Exploring Arles: A Gateway to Provence

Arles is located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in Provence (the region known as PACA). As a former Roman capital and a major religious center during the Middle Ages, Arles boasts extraordinary Gallo-Roman antiquities, recognized globally. This picturesque city rests along the banks of the Rhône river, featuring a vibrant market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It stands out as one of the major Mediterranean cities in southern France. The city’s prime attraction, Les Arenes, an impressive Roman amphitheater, now hosts bullfights and various cultural events, a fascinating contrast to its historical use for gladiators and chariot races. For those interested in historical chariot races and gladiatorial contests, a visit to Nîmes is a must.

1. Paris to Arles by Train

TGV trains to Arles depart from Paris Gare de Lyon (20 boulevards Diderot, Paris 12) regularly throughout the day.

Metro Lines to Gare de Lyon

• Ligne 1 – La Défense to Château de Vincennes
• Ligne 14 – Saint Lazare to Bibliothèque François Mitterrand

TGV Timetable to Arles Train Station

• Direct from Paris to Arles: 4 hrs 04 mins.
• Via Avignon: Paris to Arles with one stop takes 4 hrs 20 mins.
• Lille to Arles: involves 1 change at Avignon, taking approximately 5 hrs 33 mins.
• Charles de Gaulle Airport: to Arles station requires 1 change in Avignon and takes about 4 hrs 32 mins.

Other Connections to Arles by TGV or TER:

• Common direct connections include cities like Avignon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon.

The Arles bus station conveniently sits adjacent to the train station.

2. Getting to Arles by Plane

Airport Avignon Caumont lies 8 km southeast of Avignon and north of Arles. Unfortunately, there are no direct shuttle buses to Arles from the airport; travelers need to take a taxi. For taxi services, refer to Arles Taxi Service.

• Flights from Southampton, UK with Flybe connect to Ireland and the Channel Islands.
• Flights from Exeter are also available with Flybe.
• Flights from Birmingham are accessible with Flybe.

Other Nearby Airports

The nearest international airport is Marseille. Smaller airports like Nîmes-Alès-Camargue Airport and Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport also operate flights to Europe and North Africa but not to the USA.

• Marseille-Provence Airport: Located 20 km (12 miles) northwest of Marseille, hosting national and international flights, including connections to New York and London. A shuttle bus operates between Arles and Marseille-Provence Airport.
• MP2: Connected to major airports for cheap flights, take the shuttle bus from Marseille-Provence Airport for a five-minute ride to MP2.
• Nîmes-Alès-Camargue Airport: Located northwest of Arles, flights to London, Liverpool, and other European destinations are available. Taxi service is needed for transport to Arles.
• Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport: Situated 8 km (5 miles) southeast of Montpellier, servicing multiple destinations across Europe and North Africa.

3. Paris to Arles by Car

The distance from Paris to Nîmes is approximately 740 km (459 miles), with a travel duration of around six hours and 30 minutes, influenced by your speed and traffic conditions. Be aware that the Autoroutes involve tolls.

Car Hire Information

For economical options on hiring a car, particularly if your stay in France exceeds 17 days, consider exploring Renault Eurodrive Buy Back Lease.

Getting from London to Paris

• By Train (Eurostar)
• By Bus/Coach – Eurolines provides an affordable service from London and nearby areas to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris Gallieni, with multiple daily departures and a journey time of about 7 hours. For more information, visit the Eurolines website.
• OUIBus also facilitates travel between London and Lille as well as London and Paris.