Avignon Private Walking Tour
A private walking tour of Avignon, the City of the Popes in Provence, with Sophie, your licensed guide, in two or three hours.
Explore the most picturesque narrow streets and hidden views in Avignon, known only to the locals. As a pedestrian-focused city, we will wander through cobblestone paths where history comes alive at every corner.
Most monuments date from the Middle Ages, built during the reign of the various Popes who resided in the Palais des Papes. This tour includes a visit to the Palace, and we see the famous Avignon Bridge from the outside, all while soaking in the medieval spirit that the inner city has perfectly preserved.
We walk through the pedestrian centre that tourists do not know: visitors usually just cross the Balance quarter on their way to the bridge.
In two hours, the tour is about the Palais des Papes. In three hours, we add Les Halles, the covered market (except on Mondays), or, if you prefer, three hours of walking through the streets of Avignon: Sophie adapts. The Rocher des Doms, the cathedral and the ramparts are part of the three-hour tour, or of a two-hour tour without the Palais des Papes.
What You'll See in Avignon
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The Palais des Papes
UNESCO World Heritage · 14th century
In the 14th century, seven successive popes lived in Avignon rather than in Rome. Their palace is two joined buildings, the old palace of Benedict XII on the rock of the Doms and the new palace of Clement VI, which together form the largest Gothic building of the Middle Ages.
Six papal conclaves were held here. The papal library, with over 2,000 volumes, was then the largest in Europe, and drew scholars such as Petrarch.
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The Pont d'Avignon
Pont Saint-Bénézet · rebuilt from 1234
Rebuilt in stone from 1234, the bridge once crossed the Rhône to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon on 22 arches, some 900 metres long. Floods kept collapsing its arches and it was abandoned in the mid-17th century: four arches survive, with the gatehouse and the Chapel of Saint Nicholas on the second pier.
It is the bridge of the famous song, Sur le pont d'Avignon.
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The Walled City of the Popes
Medieval ramparts · Festival d'Avignon
Avignon is one of the few cities in France to have kept its medieval walls. Pope Clement VI bought the town in 1348, and it remained under papal rule until 1791, which is why it is still called the City of the Popes.
Its historic centre was listed by UNESCO in 1995, and every summer the Festival d'Avignon makes it one of the world's great stages for the performing arts.
The Experience
Sophie's Reels
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Avignon
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Avignon
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Avignon
Watch on Instagram: Avignon
Meeting Point
Your hotel in Avignon or the Palais des Papes square
Best Season
Year-round
Languages
English & French
Sophie, Born in Provence
Sophie was born in Provence, in the black truffle and Grignan-les-Adhémar region. She started Travel In Provence in 2016 as a wine tour guide, then became a licensed history guide. She holds the WSET (2016) and the French Wine Scholar (2021, Wine University of Suze-la-Rousse), and is featured in Rick Steves' Provence & the French Riviera guidebook (2023 edition onward).
Food, wine and history are her passions: her tours mix off-the-beaten-track places with the must-sees that cannot be missed.
More about Sophie →Good to Know
How long does the tour last?
2 - 3 hours.
Is the tour private, and for how many people?
Yes: every tour is private and tailored to your group. This one is for up to 10 people.
Where do we meet?
Your hotel in Avignon or the Palais des Papes square.
Can Sophie pick us up anywhere?
This is a walking tour, so Sophie meets you at your hotel in Avignon or the Palais des Papes square.
How much walking is there?
Avignon's old centre is pedestrian-focused, with narrow cobblestone streets: comfortable shoes are a good idea. The tours are not recommended for young children or for people with reduced mobility: expect stairs and some difficult paths, and the level depends on the tour.
How do we pay?
By bank transfer one month in advance, or on the day.
How much does it cost?
2 hours: 250 € · 3 hours, with a third hour: 350 €, per group.
Do we go inside the Palais des Papes?
Yes: the tour includes a visit to the Palace. Its entrance tickets are not included in the price.
Do we walk on the Avignon Bridge?
No: we see the famous Pont d'Avignon from the outside.
What is the difference between two and three hours?
In two hours, the Palais des Papes. In three hours, the Palace and Les Halles market (except on Mondays), or three hours of walking through the streets of Avignon, as you prefer.
Do we see the Rocher des Doms, the cathedral and the ramparts?
Yes, on the three-hour tour, or on a two-hour tour without the Palais des Papes.
What is not included in the price?
Palais des Papes entrance tickets · Lunch at a local bistro.
When is the best time to go?
Year-round.
Which languages does Sophie speak?
English and French.
How do I book?
Write to Sophie or call her: her email and phone number are on the Prices & Reservation page, with the price of every tour.
Ready to Experience Avignon Private Walking Tour?
Every tour is private and tailored to your group.
Get in Touch with Sophie →
