Wanderyn
Arles
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · FR

Arles

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: The old town is small and walkable, with the Roman amphitheater, the ancient theater, and the Van Gogh sites all within a 10-minute walk of each other. Arles has a train station with connections to Avignon (20 minutes) and Marseille, making it an easy stop by rail; a car is useful mainly if you're continuing on into the Camargue.
Hours: The amphitheater still hosts events (including bullfighting-adjacent Camargue traditions) that can close it to visitors on short notice, so check ahead if that's a priority; midday summer heat is intense with little shade in the Roman sites.

Arles has two overlapping identities: it's one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in France, with a nearly intact amphitheater still used for events and a Roman theater alongside it, and it's the town where Van Gogh produced some of his most famous work during his roughly 15 months here, including Café Terrace at Night and Starry Night Over the Rhône. Neither site holds an original Van Gogh painting — a quirk of the town's relationship to him, since no museum here owns his work — but the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles mounts serious exhibitions connecting his art to the town, and you can walk to the actual spots he painted, several marked with reproductions set up at the original vantage point. Beyond the Roman and Van Gogh threads, Arles is a genuinely lived-in Provençal town with a good Saturday market and a slower pace than Avignon just up the road, making it a solid day trip or overnight stop, especially if paired with the Camargue.

Arles FAQs

Are there any actual Van Gogh paintings in Arles?

No — the town has no original Van Gogh paintings in its collections; the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles shows borrowed works alongside contemporary art responding to him, and the appeal is walking to the real locations he painted.

Is the Roman amphitheater still in use?

Yes, it hosts events including Camargue-style bullfighting traditions and concerts, which occasionally means restricted visiting hours.

How does Arles compare to Avignon?

Arles is smaller, quieter, and centered on Roman ruins and the Van Gogh connection rather than Avignon's papal-palace grandeur and festival energy; many people do both as a two-stop day from a shared base.

Is one day enough for Arles?

Yes, the core sights (amphitheater, ancient theater, Van Gogh Foundation, old town) fit comfortably into a day.

Can I visit the Camargue from Arles?

Yes, Arles is the natural gateway to the Camargue nature reserve, with tours and rental cars available for exploring the marshes, flamingos, and beaches.

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