Aix-en-Provence: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 55 - 73 La Caravelle
 In the heart of Aix-en-Provence, the hotel La Caravelle welcomes you in a friendly and family climate. Close of court Mirabeau, District Mazarin, Gran… MoreEUR 230 - 520 La Maison d´Aix
 La Maison d’Aix is located in the Mazarin quarter of Aix-en-Provence, a 3-minute walk from the Cours Mirabeau. It offers a spa centre and en suite r… MoreEUR 99 - 129 Le Bleu Pourpre
 Le Bleu Pourpre is a 10-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence city centre. It offers air-conditioned and uniquely themed rooms with free Wi-Fi access, a f… MoreEUR 54 - 150 Le Concorde
 Le Concorde is ideally located in the centre of Aix-en-Provence, only a 5-minute walk from the famous Cour Mirabeau, near the Granet Museum. It offers… MoreEUR 99 - 400 La Bastide Du Cours
 La Bastide Du Cours is situated in the heart of Aix-En-Provence, just steps from the Granet Museum and Le Grand Théâtre de Provence. It offers free … MoreEUR 59 - 161 L´Atrium
 L´Atrium offers self-catering studio and 1-bedroom apartments for up to 4 people. They are all equipped with bath or shower, a kitchenette and f… MoreEUR 125 - 140 Hotel En Ville
 Hotel en Ville is located in Aix-en-Provence and has views of the Saint-Saveur Cathedrale. This design hotel offers soundproofed rooms with an art-dec… MoreEUR 49 - 109 Kyriad Aix-En-Provence Mas des Oliviers
 Set in a serene natural environment, this modern hotel in Aix en Provence offers a seamless blend of comfort and convenience with all the required ame… MoreEUR 85 - 144 Kyriad Prestige Aix-En-Provence
 Kyriad Prestige Aix-En-Provence offers modern accommodation and is situated just 10 minutes from artist Paul Cézanne’s family estate. It features a… MoreEUR 150 - 255 Le Mas D´Entremont
 Le Mas D´Entremont is just 3 km from the centre of Aix-en-Provence. It offers a large garden, swimming pool and tennis court.
All the en suite … MoreEUR 70 - 135 Le Mas des Écureuils
 Set in a peaceful pine grove, a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Aix-en-Provence, this authentic Provence-styled house features an outdoor pool… MoreEUR 67 - 135 Résidence Les Floridianes
 Résidence Les Floridianes is located 400 metres from Aix-en-Provence´s lively Cours Mirabeau. It offers free Wi-Fi and an outdoor swimming pool… MoreEUR 49 - 76 Resid´Artel Aix-en-Provence
 Resid´Artel Aix-en-Provence is located less than 10 minutes from the centre of Aix-en-Provence. It offers fully-equipped apartments with a swimm… MoreEUR 75 - 165 Royal Mirabeau
 The Royal Mirabeau is located just a few minutes from Aix-en-Provence, between the golf course and pine forest. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, fr… MoreEUR 62 - 95 Séjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau
 This Séjours & Affaires residence is located in Aix-en-Provence near the Cours Mirabeau. It offers furnished studio apartments and free Wi-Fi interne… MoreEUR 48 - 64 Ptit Dej-Hotel Aixhotel
 This hotel is located in the business district of Aix-en-Provence, near the Europole de l’Arbois Business Park. It offers air-conditioned rooms with… MoreEUR 89 - 140 Novotel Aix-en-Provence Pont de L´Arc
 The Novotel Aix-en-Provence is 5 minutes by car from the historical centre of Aix-en-Provence and 15 minutes from the TGV train station. Enjoy access … MoreEUR 160 - 375 Le Pigonnet
 Le Pigonnet is an 18th-century mansion set in a beautiful 2-acre garden with flowers and chestnut trees. It offers a swimming pool, a fitness room an… MoreEUR 60 - 120 Les Quatre Dauphins
 This former private mansion welcomes you in a warm and quiet setting, in the heart of Aix-en-Provence, just few steps from the Fountain of the Four Do… MoreEUR 89 - 140 Novotel Aix Beaumanoir
 This renovated hotel rests in a quiet residential area, 5 minutes by car from the city centre, with an easy access to the TGV railway station and Mars… MoreEUR 62 - 80 Hôtel Vendôme
 Located just a few steps from Aix-en-Provence historic centre and the beautiful Pavillon Vendôme, this hotel offers soundproofed rooms opening onto a… MoreEUR 69 - 588 Hôtel Rotonde
 The Hôtel Rotonde is located in central Aix-en-Provence, a short walk from the SNCF station. It offers soundproofed rooms with air-conditioning, sate… MoreEUR 47 - 110 Campanile Aix en Provence Sud - La Beauvalle
 The hotel is located a few minutes away from Aix-en-Provence and will seduce you with its warm atmosphere, its comfort and its good value for money.
