🇫🇷France · Places to discover
What to see in Arles?
21 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Arles holds a rare position: an intact Roman city at the heart of the Camargue, it has retained a human scale that many ancient cities have lost. The Arènes and the Ancient Theatre are not frozen museums-they still host shows, bullfights, concerts. Van Gogh painted over 300 canvases here in fifteen months, and that particular harsh, frank light of the Midi has not changed.
The best period lies between April and June, before the dry heat of July empties the streets at midday. Two days suffice for the historical centre; three if you plan to explore the Camargue marshes by bike. Don't hire a car in town-parking is a nightmare and everything is walkable. Avoid eating on the Place du Forum: the terraces there are packed and prices have doubled for no good reason.
Landmarks & heritage
6 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Landmark
Alyscamps
A UNESCO-listed Early Christian necropolis, this avenue of Roman and medieval sarcophagi inspired Van Gogh and Gauguin. Outside peak hours, the place possesses a rare poetic melancholy.
2Wikimedia CommonsLandmark
Arles Roman Amphitheatre
One of the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, UNESCO-listed. Still used for bullfights and performances, it offers stunning views of the entire city from its upper tiers.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Arles Ancient Theatre
Built in the 1st century BC, this open-air Roman theatre still hosts summer performances. The two surviving columns nicknamed 'the Widows' are a symbol of the city.
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Landmark
Landmark
Van Gogh Space
Former Hôtel-Dieu where Van Gogh was admitted in 1888 after mutilating his ear, restored to match his paintings exactly. The central garden, recreated from his canvases, holds particular emotion for those familiar with his work.
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Landmark
Landmark
Constantine Baths
Remains of the largest Roman baths preserved in Provence, dating from the 4th century. The vaulted halls still standing give a striking impression of imperial thermal architecture.
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Landmark
Landmark
Cryptoportiques du Forum
Roman underground galleries from the 2nd century BC dug beneath the ancient forum, accessible from the Réattu museum. A unique and cool atmosphere, away from the crowds above.
Museums
2 places
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Musée Réattu
Housed in a 15th-century priory, this fine arts museum holds a major donation from Picasso—57 drawings gifted by the artist himself after the bullfights. A hidden gem on the banks of the Rhône.
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Museum
Museum
Arles Antiquities Departmental Museum
The foremost museum for Antiquity in Provence, housing Caesar's sarcophagus and a remarkable mosaic collection. The electric-blue building designed by Henri Ciriani is itself a work of art.
Religious sites
2 places
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Saint-Trophime Church, Arles
Masterpiece of Provençal Romanesque art, UNESCO-listed, its 12th-century sculptured portal is among France's finest. The adjoining cloister, part Romanesque, part Gothic, exudes absolute serenity.
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Montmajour Abbey
10th-century Benedictine abbey perched on a rocky outcrop amid the La Crau plain, 5 km from Arles. Van Gogh came here to draw. The Pons de l'Orme tower offers a unique panoramic view over the Alpilles and Camargue.
Nature
1 place
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Nature
Vaccarès Lagoon
Heart of the Camargue National Nature Reserve, this vast brackish lagoon is paradise for birdwatchers. Herons, egrets and pink flamingos can be observed in absolute silence against infinite horizons.
Viewpoints
3 places
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
Tower of the Mourgues - Roman Ramparts
Fragment of 1st-century Roman ramparts still standing within the urban fabric, often overlooked even by visitors. Offers views of Romanesque tiled roofs and hidden gardens of the old town centre.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Rhône Waterfront – Marx Dormoy Quay
A sunset stroll along the Rhône is a ritual for Arlesians. Views of the Grand Rhône, barges and distant hills – free, peaceful and far removed from tourist crowds.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Langlois Bridge (Van Gogh Bridge)
A drawbridge meticulously reconstructed to match Van Gogh's 1888 painting, located a few kilometres south of the town. The surrounding canal and reeds recreate exactly the master's original setting.
Activities
4 places
15Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Activity
Rencontres d'Arles - Photography Workshops
The world's most important photography festival invests dozens of unusual venues each summer. Off-season, the converted SNCF Workshops remain a permanent exhibition space with a unique industrial atmosphere.
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Horse Riding in Camargue – Mas de la Cure
Ride on Camargue horses through marshes and rice paddies around Sambuc, with local herders. Approaching the pink flamingos on horseback is an unforgettable experience, impossible to replicate any other way.
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Activity
Activity
Saturday Market – Boulevard des Lices
One of the largest and finest markets in Provence, taking over the entire Boulevard des Lices every Saturday morning. Local producers of Camargue beef, tellines, sheep's cheese and dried flowers.
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Activity
Activity
LUMA Foundation Arles
Spectacular tower designed by Frank Gehry and inaugurated in 2021, centrepiece of a cultural campus in the former Forges et Fonderies factory. The contemporary art exhibition programme is among the most ambitious in the South.
Beaches
1 place
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Beach
Beach
Piémanson Beach
Wild and free beach at the end of the Camargue, one of France's last great undeveloped natural beaches. Access via a 10 km dirt track, but the isolation and immensity of the place are well worth the journey.
More to discover
2 places
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Place
Place
Lices Promenade
Tree-lined boulevard with century-old plane trees, home to the Saturday morning market – one of Provence's finest. Van Gogh painted his celebrated 'Plane Trees' here. Ideal for purchasing local cheeses, olives and fruit.
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Place
Place
Forum Square
The true beating heart of Arles, coming alive from 6pm with locals. This is where Van Gogh painted his 'Café in the Evening' – the Café Van Gogh opposite is kitsch, but the square itself, with its century-old plane trees, is authentic.
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