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Before you go
Your trip to Aix-en-Provence.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Aix-en-Provence – Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Destination Provença about 32 km from Marselha
How to get there
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Aéroport Marseille Provence (MRS) Marignane · 30 km
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Gare d'Aix-en-Provence TGV Cabriès · 15 km
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Gare d'Aix-en-Provence 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
From Paris, the TGV reaches Gare d'Aix-en-Provence TGV in about 3 hours; from there, buses take you to the center in around 20 minutes. From Marseille, frequent TER trains and buses make the trip in 30 to 45 minutes. Marseille Provence airport is about 30 km away. Confirm before booking.
How many days
One day is enough for the center, the Cours Mirabeau, the cathedral and a museum. With two days you can include the Atelier de Cézanne, the Hôtel de Caumont and a trip to the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Aix also works as a base for Marseille, 30 minutes away.
When to go
April to June and September to October are the best times to walk around the town and the Sainte-Victoire. Summer (June to August) is hot and hosts the Festival d'Aix, an opera festival, in July; during that time access to the mountain can be restricted due to fire risk. In winter (December to February) it's cold, but there are many sunny days.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
For the town, no: the center is walked on foot and there are trains and buses to Marseille and Arles. A car is useful for the Montagne Sainte-Victoire and the surrounding villages, although there are buses to some trailheads. The old town has pedestrian streets; use the edge car parks.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Aix-en-Provence
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Morning
Market and old town
Start at the market on place Richelme and on place des Prêcheurs. Follow rue Gaston-de-Saporta to the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur and see the baptistery and the cloister.
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Afternoon
Cours Mirabeau and Granet
Have lunch in the center and walk down the Cours Mirabeau, from the Rotonde to the fontaine du Roi René. Then enter the quartier Mazarin and visit the Musée Granet, with Cézanne's paintings.
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Late afternoon
Quartier Mazarin
Walk along the straight streets of the quartier Mazarin, pass the fontaine des Quatre-Dauphins and take a break at the café of the Hôtel de Caumont.
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Evening
Terraces of the Cours
Dine on one of the terraces of the Cours Mirabeau or in the squares of the old town, such as place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville and place des Cardeurs.
2 days in Aix-en-Provence
Day 1
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Morning
Market and cathedral
Pass the market and the place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, with its clock tower, and continue to the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur.
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Afternoon
Granet and Caumont
Visit the Musée Granet and then the Hôtel de Caumont, with its 18th-century salons, the temporary exhibition and the garden.
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Late afternoon
Cours Mirabeau
Walk down the Cours Mirabeau at a leisurely pace, stopping at the fountains, and finish at the Rotonde, the large fountain at the entrance to the center.
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Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine in the old town. In July, check the program of the Festival d'Aix, the opera festival.
Day 2
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Morning
Atelier de Cézanne
Climb the colline des Lauves to the Atelier de Cézanne, during the opening season. Continue on foot to the Terrain des Peintres, from where the painter viewed the Sainte-Victoire.
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Afternoon
Montagne Sainte-Victoire
Drive or take a bus to the Sainte-Victoire. Outside of summer, hike to the Bimont lake or the Prieuré de Sainte-Victoire if you have the stamina.
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Late afternoon
Mountain view
On the way back, stop at the Route de Cézanne, the D17 road, which runs along the south side of the mountain and has several viewpoints.
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Evening
Return to the center
Return to the center to dine in the squares of the old town or take the train or bus to Marseille.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Which station should you use to get to Aix?
TGVs from Paris stop at Gare d'Aix-en-Provence TGV, about 15 km from the center, connected by bus in around 20 minutes. The central station, Gare d'Aix-en-Provence, receives TER regional trains, mainly from Marseille.
Can you do Aix and Marseille in the same day?
You can see the essentials of Aix in half a day and then head to Marseille, 30–45 minutes by train or bus. But each city deserves at least a full day.
When is the Aix market?
The fresh produce market runs every morning at place Richelme. On some days of the week there are larger markets at place des Prêcheurs and place de la Madeleine, with flowers, clothing and antiques. Check the days before you go.
Where to see Cézanne in Aix?
The Musée Granet has the painter's canvases. The Atelier de Cézanne, on the colline des Lauves, displays the studio where he worked in his final years, until 1906. The bastide of Jas de Bouffan, the family's house, also opens seasonally. Cézanne is buried in the Saint-Pierre cemetery.
How hot is it in summer?
July and August tend to be hot and dry. Plan outdoor visits for the morning and late afternoon. Many locals take a break during the hottest hours, and the plane-tree-shaded squares help.