Arles

Understand

The museums are small, but have some interested artifacts. Unfortunately there are no Van Goghs to be found in the city, despite the fact that his residence in Arles was his most productive. Chico Bouchiki, co-founder of the Gypsy Kings, as well as the rest of the band, is from Arles. Take a lazy stroll along the Rhône, dip into a café and continue strolling.

thumb|300px|Romanesque Church of St. Trophime (former Cathedral of Arles)

Get around

Arles is for the most part small enough to enjoy by foot, if you aren't lazy. Otherwise, rely on taxis and buses.

See

thumb|200px|les Arènes d'Arles

Do

The Market and definitely think about researching for expositions and other events of the sort.

Buy

Markets and brocantes. Check out the Saturday market for sure.

Eat

Saucisson d'Arles (traditionally made with a bit of donkey meat), marinated olives from the market, Languedoc cheeses from the market, etc. Other dishes: Gardianne de Boeuf, Daubes, Fougasse d'Arles (with duck confit inside)

For restos, check out the menus on side street restaurants.

Drink

Pastis, the local wines are good with food. Take advantage of the proximity of Nîmes for wines. There's the touristy Café Van Gogh, painted to look like his Night Café painting and located at the site of his original painting. Check out some of the other cafés in place du Forum, Rue Wilson, etc...

Sleep

If you plan on camping in this area, keep in mind that Arles is surrounded by rivers, streams, and marshes which all have mosquitoes. Another favored alternative is sleeping in the streets. Place de la Libération offers a hospitable sidewalk with a boulder, dedicated to two American WWII pilots shot down over Arles, under shelter of which you may sleep.

Connect

As of July 2023, Arles and its approach roads have 5G from all French carriers.

Go next

Arles is centrally located. The town straddles Provence and the Languedoc. Profit from its positioning and enjoy the great nature that surrounds: the Camargue and beaches to the south, the Alpilles to the east, etc. The Way of St James pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella came from Italy through Arles, where the pilgrims joined the Arles Way.

Aix-en-Provence — the city of Cézanne and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire Avignon — inhabited since the stone age, Avignon was home to popes in the 14th century Saint-Rémy-de-Provence — a little village, very charming in the summer Saint-Martin-de-Crau — foremost visited for its nature, with the only arid steppe in Europe Tarascon — founded by the Romans in Caesar's time and haunted by a dragon, this town has a well-preserved medieval castle and other old architecture