How to Get Avignon from Marseille

Marseille and Avignon are two of the most interesting destinations on the French Riviera. For this reason, you will probably want to know how to get from one place to another.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

9 min read

How to Get Avignon from Marseille

In Avignon | ©Henri Sivonen

Learning how to get around the different cities on the French Mediterranean coast is an excellent idea if you are planning a sightseeing tour of the entire region. There are various options available for travelling from Marseille to Avignon, catering to a wide range of budgets and different types of travellers.

Although there is plenty to see in Marseille, if you have enough time, you may want to visit Avignon. I invite you to continue reading this article, which will help you plan your travel, allowing you to feel much more relaxed and choose the option that best suits your needs.

The best way to get there: a private transfer

Streets of Avignon| ©Karoly Lorentey
Streets of Avignon| ©Karoly Lorentey

It may sound a little out of touch with reality, but the truth is that the best way to get to Avignon from Marseille, regardless of the time of year or the number of tourists, is by private transfer. This has to do with the fact that it is an experience focused on exclusivity and privacy, as well as on the comfort of travellers and, above all, on the speed of the service.

This type of transfer can be arranged in two ways. You can be picked up directly at Marseille International Airport, or the vehicle can go to your accommodation in Marseille to take you to your new hotel in Avignon. The service fee includes a driver who will be fully available to resolve any issues that may arise with you or your group.

This type of transfer is usually designed for a maximum of six people, as they are usually carried out in small vans that guarantee the comfort of each passenger. In fact, the price per person is based on a group of this size.

This option is also one of the best ways to get around and enjoy the best things to do in Marseille during the summer, as trains, buses and other shared transport are in high demand due to the large number of tourists visiting the region at this time of year.

Details of interest

  • Price: the approximate fare for a private transfer from Marseille to Avignon is usually around £150 or £160 per person. This means that the transfer for 6 people is around £900.
  • Duration: the private transfer between these two cities usually takes approximately one hour. This is assuming that you are leaving from the city airport. If you are leaving from the city centre, it may take an hour and a half due to urban traffic.
  • Advantages: this is an experience that you can cancel free of charge if you notify us in advance, and at the same time it is a more exclusive way to travel that can satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers.

How to get there with a sightseeing tour from Marseille to Avignon?

Palais des Papes in Avignon| ©Fred Romero
Palais des Papes in Avignon| ©Fred Romero

Another option available to you if you want to travel from Marseille to Avignon is to take a sightseeing tour. These are usually available throughout most of the year, as Avignon is a very interesting destination for those staying in Marseille and the surrounding area.

The downside of this option is that it is designed for people who want to return to Marseille on the same day and therefore has a very different cost structure.

However, if you just want to see the city without staying overnight, then this is ideal for you. Above all, because it offers you the company of a guide specialised in the history of the city, as well as an excellently planned tour of the main attractions of this historic town, which stands out in the Provence region for having been the seat of the Catholic papacy for several decades in the 14th century.

This type of transfer is one of the best day trips in Provence from Marseille. In addition, it is an activity that usually lasts about 10 hours in total, which means that you can complement it with other activities such as the best food tours in Marseille, which will allow you to explore the culinary world of this city.

Details of interest

  • Price: the usual price per person for a trip from Marseille to Avignon, including return transport, is around £85. If the experience also includes meals and special activities, the price is likely to be higher.
  • Duration: the transfer itself from the centre of Marseille usually takes an hour and a half at most, as the tourist bus usually takes the same motorway as a private car or public bus.
  • Advantages: this transfer option is particularly good for those who plan to return to Marseille on the same day as their visit to Avignon and want to be sure they will have suitable transport for their return journey.

How to get from Marseille to Avignon by plane?

Marseille Airport| ©Steve Miller
Marseille Airport| ©Steve Miller

Unfortunately, it is not possible to fly to Avignon from Marseille, as both cities share the same airport. In fact, it is located halfway between the two cities in a commune called Marignane.

That does not mean that you cannot use air transport to get from Marseille to Avignon, as a helicopter trip can be an interesting alternative if your budget allows it and, above all, if the number of passengers is limited.

Keep in mind that most of these trips are reserved for groups of up to four people and can easily cost over £1,000 per person, depending on the time of year and the demand for this tourist service.

Therefore, if you are on a tight budget, it is best to invest your money in other forms of transport that allow you to see the city up close, such as the Hop On Hop Off buses in Marseille, which are considered to offer the best tours in Marseille.

This is a good option because the fares are less than £30 per person and you can spend the rest of your money on other forms of public transport that will take you to your destination more quickly. Especially considering that for a trip like this, you would have to travel to a heliport that is probably quite far from the centre of Marseille.

How to get from Marseille to Avignon by car?

By car| ©Jackson David
By car| ©Jackson David

Travelling by private car from Marseille to Avignon can be one of the best options, especially for those who enjoy driving along French roads.

Renting a vehicle to travel from town to town and city to city along the French Riviera is an alternative that many people choose to save money on tickets. It also allows you to enjoy the beautiful landscapes that define this Mediterranean region. Alamo Rent a Car, Europcar and Sixt are some of the best car rental options, offering a wide range of vehicles and competitive rates.

