France
Avignon
Avignon: The Palace of the Popes and the Pont d'Avignon
- Port traffic
- BusyNext 30 days
Good to know
What to Expect
River cruise ships tie up along the Rhône at Avignon, and your cruise line confirms which quay yours will use.
- Avignon sits on the left bank of the river, with its old center enclosed by medieval walls.
- The old center inside the walls is small enough to see on foot.
- A free shuttle boat crosses from the quay near the city walls to the Île de la Barthelasse on the far bank.
Les Halles and Local Wine
Les Halles, the covered food market on Place Pie, opens every morning except Monday.
- Stalls sell fresh produce, meat and fish.
- Others sell olive oil, tapenade, local cheeses and wines.
- The Rhône valley around Avignon is a major wine region, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape is its best-known wine.
The Palace and the Bridge
The Palais des Papes is open every day of the year, with last entry an hour before closing.
- Palace hours are 9 am to 7 pm from March 1 to November 1, and shorter in the winter months, so check before you go.
- Palace entry was €16 in October 2026, or €13 at the reduced rate. A combined ticket for the palace, its gardens and the Pont d'Avignon was €19.50.
- Entry to the Pont d'Avignon on its own was €6, or €5 at the reduced rate, with an audio guide included.
History
From 1309 to 1377, seven popes in a row lived in Avignon.
- Work on the Palais des Papes began in 1316 and was finished in 1370.
- Pope Clement VI bought the town from Joanna I of Naples in 1348.
- The papacy kept control of Avignon until 1791, when it became part of France during the Revolution.
- The town walls run for 4,330 m and are guarded by 39 towers.
- The historic center, with the palace and the bridge, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.
Traveling with Family
Children under 10 go into the Palais des Papes and the Pont d'Avignon free.
- Tickets for ages 10 to 17 were €10 for the palace in October 2026. Check before you go.
- The ticket for the palace, gardens and bridge together was €12 for the same age group.
Accessibility
The Pont d'Avignon has a lift for visitors with reduced mobility; phone 04 32 74 32 74 to check that it is working before you go.
- A ramp has been built onto the bridge deck, and a step-free path runs along the whole of its stone-paved walkway.
- The bridge holds the French Tourisme & Handicap label for visitors with hearing, mental and motor disabilities.
- The Petit Palais museum and the Palais du Roure have stairs only and no lift.
Port crowds
Next 30 days
Oct 18Quiet60°F16°C / 54°F12°C
Oct 19Quiet65°F18°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 20Normal67°F19°C / 56°F13°C
Oct 21Busy62°F17°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 23Busy66°F19°C / 44°F7°C
Oct 24Busy65°F18°C / 49°F10°C
Oct 25Busy66°F19°C / 45°F7°C
Oct 26Normal65°F19°C / 48°F9°C
Oct 27Busy67°F20°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 28Quiet70°F21°C / 54°F12°C
Oct 29Very busy70°F21°C / 54°F12°C
Oct 30Very busy70°F21°C / 54°F12°C
Oct 31Busy70°F21°C / 54°F12°C
Nov 1Busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 2Busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 3Very busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 4Quiet58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 6Quiet58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 7Normal58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 8Very busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 10Normal58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 11Quiet58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 12Busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 13Very busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 14Busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 15Busy58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
Nov 17Normal58°F14°C / 45°F7°C
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