Côtes du Rhône at a glance
Côtes du Rhône is both a wine appellation and the everyday name of a wine region along the Rhône. The appellation covers 172 communes in 6 départements, and its area must not be confused with the whole Rhône valley or with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Avignon is the usual base. It is often called the capital of the Côtes du Rhône, although that is a nickname for wine tourism and not an appellation of its own.
This guide covers wine tours and tastings from Avignon, the villages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, the Dentelles de Montmirail, wine and appellations, the Rhône valley, Avignon with its papal palace and bridge, and day trips to Vaison-la-Romaine, Orange, the Pont du Gard, Mont Ventoux and the lavender fields. Prices and rules are those of 2026 and they change, so check the current details before you go.
Our picks: Côtes du Rhône tours
For most first visits the half-day Châteauneuf-du-Pape tour from Avignon is a good first taste of the region; the wine day with lunch suits one long day without planning. The Provence day tour adds the Pont du Gard, and the Avignon walk covers the palace in a single booking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine day with lunch
- Wine tastings
- Lunch included
- Driver and guide
Lunch is part of the day, so the tastings are not squeezed around a search for a restaurant.
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Full-day Provence tour: Luberon, Alpilles and Pont du Gard
- Pont du Gard entry
- Guide on board
- Pickup in Avignon
Three landscapes in one day. The exact pickup address appears when you check availability.
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape half-day wine tour
- Two tastings in the village
- Air-conditioned van
- Guide on board
A guide handles the drive from Avignon, so you can concentrate on the glass. A straightforward first taste of the village's wines.
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Avignon walking tour with Palace of the Popes entry
- Walking guide
- Palace entry
- Glass of wine at the end
The old-town walk and the palace visit sit in a single booking, so there is nothing separate to buy.
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Crozes-Hermitage vineyard walk and tasting
- Vineyard walk
- Cellar and barrel room
- Guided tasting
A short northern Rhône visit that explains the vine cycle and how the wine is made. It starts at the winery north of Avignon, not in the city.
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Pont du Gard museum and exhibition ticket
- Museum entry
- Temporary exhibitions
- Film and Ludo play area
Walking up to the bridge itself is free; this ticket covers the discovery areas. Parking costs €9 per vehicle.
Check availability →Côtes du Rhône tours and day trips
Wine tastings, village visits, lavender trips and day trips from Avignon, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the wine tours, then pick the villages and sights that fit your days.
Wine tours from Avignon
How tastings work, what to check before you book and the rules for drinking and driving.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The village below the ruined papal castle and the stony vineyards around it.
Gigondas
A wine village below the Dentelles, with Séguret and Beaumes-de-Venise nearby.
Dentelles de Montmirail
Hiking and climbing, plus the summer fire rules that can close the massif.
Côtes du Rhône wine explained
Appellations, villages and crus, with vineyard areas for 2025.
The Rhône valley
Northern and southern Rhône and how they differ for visitors.
Avignon
The gateway to the wine country, with palace, bridge and festival.
Things to do in Avignon
Old town, ramparts and the Rocher des Doms.
Palais des Papes
Prices from 1 August 2026, opening hours and the rebuilt tour.
Pont d'Avignon
The bridge fragment on the Rhône and how its tickets work.
Vaison-la-Romaine
Roman quarters, the old bridge and the medieval upper town.
Orange
The Roman theatre, the triumphal arch and ticket notes.
Mont Ventoux
Summit road season, cycling and hiking on a neighbouring appellation's mountain.
Pont du Gard
Free access to the bridge, separate parking and the winter pause.
Lavender fields
Bloom timing, places to go and why there is no guarantee.
Day trips from Avignon
Luberon, Les Baux-de-Provence and wine villages.
Weather by month
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, plus the mistral and the harvest.
Where to stay
City or village: which base suits which plan, and how the tourist tax works.
Getting there
Two stations, airports, transfers, car hire and parking.
The Avignon papacy
The popes in Avignon and the story of the wine they left behind.
A few things to know before you go
Prices, seasons and access rules for 2026.
New Palais des Papes prices
From 1 August 2026 the palace with its gardens costs €16 and the combined ticket with the Pont d'Avignon €19.50. The visit route is being rebuilt from 1 May 2026 until spring 2027, so allow for changes inside.
Palais des Papes →Pont du Gard
Access to the bridge itself is free. Parking costs €9 per vehicle, and the discovery areas have their own charge. The interior areas announce a winter pause from 2 November 2026.
Pont du Gard →Flights and stations
Avignon-Provence airport (AVN) has no scheduled flights, only business traffic. Marseille Provence (MRS) is the airport to look at, or you can take the TGV to Avignon TGV station, which is about 6 km from the centre.
Getting there →Fire rules in the hills
Between 15 June and 15 September, access to forest massifs such as the Dentelles can be limited or banned on high-risk days. Check the prefecture map on the day.
Dentelles de Montmirail →Mont Ventoux in winter
The summit road is usually closed to cars, motorbikes and bicycles from mid-November until spring. Mont Ventoux belongs to the neighbouring Ventoux appellation, not to Côtes du Rhône.
Mont Ventoux →Laudun and Gigondas white
Laudun is now a cru of its own, and Gigondas also makes white wine, available since 2024. Tavel makes only rosé.
Wine explained →How to use this guide
Three simple ways to plan a stay.
| If you have | Base yourself in | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| One day | Avignon | Palais des Papes and the bridge |
| A wine weekend | Avignon or a village | Wine tours, then Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
| A week | A village near the Dentelles | Gigondas, Vaison and day trips |
For most first visits, Avignon works best: the station is close to the old town, and the wine villages are a short drive or a guided tour away.
The wine in numbers
Figures for the 2025 harvest.
The Côtes du Rhône appellation covers 26,777 ha and allows 27 grape varieties. The Côtes du Rhône Villages group is smaller, with 8,019 ha and 24 varieties. It spans 95 communes, and 21 of them can put a geographic name on the label. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Tavel are crus of their own, with their own rules. Vineyard areas for the crus are on the wine page.
Mont Ventoux and the Luberon are neighbouring appellations and not part of the Côtes du Rhône group, so a bottle from there carries a different name. Keep that in mind when you plan a tasting day.
Côtes du Rhône: frequently asked questions
Is Côtes du Rhône the same as the Rhône valley?
No. Côtes du Rhône is one appellation, and its area is smaller than the whole Rhône valley. The valley also includes the northern crus such as Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage and southern appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. See the Rhône valley page.
What is the best base for wine tours?
Avignon suits most visitors because of its train stations and its choice of rooms. Staying in a village near the Dentelles puts you closer to the vineyards. Both are covered on the where to stay page.
How do I get to Avignon?
The TGV from Paris takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to Avignon TGV station. The regional airport at Avignon has no scheduled flights, so Marseille Provence airport (MRS) is the airport to look at. Details are on the getting there page.
Can I visit wine cellars without booking?
Not reliably. Tastings are arranged cellar by cellar, and fees and opening hours differ. Contact the cellar first, or join a guided tour. See wine tours.
Is the lavender in bloom in July?
Not necessarily. At Valensole in 2026 the bloom began as early as 10 June and cutting was announced from 29 June. Bloom depends on the weather, so there is no fixed date. See lavender fields.
Is cotes-du-rhone.org the official site of the wine region or of Avignon?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the wine trade body, the city of Avignon, a tourist office, a winery or any tour operator.