Can we do Provence without renting a car?
 

We are planning a trip that can include 4 days, more or less, in Provence, and we generally agree that we prefer trains or, if necessary, buses to renting a car if at all possible. Preliminary reading of many posts here has me worried that we'll be pretty handicapped by not having a car (and forget a bicycle -- no knees or ankles that work well enough). True? Or can we get around by train/bus reasonably handily?

Hi, it really depends what you want to see and do...if you plan to settle into one hotel and stay put in that village or do day trips and see the major sights. I'd rent a car but if you're really opposed to that, hire a car and driver. I can give you a couple names if you'd like...Best Wishes, Julie at ProvencePost.com

You will miss about 80% of the joys of Provence without a car. But the remaining 20% will still be delightful.

It is possible to tour much of Province from Aix (maybe other cities as well, I just know Aix) by local bus (we went to Arles and Les Baux but many other places are served) from the regular bus station. These are the same buses that people use to do their shopping, go to work, visit grandma, and so forth, so you see a lot of local life.

There are also mini-bus tours daily from the main tourist office, most with English speaking guides, to the important tourist sites. They are reasonably priced, but they end around Nov 1. I am not quite sure when they begin again in the spring.

Along the coast there are both buses and regional local trains connecting a great many towns and villages.

Driving in France is pretty easy, except around the very largest cities, but it is also relaxing to look out the window and let someone else doing the driving.

We have only visited Provence with a car so I do not have direct experience with the bus/train options other than taking a TGV to Avignon. Obviously it would be easy to get there and to some of the other larger cities and towns by train. I think you would be frustrated in trying to see the smaller villages and countryside if you don't have a car for at least a few days.

It depends on what part of Provence you'll visit. Around the Nice and beach area there is lots of traffic congestion and you wouldn't want to drive in Nice as it's a large city. You'll do fine with trains and buses there.

If you're going to western Provence a car is better, per Kerouac's statement above. You can do the large towns via train/bus. The small towns/villages would be quite difficult because of bus connections. Driving is so easy in western Provence; little traffic except around the larger towns, great signs and what I particularly liked were the circles that you can go around and see where each road goes to w/o missing a signpost as you would do at an intersection.

Whatever you choose to do will be a great trip since Provence is a fabulous destination and there's no place that is not worth seeing.

In looking at everyone's responses it occurs to me you will get better information about transportation if you give more information about which part of Provence you would like to visit and what your interests are (markets, Roman ruins, etc.)

I can't imagine visiting Provence without a car unless you're just going to park yourselves in Nice or Aix or Avignon and try to find local bus and train service to get to a few other places. But people have done it and enjoyed it. It would drive me crazy, because the main things I want to see in a place like Provence are the small villages, markets, landscapes, hill towns, etc. But to answer your question, you CAN do it. I just wouldn't ever want to.

Hi, I traveled exactly this way -- by bus -- in 10 days in Provence and had a wonderful time. Of course, as other posters have said, I did not get to see the teeny tiny towns, but as it was my first time, it was a great way to get around and fall in love so I can go back again. Backpackers do it all the time -- no reason why "non-backpackers" can't do it too.

I traveled by myself, at that time I was in my early 30s, a few years ago, and didn't want to rent a car. I flew to Nice, and then took a train to Avignon and stayed a few nights and then to Aix and stayed a few nights and then went back to Nice and stayed with a family friend. I don't remember clearly the exact order I did things. However, in Avignon, I took a day bus-trip to St. Remy and Glanum, the Roman ruins. The bus trip was from the central plaza in Avignon. I took a regular bus up to St. Paul de Vence and back, and walked up to Fondation Maeght. I also took a regular bus over to Orange to see the amphitheater there. I also got to Arles. I had a wonderful time.

I don't see why you couldn't do it that way. I was so happy not to deal with a car. I'm sure one day I'll go back and see the little towns I missed.

We only have about 3-4 days, will be coming from Barcelona on the train, and had tentatively thought of arriving in Avignon and working from there. Our interests include history (Roman ruins, later stuff), museums, and gardens, but we also enjoy just poking around "discovering" things and appreciating the atmosphere and scenery. I'm sure we'd love to spend 2-4 weeks there, but just no money for it.

So, effectively, we probably would establish ourselves in one place and try to take day trips in a radius around it. If it would be better to establish a base further west, or in Aix, please do offer suggestions. We won't go near Nice.

On consulting another thread here, I checked out renting a car to pick up and return at the Avignon rail station (from Provence we go for a weekend in Venice) and found it pretty pricey. And anyway, but it still appeals more to me to find our way around on foot or local transport, without spending time in a car rental place and worrying about parking, road mishaps, etc. etc.

And by the way, thanks all!

hikrchick, you hadn't posted when I was writing, but your trip sounds very nice -- (not "Nice") -- just wish we had all 10 days!

I think Avignon is a good central location for exploring for a few days. In addition to Avignon itself, Villeneuve d'Avignon (right across the Rhone) with its Carthusian monastery of the Val de Bénédiction and views is well worth visiting
I would try to figure out whether there is a tour or other way of visiting the Pont du Gard. Arles should be easy to reach with public transit and has a walkable historic center with Roman historic monuments and a beautiful Romanesque church, St Trophime.

Yes, it is possible. I did this by basing myself in Avignon and taking bus trips. I did bus tours, although the bus was actually more just transportation there and back - no narration/tour given. I visited the market in St. Remy one morning and then that afternoon another trip to the Luberon, Gordes, lavender fields, and Roussillon. Using the public bus, I went to Arles for the day. There are lots of options and tour bus schedules can be picked at the tourist info office. Obviously having a car would allow for more explorations of off the beaten path villages, but if you don't want to drive, this is a very good option.

Just my opinion, but IF you can rent a car do it. It's very easy to drive in France, and having to be on a timetable for buses, trains, etc,. just makes a vacation stressful.

I went alone to Provence one year. Took the TGV to Avignon and stayed outside the city in Villaneuve-Lez_Avignon which is a walk across the bridge(or a short boat ride or the bus)
I usually walked. I went by Train to Ile-sur-La-Sorge
and Orange and buses to the Camargue and a few other places.
There were excursion buses at that time but I understand they are n longer operating.

Many trips to Provence, train to Avignon, rent a car and took the TomTom...I cannot imagine doing Provence without a car. It is just a joy to travel those backroads, IMHO you would just miss out on so many joys.

I think no matter how you do it, or what you see, you will love Provence!