In fact, planning a week to explore Provence and its many towns, including Avignon, Arles and Nîmes, is one of the best things to do in Marseille and the surrounding area in summer.

You can choose between the A7 motorway or combine the A7 with the A54, which is ideal if you want to pass through the town of Arles. If you combine the A7 motorway and the D7N , you will pass through Aix-en-Provence, another of the region's great treasures.

Either way, this means of transport is quite fast and allows you to make a short stop at the Alpilles Regional Nature Park, a nature reserve located in a mountainous area halfway between Marseille and the ancient city of Avignon. It is also very close to the airport that serves both cities.

Details of interest

  • Price: it all depends on the car rental company you choose and the area in Marseille where you hire the vehicle. However, the trip usually costs around £100 in total, bearing in mind that the daily rental of the vehicle can be around £60 depending on its features, and you have to add the cost of fuel.
  • Duration: the journey will always take between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half, depending on the motorways you choose and any stops you make.
  • Advantages: this is the best option if you want to have freedom of movement in Avignon or throughout the Provence region to explore its attractions on your own terms.

How to get from Marseille to Avignon by bus?

Bus from Marseille| ©Gbus25
Bus from Marseille| ©Gbus25

From Saint-Charles transport station, you can travel by bus from Marseille to Avignon.

This alternative is considerably slower because there are several stops along the route. In addition, the journey time depends significantly on the traffic between Marseille and Avignon.

However, this may be one of the best things to do in Marseille at Christmas as tourist demand is lower, which means that buses will have unbeatable fares. It also means that there will be fewer people travelling on the bus, giving you greater comfort and privacy during the journey.

There are several companies that can offer trips for the date of your visit, but Ouibus and Flixbus Marseille are the most popular options because they tend to maintain a more frequent service even in low season. This means you can rest assured that when you arrive at Saint-Charles bus station, there will be buses running that day.

Details of interest

:

  • Prices: Bus travel is the cheapest option and can cost around £10 per journey. The same route may cost up to £20 or £30 in high season.
  • Duration: bus journeys between Marseille and Avignon tend to take a little longer due to the stops made in the various towns between the two cities. The average journey time is two hours.
  • Advantages: this is usually a more economical option, especially for those travelling alone who find car hire too expensive.

How to get from Marseille to Avignon by train?

Train from Marseille| ©i_yudai
Train from Marseille| ©i_yudai

Travelling by train from Marseille to Avignon is an option that many consider the most convenient from a financial and logistical point of view. This is due to the fact that there are high-speed trains that make this journey directly.

It is an enjoyable experience simply because travelling by train is interesting for many people and also because the French train system is of excellent quality and impresses most of its foreign users. In fact, it is one of the best things to do in Marbella with children, as it is the shortest journey of all and at the same time one of the most comfortable for both adults and children.

Saint Charles train station is a charming place and, best of all, it is right in the centre of Marseille. In the case of Avignon, the TGV train station is a little far from the city centre, but you can take a taxi to your accommodation or to the first stop on your itinerary. This usually costs no more than £10.

Useful information

  • Prices: prices vary depending on the time of year and the train services available. You may find a ticket for £10, but it is also likely to go up to £40 if you buy it at short notice.
  • Duration: the journey usually takes around 40 minutes in total, but it may take a little longer depending on waiting times and train departure times.
  • Advantages: a train journey is the fastest option and is also an excellent way to familiarise yourself with this transport system, which will help you travel throughout France in record time if you wish.

Other means of transport to get from Marseille to Avignon

Bike tour| ©jean luc moreau
Bike tour| ©jean luc moreau

There are other means of transport that can take you from Marseille to Avignon in much more time but in a much more entertaining way, depending on your interests. I'm talking about bicycles, as one of the best bike tours in Marseille are those that involve a trip from this city to the towns in the surrounding area.

In this case, we are talking about a trip that usually takes about four and a half hours in total. Keep in mind that if you leave from the centre of Marseille, the routes will be quite similar to the motorways recommended for car travel. However, the big difference is that in this case you will be riding on a cycle path frequented by cycling enthusiasts from the Provence region.

In any case, if you are still interested in exploring Marseille and its surroundings by other equally unique means of transport, you can take part in one of the best boat tours in Marseille, as many of them will take you to other nearby towns such as Cassis or La Ciotat, or at least give you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this Mediterranean corner.

The best bike tours in Marseille

  • A private transfer
  • Duration: approximately one hour.
  • Price: around £130 per person.
  • Highlights: exclusive and private experience.
  • A sightseeing tour
  • Duration: approximately 8 to 10 hours.
  • Price: around £100 per person.
  • Highlights: you can go and return in a single day accompanied by a guide.
  • Private car
  • Duration: approximately one hour or one and a half hours.
  • Price: around £80 or £90 per trip.
  • Highlights: ideal for exploring a little more of Provence.
  • A bus trip
  • Duration: can take up to 2 hours.
  • Price: approximately £15.
  • Highlights: a very economical alternative.
  • A train journey
  • Duration: usually 40 to 50 minutes.
  • Price: around £25 on average.
  • Highlights: this is the fastest and most modern option.