Rail Holidays to Provence

High-speed TGV services make the journey surprisingly quick. Paris to Avignon takes around 2 hours 40 minutes, while Paris to Marseille takes just over 3 hours on the fastest direct services.

Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille all make good bases and offer very different experiences. Depending on how much time you have, you can stay in one place and take day trips or combine several destinations as part of a longer rail itinerary.

The main cities and larger towns are well connected by rail, particularly along the Rhône Valley and Mediterranean coast. Some smaller villages and rural attractions aren't served directly by train, so we can suggest suitable bases, day trips and routes depending on what you want to see.

Provence's best-known lavender-growing areas are largely rural, so they can't usually be explored by train alone. Lavender typically blooms from June into August, with the exact timing varying by location and year. Staying in a well-connected Provençal town or city gives you a good base for arranging a local excursion.

Spring and early autumn are excellent times to explore Provence, with generally pleasant temperatures and fewer visitors than at the height of summer. Summer brings long, sunny days and lavender season, while travelling outside the busiest months can make for a more relaxed rail holiday.

Yes. Regular trains run along the Mediterranean coast, making Provence and the French Riviera a natural combination. You could stay in Avignon, Aix-en-Provence or Marseille before continuing east towards destinations such as Cannes, Antibes and Nice.