Avignon or a wine village?
There are two main bases to choose between. Avignon puts you next to the Palais des Papes, the Pont d'Avignon and the rail connections. A village in the wine country puts you among the vineyards, with quiet evenings, but you will want a car or a tour to get around. Both work for Avignon hotels and stays in the Côtes du Rhône, so decide by transport first and atmosphere second.
This site does not recommend individual hotels. It describes locations and the rules that affect your booking. If you plan to taste wine, look at the wine tours from Avignon, which remove the driving question from your choice of base.
Our pick: a day trip from Avignon
The tour starts in front of the Avignon tourist office, so a hotel in central Avignon is close to the meeting point.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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 tours and day trips from Avignon
Tastings, villages and Roman sites from a base in the city, with live prices and availability.
Where to stay: the options compared
Choose by how you arrive and how you plan to get around.
| Base | Suits | Think about |
|---|---|---|
| Near Avignon Centre station | Arriving by train, sights on foot | The station is by the historic centre. The TGV station is a separate stop 6 km away |
| Inside the ramparts | Palais des Papes, Pont d'Avignon, old town | Parking is limited and heights are capped at 1.90 m in the underground car parks |
| Outside the centre with a car | Driving and day trips | Free park-and-ride lots (Italiens, Piot) with free shuttles serve the old town |
| Wine village (Gigondas, Séguret, Sablet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) | Vineyards, walks, tastings | Plan how you reach tastings and how the driver stays sober |
| Vaison-la-Romaine or Orange | Roman sites | Check parking and the opening hours of the sites |
| Luberon (for example Gordes) | Hill villages, a different region | A separate region, covered in our day trips |
For most first-time visitors without a car, Avignon near the Centre station is a simple base, with the wine villages added as guided trips. If you drive and want vineyards at your door, choose a village and park there.
Staying in Avignon
The city is a practical base for sights and the train.
Station and access
Avignon has two stations. Avignon Centre is by the historic centre, and Avignon TGV is outside the city, about 6 km away. The rail link between them takes about 5 to 6 minutes, with fares from €4. Details are on the getting to Avignon page.
If you arrive by car
Local advice is to park and then walk or take public transport. The park-and-ride lots Italiens and Piot are free and have free shuttles to the centre. Underground garages and the roads around the ramparts have a height limit of 1.90 m. Since 20 May 2026 the city has changed traffic directions and reopened some streets, so follow current signs and do not expect to reach every old-town lane by car.
July and the festival
The Festival d'Avignon takes place in July. The 80th edition ran from 4 to 25 July 2026. Check the festival dates for your year before booking a July stay.
Staying in the wine villages
Gigondas lies at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and Séguret is a hillside village nearby. Sablet and Séguret are both among the named Côtes du Rhône Villages. Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits below its castle ruin. A village stay means evenings among the vineyards and short walks, but check how you will reach tastings. A bus route to Châteauneuf-du-Pape runs from Avignon via Sorgues with lines 902 and 922, so look at the current timetable.
Hiking in the Dentelles is limited in summer when fire danger is high. See Dentelles de Montmirail for the rules. For the villages themselves, read about Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Local tourist tax in Avignon
Avignon charges a local tax per person and night to paying guests who do not live in the municipality. The rate depends on the type of accommodation and its classification, so there is no single Avignon rate for all hotels. Ask what the total price includes.
For orientation only, the city's 2024 rates for classified hotels ranged from €1.00 for 2 stars to €3.30 for 5 stars per person and night, with a 10 percent county surcharge on top. Unclassified accommodation paid 5 percent of the net price per person and night, with a cap. Current rates may differ. For camping, the city's 2026 tariff sets €0.66 per person and night from age 18. That figure applies to campsites and not to hotels or holiday flats.
Holiday rentals and what to check
Since 1 January 2026 hosts in Avignon must show a registration number for a holiday rental and, in some cases, hold a temporary change-of-use permit. This is an obligation for the host, not an extra permit for you, but a missing number is a reason to ask questions before you pay.
- Station or parking: choose by the station you arrive at, or check that parking is included and whether your car fits under the 1.90 m height limit.
- Total price: ask whether the local tax is part of the quoted price.
- Cancellation terms: terms differ by property and cannot be carried over from another booking.
- Season: the festival takes place in July, so check its dates before you book.
Plan the rest of your trip
After the base, the season and the route.
Where to stay: frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in Avignon or in a wine village?
Avignon is easier without a car because of the train links and the sights on foot. A wine village suits you if you drive and want to be among the vineyards. Staying in Avignon and joining guided trips is a simple setup.
Which Avignon station is closer to the old town?
Avignon Centre is by the historic centre. Avignon TGV lies about 6 km outside the city, and a local train links the two in about 5 to 6 minutes, with fares from €4.
How much is the tourist tax in Avignon?
There is no single rate. The tax per person and night depends on the type of accommodation and its classification. For camping the 2026 tariff is €0.66 per person and night from age 18. Ask your host what applies to your booking.
Do I need a registration number to rent a holiday flat in Avignon?
Since 1 January 2026 the host must have one. Ask for it before you pay, because it is the host's duty to provide it.
Can I park near the old town?
The free park-and-ride lots Italiens and Piot have free shuttles to the centre. Underground garages in the centre have a height limit of 1.90 m, and Piot allows vehicles up to 2.40 m for day parking.