Vaison-la-Romaine in brief
Vaison-la-Romaine has three parts, and it helps to keep them apart. The Roman sites lie in two districts, Puymin and La Villasse, with the Théo Desplans archaeology museum. The Roman theatre and the museum are in the Puymin district. The Roman bridge over the Ouvèze connects the lower town with the medieval upper town, which is a separate place to explore.
The town is also a wine address. Vaison-la-Romaine is one of the named villages of the Côtes du Rhône Villages, so its name can appear on a bottle label. If you want to taste your way through the area, start with our Côtes du Rhône wine tours from Avignon and use the town as a stop between vineyards.
Pass, prices and hours for the Roman sites
The pass is sold at the entrance, is valid for 24 hours and covers the town's monuments. Prices are for 2026.
| Visitor | Pass price |
|---|---|
| Adults | €9 |
| Ages 10 to 17 | €4 |
| Up to and including age 9 | Free |
| Groups of 15 or more paying adults, per adult | €6.50 |
| Supervised school and student groups | €3.50 |
The group rates do not mean that individual adults get a student discount. If you travel alone or as a couple, plan with the adult pass.
| Months | Hours |
|---|---|
| February, November, December | 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00 |
| March and October | 10:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:30 |
| April to September | 9:30–18:00 without a break |
The sites are open daily in these periods. Note the midday break in the cooler months: plan the Roman sites for the morning or the late afternoon and use the break for lunch in town.
Our pick: an e-bike ride from Vaison
A self-guided ride through the wine country around the town, separate from the Roman excavations.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
Wine-country tours and day trips from Avignon
Tastings, village visits and guided days in the Côtes du Rhône, with live prices and availability.
Winter break and practical details
What to check before you go.
The winter break
The Roman sites close for several weeks in winter. In 2026 the closure fell between 1 January and 8 February. Do not assume the same dates for 2027. If you travel in January or early February, check the current dates first.
Parking
Several free car parks are close to the excavations. Coaches use the car parks at Place Burrus and Place François Cevert. The second one is not available on Tuesday mornings because of the market.
Dogs
Dogs are generally not admitted, with an exception for assistance dogs. Small dogs carried in a bag can be taken into the open-air excavations only. Do not count on bringing a dog into the museum, and ask at the entrance.
The Roman bridge and the upper town
The Roman bridge crosses the Ouvèze with a single arch and links the lower town with the upper town. It dates from the 1st century AD. It makes a natural route between the two parts of town. The pass covers the town's own monuments, so do not expect it to open every building in the upper town.
Treat the medieval upper town as a separate visit from the excavations, with its own character. After the Roman sites it makes a good second half of the day, and the wine villages nearby are a good follow-up on the next one.
Wine villages around Vaison
Where the name Vaison-la-Romaine meets the label.
The Côtes du Rhône Villages covers 95 communes. Of these, 21 have a geographical name that can appear on the label. In Vaucluse these include Sablet, Séguret, Roaix, Puyméras, Sainte-Cécile, Valréas and Visan, as well as Vaison-la-Romaine itself. Séguret, on the slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, has cobbled lanes, the Fontaine des Mascarons and a castle ruin, and the village can be visited freely all year. That does not apply to church interiors, and it does not cover hiking trails when a fire warning is in force.
The Dentelles are a summer fire-risk zone. From 15 June to 15 September access to forest areas in Vaucluse can be limited or banned, so check the daily prefecture map before you set out on foot. The Dentelles page explains the rules, and the Gigondas page covers Séguret and the surrounding wine villages.
Vaison-la-Romaine: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit the Roman sites at Vaison-la-Romaine?
The 24-hour pass costs €9 for adults and €4 for ages 10 to 17 in 2026. Children up to and including age 9 enter free. You buy the pass at the entrance.
What are the opening hours?
From April to September the sites open daily from 9:30 to 18:00. In March and October the hours are 10:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30. In February, November and December they are 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00.
When is the winter break?
In 2026 the sites were closed between 1 January and 8 February. Check the dates for the next winter before you plan a January or February visit.
Where can I park?
Several free car parks lie close to the excavations. Coach parking is at Place Burrus and Place François Cevert, and the latter is not available on Tuesday mornings because of the market.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are generally not admitted, except for assistance dogs. Small dogs carried in a bag can be taken into the open-air excavations only, so ask at the entrance and do not plan on the museum.