Provence
Provence by bike is a scratch-and-sniff painting: lavender around Sault in July, vines and ochre cliffs near Roussillon, plane-tree avenues strobing overhead.
- Best forRoad-trippers · Foodies · Walkers & hikers
- In July28°C · 3 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~12h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFrench
- Local time13:121h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+33
Why go
Provence covers a lot of ground: the Rhône plain and its Roman towns, the limestone spine of the Luberon, the ochre country around Roussillon and the bald summit of Mont Ventoux. Villages sit on hilltops because they always have, which means most days involve a climb and a view. Cycling and walking are the natural ways to see it, and the roads between the vines stay quiet outside July.
A week gives you a base or two and time to move slowly. Lavender flowers around Sault and Valensole from late June into July, the ochre trails and gorges suit spring and autumn, and August is hot, crowded and expensive. Markets are the fixed points of the week, so plan around them rather than around opening times. The mistral can blow hard and cold for days at a stretch, which changes everything.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Sun-bleached, herby, slow-paced
From our guides
The Luberon's waymarked loops link hilltop villages close enough that no day needs to exceed 40 kilometres, though the climbs into them are honest — this is the one trip where the e-bike upgrade earns its money. Mont Ventoux will loom on the horizon; you are under no obligation. Markets replace museums here, so shop accordingly.
Featured in Ten cycling holidays for completely normal legs
Things to do
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The Luberon hill villages
Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux and Ménerbes sit within a short ride of one another, linked by waymarked loops and honest climbs.
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Sentier des Ocres
A marked walk through the old ochre quarries at Roussillon, red and orange cliffs against pine, and about an hour on foot.
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Mont Ventoux
The 1,912 metre limestone summit, climbed by road from three sides. A serious ride, and a fine drive for anyone not pedalling.
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Gorges du Verdon
Turquoise water in a deep limestone canyon at the eastern edge of the region, with clifftop roads, kayaking and long walking routes.
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Roman Provence
The amphitheatre at Arles, the theatre at Orange and the Roman town at Vaison-la-Romaine, all still standing and still used.
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Provençal markets
Weekly markets in Apt, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Saint-Rémy sell produce, cheese, olives and brocante, and they start early. Most are packed away well before lunchtime.
Getting there
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Fly to
Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône (MRS)
Nearest airport to Provence, about 97km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Avignon
Avignon (AVN) is a small airport about 15 minutes by taxi from the walled centre, and the separate TGV station just outside town links to Paris in under three hours.
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On the ground
Getting around
Regional trains and buses reach Cavaillon, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Apt, but the Luberon hill villages, the ochre cliffs and the lavender around Sault really want a car or, better here, a bike.
Public transport: Trains cover the Rhone valley towns well; the hilltop villages between them are thinly served by bus and awkward at weekends.
Flights
Los Angeles Provence, France
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Roughly 12h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 8°C in January to 28°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in May, with rain on about 12 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
July28° · rain 3 daysWarm and dry.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — July and August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Farmhouse B and Bs, small village hotels, restored bastides with pools, and gites let by the week. Chains sit on Avignon's ring road and essentially nowhere else.
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Best base overall
Avignon
Walled, on the TGV line and full of rooms, with car and bike hire to hand. It is a city rather than a village, so expect summer noise and a drive out to the lavender.
Find stays in Avignon -
Best value
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
A canal town of waterwheels and antique dealers half an hour east. Cheaper than the hilltop villages, flat to ride out of, and close to the Luberon climbs without living halfway up one.
Find stays in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue -
Best for couples
Roussillon
Ochre cliffs and a village painted in red and orange, with small hotels whose terraces look over the vines. Parking is awkward and kitchens close early outside high season.
Find stays in Roussillon -
Quietest
Sault
High on the plateau amid the July lavender and far less trampled than the Luberon. Simple hotels and gites, chilly evenings even in August, and a long drive to anywhere else.
Find stays in Sault
Worth knowing before you book: July fills months ahead for the lavender, and most rural gites take Saturday to Saturday bookings only in high season. Reserve the hire car when you reserve the room.
Search everything else in Avignon by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- Lavender peaks in the first half of July at altitude and earlier lower down. Bloom dates shift with the weather each year.
- Driving
- Village roads are narrow and parking sits on the edge of most centres. Expect to walk in from a car park with your luggage.
- Cycling
- Climbs are short but steep, and an electric bike genuinely changes the terrain. Traffic is light on the smaller departmental roads.
- Wind
- The mistral funnels down the Rhône valley and can gust hard for several days, making cycling and outdoor meals unpleasant.
- Markets
- Most run in the morning and pack up by one. Bring cash and a bag, and shop before deciding what to cook.
Nearby destinations
Kayaking the Verdon Gorge
France · 40km away →
Gordes
Provence, France · 71km away →
Calanque d'En-Vau
Cassis, France · 103km away →
Nice
France · 104km away →
Èze
France · 110km away →
Alpe d'Huez
France · 115km away →Elsewhere in France
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Provence?
For warm, mostly dry days, July and August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 8°C in January to 28°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in May, with rain on about 12 days.
How long should I spend in Provence?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Provence?
Avignon (AVN) is a small airport about 15 minutes by taxi from the walled centre, and the separate TGV station just outside town links to Paris in under three hours.
Do I need a car in Provence?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Trains cover the Rhone valley towns well; the hilltop villages between them are thinly served by bus and awkward at weekends.
What currency and language are used in Provence?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Provence best for?
Best for road-trippers, foodies and walkers & hikers. In a phrase: sun-bleached, herby, slow-paced.