Arles is a small town that punches above its weight, with tons to see, a superb cultural agenda, and excellent food and accommodation. 

Arles is a great place to walk around, with many layers of history and plenty of beautiful architecture. Just wander around and you’ll come across the Roman coliseum, Roman theatre, Van Gogh stuff (he used to live here), lovely squares like Place du Forum, etc… 

Don’t miss the slightly off-centre La Roquette neighbourhood (historically a gipsy neighbourhood): it has a nice distinct vibe. 

I love the medieval Cloître St Trophime and really recommend the visit.

Every summer, the Les Rencontres photography festival takes over venues across the whole town and often showcases fantastic work. 

Check the new Fondation Luma for contemporary arts. It has nice gardens (and cafes), great views from the top of the tower, and often good exhibitions.

The food market on Saturday mornings on Boulevard des Lices is amazing.

And catch a sight of the Rhône on the way back to the train station. The town turns its back to the river and it’s easy to miss it altogether…

Plenty of good food and drink options in town - but also some tourist traps to avoid. So here are some of our favourites spots:

• Hotel du Cloitre has a lovely little terrace for lunch or aperitif

• Head to the cocktail bar of Hotel Arlatan for a more fancy drink

• Plenty of good options, with terraces, on and near place de la Roquette, eg, Cafe de la Roquette for a drink or Le Gibolin for food

• Le Galoubet offers classic French food, well executed

• Inari for great modern French cuisine

• Chardon Rotating chefs-in-residence. Check who's on when you're there

• Le Fooding website has good restaurant reviews. Here is their selection for Arles

⭐️  Moustique Homeware. The epitome of local bobo style

⭐️  Librairie Offprint Excellent arty bookshop. Also stocks great prints

⭐️  CirCa 20th century furniture, ceramics...

⭐️  Amazing food market on Saturday mornings on Boulevard des Lices

⭐️  Hotel Arlatan Fantastic OTT design, excellent service, nice cocktail bar, swimming pool

⭐️  Hotel du Cloître Nice hotel, cute little terrace. But no A/C or swimming pool and Arles summers can get very hot

Hotel du Forum Old style family hotel. A bit dusty, but great location, with a pool, and not expensive

Hotel Voltaire Cute, central, and unassuming 1950s hotel redone

Arles is the gateway to the Camargue region, the delta of the Rhône river, which has a very special vibe. Rent a car to explore strange landscapes and discover salt marshes, rice paddies, pink flamingos, wild horses, bullfighting, gipsy pilgrimages... Stay at Les Cabanettes for great mid-century design, and head for the wild beach of Piemanson for a swim.