Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
19:00-9:00. It's €2 for about three hours 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-19:00 (hint: if you put €2 in
the meter after 19:00, it's good until 14:00 the next day). No matter where you park, leave
nothing in your car.
Helpful Hints
Book Ahead for July:
During the July theater festival, rooms are sparse—reserve very
early, or stay in Arles.
Local Help:
David at
Imagine Tours
(a nonprofit group whose goal is to promote this re-
gion) can help with hotel emergencies or tickets to special events (mobile 06 89 22 19
87,
www.imagine-tours.net
,
imagine.tours@gmail.com
)
. If you get no answer, leave a
message.
Internet Access:
The TI has a current list of Internet cafés, or you can ask your hotelier.
Many bigger cafés provide free Wi-Fi to anyone who buys a drink.
English Bookstore:
Try
Shakespeare Bookshop
(Tue-Sat 9:30-12:00 & 14:00-18:30,
closedSun-Mon,155RueCarreterie,inAvignon'snortheastcorner,tel.0490273850).
Baggage Storage:
You can leave your bags at Centre-Ville train station (see “Arrival in
Avignon,” earlier).
Laundry:
Thelaunderetteat66PlacedesCorps-Saints,whereRueAgricolPerdiguierends,
has English instructions and is handy to most hotels (daily 7:00-20:00).
Grocery Store: Carrefour City
is central and has long hours (Mon-Sat 7:00-22:00, Sun
9:00-12:00,nexttoMcDonald's,2blocksfromtheTI,towardPlacedel'HorlogeonRue
de la République).
Bike Rental:
You can rent bikes and scooters at
Provence Bike
(7 Avenue St. Ruf, tel. 04
90 27 92 61,
www.provence-bike.com
)
You'll enjoy riding on the Ile de la Barthelasse.
Car Rental:
The TGV Station has car-rental agencies (open long hours daily).
Shuttle Boat:
A free shuttle boat, the
Navette Fluviale,
plies back and forth across the river
(as it did in the days when the town had no functioning bridge) from near St. Bénez-
et Bridge (daily July-Aug 11:00-21:00, Sept-June roughly 10:00-12:30 & 14:00-18:00,
3/hour). It drops you on the peaceful Ile de la Barthelasse, with its recommended river-
side restaurant, grassy walks, and bike rides with terrific city views. If you stay on the
island for dinner, check the schedule for the last return boat—or be prepared for a taxi
ride or a pleasant 25-minute walk back to town.
Commanding City Views:
For great views of Avignon and the river, walk or drive across
Daladier Bridge, or ferry across the Rhône on the
Navette Fluviale
(described above).
I'd take the boat across the river, walk the view path to Daladier Bridge, and then cross
back over the bridge (45-minute walk over mostly level ground). You can enjoy other
impressive vistas from the top of the Jardin du Rochers des Doms, from the tower in the
