Arles

Arles is a Roman city on the Rhone about 95 km north-west of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhone department of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France. Its main sights include a first-century arena at the Rond-point des Arenes, the Roman theatre, the Alyscamps, sites linked to Vincent van Gogh and the Fondation LUMA at the Parc des Ateliers. The recommended transport is the TER Zou train from Marseille Saint-Charles, which takes about 55 to 65 minutes and runs roughly hourly, with fares from about EUR 9 to 15 on aggregators. Some services stopping at L'Estaque take 1 hour 5 to 1 hour 15. Driving takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via the A55 and A54, and parking outside the centre is advised. A suggested one-day arc starts with an early train and spends the morning on the Roman monuments, beginning with the arena and the theatre, which are close together, then continuing to the Alyscamps. These monuments have steps and the cobbles of the centre are uneven. Lunch can be taken in the old centre. The afternoon suits the van Gogh trail through town and the Fondation LUMA at the Parc des Ateliers, before an evening train back. The best seasons are April to June and September to October. July and August are very hot, so the morning is the right time for the open-air Roman sites. Visitors should check monument hours and combined-ticket options at the tourist office before the trip, since entry prices vary. The compact centre can be covered on foot with light walking, so overall exertion is easy. The town is also a natural starting point for onward trips into the Camargue or to Les Baux-de-Provence, though a single day in Arles is already full for most visitors. Comfortable shoes are important because of the stone paving.