Avignon City Guide - Getting Around

Transports en Commun de la Région d'Avignon (TCRA) (tel: (04) 3274 1832) provides public transport throughout ‘Grand Avignon' (the Avignon Region), including services to Les Angles, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Le Pontet. The major bus stops in central Avignon are in front of the main post office (poste), place Pie and rue de la République. The system runs around 0700-1930 Monday to Saturday (less frequently on Saturday). The restricted Sunday service (labelled with a number followed by a ‘D' for dimanche) generally operates 0800-1800. Line 30 runs on weekdays, weekends and bank holidays. During the Avignon Festival, there are reduced price tickets on some public transport services, including the Bustival, which runs on certain night routes and to and from the Chartreuse de Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.

Tickets can be pre-purchased or bought on the bus and must be stamped upon boarding. Information and bus tickets are available at the TCRA Point d'Accueil, avenue de Lattre de Tassigny (tel: (04) 3274 1832), located between the central rail station and the tourist office. Tickets are also available for purchase at tabacs, newsagents and shops displaying the TCRA logo. It is possible to buy a carnet of 10 tickets, which works out cheaper. Weekly and monthly passes are also available.

The taxi service is centrally run by Taxi Radio Avignonnais (tel: (04) 9082 2020). The major taxi ranks are located in front of the central and TGV rail stations, while others are at Raspail (rue de la République), St Lazare (near the university) and place Pie. Tips are welcome but not expected.

Avignon's Old Town is compact enough to be covered on foot and parts of it are pedestrianised. However, for visitors who choose to drive, conditions are good, roads rarely traffic-clogged and there is a special pleasure to be gained in driving through the portes (gates) of the ancient city walls.

The main supervised and 24-hour car parks are located at the stations, at 7 avenue Monclar, and underneath the Palais des Papes square. Free, supervised car parks (tel: (04) 9080 8102) are located at the Ile Piot (about 1,500 spaces), with free shuttle buses running to the city centre, and Parking des Italiens, avenue des Italiens (over 500 spaces). In peak season, an additional car park opens at the foot of the Pont St Bénézet. It is best to choose these supervised spaces, as car theft is all too frequent. Alternatively, there are good car parks west of the city centre.

The minimum age for car hire varies from 21 to 25 years. Drivers must possess a national driving licence, which they must have held for at least one year. Third party insurance is mandatory for driving in France and this should be covered in the hire price. Additional insurance is optional.

Providers include National/Citer, Gare TGV (tel: (04) 9027 3007; website: www.citer.com); Ucar Location, 151 avenue Pierre Sémard (tel: 0892 881 010; website: www.ucar.fr) and Véo, 51 avenue Pierre Sémard (tel: (04) 9087 5343; website: www.veolocation.com). All are centrally located.

Provence Bike, 52 boulevard St Roch (tel: (04) 9027 9261; website: www.provence-bike.com), hires out motorbikes, scooters and bicycles, from the bus station on boulevard St Roch, during high season (April to October). Holiday Bikes, 20 boulevard St Roch (tel: (04) 3276 2588; website: www.holiday-bikes.com) provides a similar service.