… MoreEUR 54 - 105 Citéa Aix-en-Provence
 Located in a peaceful area 10 minutes from the centre of Aix, the Citéa Aix-en-Provence offers comfortable apartments and studios with their own priv… MoreEUR 49 - 115 Citéa La Bastide Du Roy René
 This 16th-century country house is full of history. It offers comfortable, fully furnished studios and apartments in the countryside 10-minutes from t… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aix-en-Provence: Guide
Aix-en-Provence is a city in Provence, a region in the south of France.
Understand
Aix-en-Provence (usually simply called Aix) is a small, classically Provençal town, famous for being home to Cezanne; the addition of the TGV (high-speed train) station has brought lots of vacationers from the north, and Aix has turned into a shopping town with high variety and representation considering its small size. The Université de Provence also has several schools there, and adding that to several French-language schools for international students produces a very strong student presence.
Aix has always been a rich city. There is a high contrast between Marseille (only 30 km and half an hour away). Whereas Marseille is one the poorest French cities (but still a unique and not to be missed town), Aix is perhaps one the richest ! People seeking for budget or popular places should continue to Marseille... Still, Aix has a lot to offer. It is a quiet, clean and comfortable city. The city center is mostly pedestrian and, though it is quite small (you can cross the center in 15 minutes by feet), offers long hours of nice walks. As all provençal towns the city center consists of narrows streets but unlike other towns, it has several examples of architectural jewels, from 17th century hotels to paved plazas. Place d'Albertas, close to cours Mirabeau is one of the most beautiful plazas in Aix and is a must-see.
Get in
By plane
Fly into Marseille or Nice. Marseille is nearer (just south), but budget airlines such as EasyJet prefer Nice.
By train
Aix has both a TGV and a regular station and is well connected both to the Paris - Marseille line and (via Marseille) to the Genoa - Nice - Barcelona line.
By car
If you come from anywhere up north you will most likely use the A7 motorway (Route du Soleil) that runs from Lyon to Marseille (whether you come from Switzerland or from the UK via Paris). At exit 27, take A8 (La Provencale) to Aix. From Spain, you'll take A9 (La Languedocienne), then turn onto A54 through the city of Arles (you might consider stopping there), then turn onto A7 and A8 respectively, as described above. From Italy, just take A8 passing Nice and all the posh Côte d'Azur resorts.
Avoiding toll roads can be slow but highly pleasurable, many of the routes nationales offer wonderful scenery that motorways can't deliver (save maybe some parts of the A8 east of Nice).
By bus
By boat
Get around
Aix is a fairly small city and can be easily navigated by foot. The bus system is also very efficient and has numerous stops within the city as well as connecting Aix with nearby villages, towns, and Marseille. The city bus also runs to Carrefour Les Milles, a large shopping center. Discounted tickets for frequent bus users can be purchased at the main bus station, as well as bus schedules. The ticket office also sells discounted multi-pack tickets for the bus from Aix to Marseille and the new TGV station (located between the two cities).
See
Aix is famous for its fountains. The largest and most famous is on the Cours Mirabeau, the main avenue through town, as well as a moss-covered fountain which draws its water from a hot spring.
Along with searching out the dozens of fountains sprawled around the city, Aix is known for its architecture. The varied and often intricate doors are a key feature, as well as the bell towers. The bell towers throughout Aix-en-Provence, and Provence more generally, are made of wraught iron. This allows the strong winds of the Mistral to flow straight through them, since solid stone would be destroyed by the force of the winds.
The city market runs multiple days a week, but the largest and most colorful is the Saturday market which includes a flower market at the Place de l'Hotel de Ville and the main food market is at Place Richelme.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Aix has many major fashion boutiques, as well as a plethora of small clothing stores, perfumeries, and touristy souvenir shops.
Eat
Aix has an incredible number of restaurants compared to its small size. Most of them are gathered in a small area in the old city, between Place des Cardeurs and the Rotonde (Cours Mirabeau). Avoid restaurants and bars on the Cours Mirabeau. They are quite expensive and kind of "tourist traps".
Budget
"Chez Charlotte" on rue des Bernardines is a very good restaurant very famous for locals. It proposes simple and reasonably cheap French food in a friendly atmosphere. Around 15 euros for a usual menu.
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Like restaurants there are plenty of bars, pubs, night-clubs, etc... in Aix.
A nice and cheap place to have a drink is the Bar de La Mairie on Place de la Mairie.
Sleep
Budget
Hotel Paul, .
Formule 1, .
Etap Hotel, .
Ibis, .
Mid-range
Grand Hotel Mercure du Roi René, .
Novotel Beau Manoir les Trois Sautets, .
Novotel Pont de l'Arc Fenouillères, .
Splurge
Contact
Stay Safe
Aix is a safe city to visit, but crime does occur there. As with all French cities, tourists in Aix should be especially conscious of the risk of pickpockets and theft. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not leave valuables within view in parked cars. Exercise increased caution at night, and use the taxis that leave from the Rotonde fountain if you are returning to the outlying neighborhoods late in the evening. Avoid public parks after dark.
Cope
Get out
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikitravel article "Aix-en-Provence". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.