Asking yourself: “Is Arles France worth visiting? Short answer, YES! At least if you ask me. But I’m not here to make a decision for you, so I suggest you read on to find out why I think it’s worth visiting Arles.
The southern France city, known for its UNESCO-listed Roman remains and for the mentally unstable artist Vincent Van Gogh, is jam-packed with charm.
I loved walking around the neighborhoods where wooden window covers were painted in pastel colors and pot plants were hanging out of the windows.
Arles is a small artistic corner in France where you easily get inspired just by walking around, sitting on a bench and watching life go by, or exploring tourist attractions.
Next, I’ll go through whether or not Arles is a good destination to visit so you can see if it’s a good fit for your desires before I dive into the main reasons why I love the city.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Is Arles Worth Visiting?
First of all, is Arles France worth visiting for you? I’ve talked about how I like the city, but there are a few things you might consider before you read on so you can make a decision for yourself.
Whether you decide to visit Arles on a day trip or spend more time, it’s always good to know what to expect.
Here are some of the things to expect when visiting Arles:
- There are plenty of historic and archaeological remains
- Plenty of museums
- You can follow the life and art of Van Gogh
- Walkable city
- Some neighborhoods outside the historic center might feel a bit abandoned and not as safe
- Free parking outside the city, but don’t leave any valuables visible in the car as there’s a big chance they’ll be broken into
- Easy to access by public transport
- Plenty of nice restaurants and bars catering to all palates
- There are held bullfights in Arles Arena (Roman Theater)
- I experienced the city as safe, also for solo female travelers (though always be alert as you would anywhere)
Reasons to visit Arles
Well-preserved Roman ruins
Arles is famous for its Roman ruins, especially the Roman Amphitheater, which is one of the best-preserved in the world, together with the one in nearby Nîmes and of course the Colosseum in Rome.
You can also see 3 of 4 watch towers that were built onto the arena in the 8th century when it was used as a fortress. This is easily one of the best things to see in Arles.
Other Roman remains worth visiting are the Roman Theater (you can see it from the outside, but it’s well worth walking on the site to get a feel of its grandeur), Thermes de Constantin, the underground cryptoportiques of Arles, the Roman burial site of Alyscamps, and the site of the Roman Circus.
Even though there’s not much left to see of the circus, it gives you an idea of how vast the circus grounds were.
I also loved the Archaeological Museum which dives into the history of Arles with plenty of interesting artifacts.
You can follow Van Gogh’s footsteps
If you’re a lover of the artist Vincent Van Gogh, Arles is a fantastic destination. Van Gogh lived in Arles for about 2,5 years during a time of mental illnesses and created a lot of his famous work there.
You can see exhibitions of his work at the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh. Including a permanent exhibition, there are temporary exhibitions and they lend Van Gogh paintings from other art galleries.
In the summer of 2024, we could see the “Starry Night Over the Rhone” which is one of my favorites.
During his time in Arles, Van Gogh was a patient at the psychiatric hospital after cutting his left ear off and you can visit the gardens. There, you’ll find a replica of a painting the artist painted of the garden which looks almost identical today.
If you want to see the site where he lived and dreamt of a gallery, The Yellow House was unfortunately destroyed during World War Two, but there is a sign on the site where it was with a replica of his painting “The Yellow House.”
I highly recommend going on this Van Gogh Audio Guide Tour that takes you to all the Van Gogh sites and places he painted in Arles.
What I love about this audio guide as opposed to others, is that you get lifetime access to the information in the app so even if you don’t get the time to go to all the places, you can go back another time, or listen to it at home (before or after your trip.)
Super walkable
Arles is super walkable. There is no place too far away than a few minute’s walk. Whether you want to visit the Van Gogh sites or the Roman remains.
There are plenty of things to see everywhere so even walking from one place to another, you’ll be treated with cool spots and plenty of restaurants and bars to stop for a refreshing drink or a feed.
Even the Roman Circus, which is set slightly outside the tourist hub, is easy to walk to from Arles’ tourist center.
Foodie’s paradise
Ok, so I’ve mentioned that there are plenty of bars and restaurants in Arles. And trust me, there’s so much amazing food to find in this city for every palate.
There are also a few vegan and vegan friendly places, so we didn’t have any issues finding places to eat.
I loved the old town with its hidden alleys and vibrant squares where you find different kinds of restaurants, but also the La Roquette neighborhood had some nice cafés.
Epic UNESCO-sites
If you’re interested in UNESCO sites, Arles is a fantastic place to visit.
Together with Romanesque sites, like Arles Cathedral, the Roman remains in Arles are protected by UNESCO.
Thhe whole monument group include the top attractions like Arles Arena, Thermes de Constantin, the underground cryptoportiques of Arles, the Roman burial site of Alyscamps.
The cutest neighborhoods
Seriously, Arles has some of the cutest neighborhoods in France for sure! I just fell in love with the wooden window covers that colored the houses with green, blue, yellow, and pink colors.
Narrow streets and alleys leading to little squares with cute coffee shops and restaurants are perfect for just walking around looking for hidden gems.
My favorite neighborhood is La Roquette, not far from the river. There are plenty of photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera!
It’s just a short train ride from Paris
Believe it or not, Arles is a perfect weekend trip from Paris only a 3.5-hour train ride away from the capital.
The distance from Paris to Arles is more than 775 km and driving by car would more than double the time, so it’s a fabulous way to explore the city even if you’re based in Paris.
STILL NOT CONVINCED? TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT OUR FIRST VISIT TO ARLES IN THIS VIDEO!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Arles France
Summing up, there are so many reasons to visit Arles in France. While there are some areas that look a little dodgy, they seemed to be outside of the historical center and where you find the tourist attractions and I never felt unsafe, even in the evening.
All in all, Arles is a fantastic city with plenty of history, art, and culture. If this sounds like you, Arles might just be the perfect spot for your next France city break.
Happy travels!