Avignon

Europe > France > Avignon (AVN)

The Car or no Car advice for  Avignon can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Avignon ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Avignon ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

🇫🇷 Mode

Score
🚆 Non-car score non-car score 5

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Avignon?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇫🇷 Factor

Score
🚗 Car Score car rental availability score 7
🚗Do we need a car in Avignon? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Avignon is one of Provence’s most beautiful cities, famous for its medieval walls, the Palais des Papes, and its vibrant festival scene. The historic centre is compact, walkable, and easy to enjoy without a car. Public transport covers nearby towns, and trains link Avignon with the rest of France. So, should you rent a car in Avignon? The answer depends on whether you want to stay inside the city walls or explore the wider Provençal countryside. Because Avignon is both a rail hub and a gateway to vineyards, the choice varies by traveller.

🚶 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Avignon

First of all, the walled city is small and perfect for walking. You can reach:

  • Palais des Papes

  • Pont d’Avignon

  • Main squares

  • Cafés and restaurants

Parking inside the walls is limited and expensive.

➡ In short: no car needed for the historic centre.

🚆 Trains Make Exploration Easy

Avignon is unusually well connected:

  • Avignon Centre (local trains)

  • Avignon TGV (high-speed services)

You can reach:

  • Arles

  • Nîmes

  • Orange

  • Marseille

  • Montpellier

All without driving.

➡ Rail is often faster than renting a car.

🚌 Buses Work for Short Trips

Regional buses reach small villages and vineyards.
Timetables vary, but they cover many popular stops, including the famous Pont Du Gard near Nimes.

➡ Buses help if you want to avoid driving.

🚗 When Renting a Car Helps

A car becomes useful if you want to explore deeper into Provence.
It helps for:

  • Luberon hill towns (Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes)

  • Lavender routes

  • Mont Ventoux

  • Isolated vineyards

  • Scenic roads impossible by train

Provence is rural, so driving gives full freedom.

➡ For countryside touring, a car is the best choice.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plan in Avignon / Provence Car Needed?
Staying inside the old town ❌ No
Visiting major cities via TGV ❌ No
Day trips to Arles or Orange ❌ No
Short countryside trips ❔ Optional
Exploring Luberon villages ❔ Optional
Lavender routes or Mont Ventoux ❔ Optional / often easiest with a car
Full Provence road trip ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Avignon?

  • ❌ Skip the car if you stay inside the medieval walls and rely on trains for Arles, Nîmes, and Marseille.

  • ❔ Consider renting a car if you want to explore Luberon, lavender fields, vineyards, and scenic rural Provence.

In the end…

Avignon works very well without a car, but Provence becomes magical once you start driving into the countryside.

🚗Do we need a car in Avignon? Is it worth it? Should we? Destinations | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.

🇫🇷 Factor

Score
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Avignon?
 overall should you rent a car score 7
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