neckervd

The problem is only that neither the 2 Barcelona - Paris TGV nor the Barcelona - Lyon TGV stop at Avignon TGV. They pass just through without stopping.

PalenQ

No but they all stop at Nimes, a short local train ride from Avignon-Centre, the in-town former mainline station - a 31 minute ride by frequent trains so getting to Avignon with the new TGVs is s snap even if they do not serve Agignon directly.

ditto for Arles.

neckervd

Count at least 1 hr more for Avignon Ville than for Nimes:
Barcelona dp 09.20 - Nimes 12.49 - Avignon Centre 13.55
Barcelona dp 16.20 - Nimes 19.49 - Avignon Centre 20.55
Barcelona dp 17.25 - Nimes 20.56 - Avignon Centre 23.08
Barcelona dp 18.26 - Nimes 21.53 - Avignon Centre 23.14

PalenQ

So - one hour more - Nimes is IME a rather boring place for the average tourist - big city vs two of the oldest-looking nicest cities in France - Arles or Avignon - so if they are stopping overnight then Avignon or Arles would be my suggestion even if it does take an extra hour. Time is not everything.

Supermum

Avignon is lovely, be sure to take a day trip to the Luberon hilltop villages, Gordes, Bonnieux etc I wouldnt cram Dijon into this trip. Marseille is ugly, dont waste your time....

neckervd

As a visit of the Avignon area is unthinkable without a visit of the amphitheatre and the temple of Nimes anyway, the solution could be:
Sleep at Nimes if you leave Barcelona at 16.20, 17.25 or 18.26, visit Nimes the following morning and continue then to the place where you want to stay
resp leave Barcelona at 9.20, put your luggage in the lockers at Nimes station, visit the town and continue then to the place where you want to stay.
http://www.ot-nimes.fr/index.php?id=1
http://www.nimes.fr/index.php?id=1686

EWojo

I think we won't be doing Dijon after all as it would make our vacation that much busier. Thanks for the helpful advice everyone!

Elizabeth

PalenQ

Marseilles IMO is not ugly but one of the most fascinating cities in France - all spruced up recently since it was a European Cultural Capital recently - and the port area is nice. That said for the average new traveler to France I would spend my time elsewhere besides Marseilles and Dijon.

neckervd

...but don't forget that Marseille has one of the most fascinating crime rates of France too .....