Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arles faces the Mediterranean, turning its back on Paris. And though the town is built along
the Rhône, it largely ignores the river. Landmarks hide in Arles' medieval tangle of narrow,
winding streets. Virtually everything is close—but first-timers can walk forever to get there.
Hotels have good, free city maps, and Arles provides helpful street-corner signs that point
you toward sights and hotels. Speeding cars enjoy Arles' medieval lanes, turning sidewalks
into tightropes and pedestrians into leaping targets.
Tourist Information
The
main TI
is on the ring road Boulevard des Lices, at Esplanade Charles de Gaulle
(April-Sept daily 9:00-18:45; Oct-March Mon-Sat 9:00-16:45, Sun 10:00-13:00; tel. 04 90
18 41 20,
www.arlestourisme.com
)
. There's also a
train station TI
(Mon-Fri 9:30-13:00 &
14:00-18:00, closed Sat-Sun).
AteitherTI,pickupthecitymap,getthebusschedulesyouneed,andaskforEnglishin-
formationonnearbydestinationssuchastheCamarguewildlifearea.Askabout“bullgames”
in Arles and nearby towns (Provence's more humane version of bullfights—see
here
). Skip
the useless €1 brochure describing several walks in Arles, including one that locates Van
Gogh's “easels”. Both TIs can help you reserve hotel rooms (credit card required for depos-
it).
Arrival in Arles
By Train:
The train station is on the river, a 10-minute walk from the town center. Before
heading into town, get what you need at the train station TI. There's no baggage storage at
the station, but you can walk 10 minutes to stow it at Hôtel Régence (see “Helpful Hints,”
later).
ToreachthetowncenterorAncientHistoryMuseum,waitforthefree
Enviaminibus
at
the glass shelter facing away from the station (cross the street and veer left, 3/hour Mon-Sat
7:00-19:00, none Sun). The bus makes a loop around Arles, stopping near most of my re-
commended hotels. It's a 15-minute
walk
into town (turn left out of the train station).
Taxis
usually wait in front of the station, but if you don't see any, call the posted telephone num-
bers, or dial 04 89 73 36 00. If the train station TI is open, you can ask them to call. Taxi
rates are fixed—allow about €10 to any of my recommended hotels.
By Bus:
All buses stop at the Centre-Ville bus station, a few blocks below the main TI,
on the ring road at 16-24 Boulevard Georges Clemenceau. Buses to Avignon's TGV station
also stop at the train station.
