won't be able to enjoy the gardens or inner courtyards as much as in the warmer months. From April to September, the temperatures are pleasant, and you can explore not only the palace but also the entire city without any problems.

However, if you are passing through Avignon in winter, I recommend booking a ticket for the Papal Palace anyway. Just make sure to bring a coat, especially for walking around the gardens. Always check the weather in Avignon so you can plan your visit better.

In Avignon, everyone knows where the Papal Palace is, as it is the city's most prized building. Located in the city centre, next to the legendary Pont d'Avignon bridge, almost on the banks of the Rhône, there are many ways to get here. Depending on where you are, you can take the train; the nearest station is Gare d'Avignon Centre.

The bus is also a good way to get here, with lines 11 and 20 being the closest. And, of course, you can also take a taxi, Uber or Lyft. From the Avignon TGV station to the Palace, for example, it is about 4 kilometres, so you can even walk while enjoying a stroll through this charming city.

The entire building is a must-see, but I must say that the Grande Chapelle is one of the most incredible places for architecture lovers. Its size and exceptional presence make it one of the palace's highlights.

Another thing you can't miss on your visit is the collection of frescoes, most of which date back to the 14th century. Don't miss the room with the portraits of the nine popes who resided in the palace, an important part of the history of the place.

• The Papal Palace in Avignon is one of the city's key attractions. To visit it, I recommend taking your time to discover its corners steeped in history.
• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear, as there are around 25 rooms, courtyards, gardens, chapels and other areas to visit.
• Another tip is to buy your tickets online to avoid queues and delays.
• The entire tour can be completed in approximately 90 minutes, although it is always better to take a moment in each space to appreciate the architecture, furniture and all the details included in the histopad.
• If you are passionate about architecture or history, I recommend reading a little about the palace beforehand to enrich your visit even more.
• If you are only visiting Avignon for three days, you must visit this jewel of medieval Gothic architecture. Since the early 20th century, the palace has been used as an exhibition space for both ancient and contemporary art.
• Before your visit, you can check the palace's website to see which exhibitions or displays are currently available, so that, in addition to the history of the place, you can enjoy the best of art.

After visiting this amazing palace, you can learn a little more about the region on one of the highly recommended :::link|text=day trips through Provence from Avignon|element=sc-163-1421:::, a unique experience that will allow you to discover all the charm of one of the most beautiful areas in the south of France.

Built in the 14th century by Pope John XXII, this monumental palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and is considered one of the finest examples of international Gothic architecture. Throughout its history, it was used as the seat for the election of Popes Benedict XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V, Gregory XI and Benedict XIII.

In 1305, the papal curia left Rome and settled in the city of Avignon. The palace was built in two phases and was one of the most expensive projects of its time, consuming a large part of the papal income. It consists of the Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and the Palais Neuf (New Palace). You can see the ancient walls that protected the city from possible attacks.

Today, the Palace of the Popes has become the city's main attraction; its halls, original furniture, 14th-century frescoes, chapels, courtyards and gardens are visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.