Roman Provence meets Van Gogh. Arles has a 20,000-seat Roman arena still in use, a Romanesque cathedral cloister, and the streets and café Vincent painted in 1888–89. It's compact and flat enough to cover on foot from the ship, which moors on the Rhône near the Trinquetaille bridge, about 10–15 minutes from the arena.
Day 2 — Monday, October 19
Arles walking tour · Roman arena · Van Gogh's café · Optional Provence excursions
Viking's included walking tour covers the Roman sites and Van Gogh spots in the morning. The afternoon is free, or take an optional excursion out to Les Baux or the Camargue.
✅ Viking included
- Arles Walking Tour: the Roman arena and theatre, Place du Forum, and the Van Gogh sites.
💳 Viking optional (extra cost)
- Les Baux & Carrières de Lumières: hilltop village plus an immersive art light show projected in a vast old quarry. Top pick if you're choosing one.
- Delights of Provence: food-and-village tasting outing.
- Unspoiled Camargue & Architectural Gems: wetlands with white horses, black bulls and flamingos.
🧭 Do it yourself
- Go inside the Arena and climb a tower for the view (~€9pp).
- St-Trophime cloister, one of the finest in Provence.
- Coffee or a pastis at the yellow Café Van Gogh on Place du Forum, the scene of Café Terrace at Night.
- LUMA Arles: Frank Gehry's twisting steel tower; free rooftop terrace.
Viking tour names come from the published itinerary for this sailing. Confirm times, prices and availability in MyViking Journey. Optional tours can sell out, so reserve early.
⚠️ No market today. Arles' famous Provençal market is Wednesdays and Saturdays, so on this Monday visit you'll miss it.
Lunch: onboard, or ashore at Le Criquet (Provençal classics; reserve by phone). Pre-dinner: a drink at the historic Grand Hôtel Nord-Pinus bar, then back to the ship. It sails to Avignon overnight.
Booking Status
| Item | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Arles Walking Tour | ✅ Booked | Mon Oct 19 · morning · included Viking tour |
| Optional: Les Baux & Carrières de Lumières | ⬜ Not booked | Mon Oct 19 · Book in advance in MyViking Journey |
| Lunch ashore: Le Criquet | ⬜ Not booked | Mon Oct 19 · ~12:30 · Book by phone a day or two ahead (ask the ship's concierge) |
| Fondation Vincent van Gogh | ⚠️ Check | Its current exhibition ends Oct 18, so it may be closed for changeover on Oct 19. Check the website before you go. |
Attractions
Arles Amphitheatre (Les Arènes)
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.5A 1st-century Roman arena built for 20,000 spectators and still used for bullfights and concerts. Walk the arcaded galleries and climb a medieval tower for rooftop views.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Church & Cloister of St-Trophime
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6A Romanesque masterpiece on Place de la République, with a portal carved with the Last Judgement. The cloister next door, with its sculpted columns, is quiet and beautiful.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Place du Forum & Café Van Gogh
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.1The square where Van Gogh painted Café Terrace at Night (1888). The café has been repainted yellow to match. Touristy, but a must for the photo and a drink.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Fondation Vincent van Gogh
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.3A modern gallery pairing a handful of Van Gogh originals with contemporary artists he influenced. Small and quick to visit.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Les Baux-de-Provence & Carrières de Lumières
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6A dramatic hilltop village and ruined castle 25 min from Arles. Below it, the Carrières de Lumières projects a floor-to-ceiling art show with music onto the walls of a vast limestone quarry.
Carrières de Lumières · Wikipedia
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
LUMA Arles
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.4Frank Gehry's shimmering, twisted steel arts tower in a former rail yard park. Free contemporary exhibits and a free rooftop terrace with a view over Arles and the Camargue.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Hotels
🚢 Viking Longship: your floating hotel ✅ BOOKED
Seven nights aboard, Sun Oct 18 to Sun Oct 25. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner. The ship moves between ports, so you never repack.
Restaurants
Le Criquet
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.5An Arles institution since the 1960s in the old Hauture quarter. Classic Provençal and Camargue cooking; the gardianne de taureau is the dish to order. Lunch set menus from ~€23–41.
Café Van Gogh
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.0Touristy but iconic on Place du Forum. Best for a coffee, crêpe or glass of rosé rather than a full meal.
Le Jardin des Arts
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.3Relaxed traditional restaurant in the centre for lunch or dinner, with Provençal plates and a friendly atmosphere. A good fallback if Le Criquet is full.
Opera & Events
Les Arènes events
The arena hosts concerts and Camargue-style bull games (course camarguaise, where the bulls aren't killed) mostly spring to early autumn. Nothing is likely on a Monday in late October, but check.
Arena programme · Check closer to travel date for program updates.
Wine & Cocktail Bars
Small Shops & Museums
Souleiado and Provençal fabric shops
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.4Bright Provençal printed fabrics, table linens and scarves, a classic Arles souvenir. Boutiques cluster around Boulevard des Lices and Rue de la République.
Actes Sud bookshop
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6Superb independent publisher's bookshop by the Rhône, with art books, Van Gogh titles and Provence cookbooks.
Further Reading
🎧 Listen before you go
🎧 Join Us in France: Arles, One of the Best Places to See Roman Ruins in France
Why the Romans made Arles one of their key Mediterranean cities, and what's left to see today: the arena, the theatre and more. An older episode (2015), but the history doesn't change.
🎧 Join Us in France: Van Gogh's Tragic Genius: His Life in France
Guide Elyse Rivin tells Van Gogh's story, including his intense 15 months in Arles. It makes the café, the Yellow House sites and the hospital courtyard much more meaningful.
🎧 Real Food Traveler: What's the Lyon & Provence Viking River Cruise Really Like
Courtney and Jimmy sailed this exact Viking itinerary in summer 2025. They cover the ship and sailing experience, what each port is like, and practical tips.
Transport
Getting around
The old town is small and flat. Everything above is within a 15 min walk of the ship. Taxis gather at the train station and Boulevard des Lices. Optional excursions run by Viking coach from the dock.