Private Tour from Marseille to Avignon - Shore Excursion4.5(291 Reviews)5 hours
From€650.00per person
Listing ID : 67405
4.5(291 Reviews)
Private Tour from Marseille to Avignon - Shore Excursion
5hDuration
Max 12 peopleGroup Size
English, FrenchSpeaking Guide
Mobile ticketAccepted
About this experience
Duration5 Hours
Group SizePrivate
Starts AtMarseille Cruise Terminal
LanguagesEnglish, French
Private Shore Excursion
Marseille to Avignon: Palais des Papes, Pont d'Avignon & Old City Walk
Step into the medieval heart of Provence on a private day trip from Marseille to Avignon.
This private shore excursion from Marseille to Avignon offers cruise passengers a rare chance to explore one of southern France's most storied cities, from its towering Gothic palace to its legendary unfinished bridge, all in a single comfortable journey.
Avignon served as the seat of the papacy for much of the 14th century, and that history is still written in stone across its walled old city. The town of around 100,000 inhabitants blends living culture with heritage monuments at every turn.
Your private driver collects you directly from the Marseille Cruise Terminal, making logistics seamless and arrival stress-free. The drive through the Provence countryside takes roughly one hour each way, leaving plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace.
Beyond the headline sites, the old city rewards slower wandering through its market squares, independent boutiques, and shaded cafe terraces. Avignon is compact enough to feel intimate yet rich enough to fill a half-day with genuine discovery.
Tour Highlights
Explore the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, built in the 14th century during the Avignon papacy.
Use the museum's Histopads, tablets with VR capabilities that visually reconstruct each room as it appeared centuries ago.
Walk onto the famous Pont d'Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage site originally constructed in the 1100s that never fully crosses the Rhone.
Stroll through the Place de l'Horloge and the surrounding shopping streets for ice cream, a drink, or local souvenirs.
Travel in a private, comfortable vehicle with a dedicated driver from the Marseille Cruise Terminal and back.
Take advantage of combined ticket discounts when purchasing Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon entrance together.
Itinerary
1
Departure from Marseille Cruise Terminal
Your private driver meets you at the Marseille Cruise Terminal and you board a comfortable car for the approximately one-hour drive through Provence toward Avignon.
2
Palais des Papes
Upon arrival in Avignon, you head directly to the Palais des Papes, the centerpiece of the city and the largest Gothic palace in Europe. You receive a Historipad tablet with headphones at the entrance, allowing you to scan QR codes in each room and view VR reconstructions of how the spaces looked in the 14th century.
3
Place de l'Horloge and Old City Walk
After the palace, you take a leisurely walk through the historic old city, passing through the lively Place de l'Horloge and the pedestrian shopping streets nearby. This is a good moment to stop for a gelato or a cold drink at one of the local cafes.
4
Pont d'Avignon
You visit the iconic Pont Saint-Benezet, known worldwide as the Pont d'Avignon and celebrated in the traditional French children's song. The bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, extends only partway across the Rhone River due to repeated flood damage over the centuries.
5
Return to Marseille Cruise Terminal
After your visit, you return to the car and your driver takes you back to the Marseille Cruise Terminal, completing the round trip in time for your ship's departure.
What's Included and Excluded
Included
Private vehicle with professional driver
Round-trip transfer from Marseille Cruise Terminal
Histopad tablet with headphones at Palais des Papes
Not Included
Entrance fees to Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon
Food, drinks, and personal purchases
Gratuities for the driver
Important Information
This is a private excursion. The schedule is flexible and adapted to your cruise ship's port call timings. Please confirm your ship's arrival and departure times when booking.
Duration
Approximately 5 hours total, including roughly 2 hours of driving round-trip and about 3 hours of exploration time in Avignon.
Meeting Point
Your driver will meet you directly at the Marseille Cruise Terminal. Please confirm the exact meeting spot when your booking is confirmed.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat for sunny days, and sufficient cash or a card for entrance fees and personal expenses.
Cancellation
Cancellation policies apply as stated at the time of booking. Shore excursion bookings are typically subject to cruise schedule changes.
Accessibility
The old city of Avignon involves walking on cobblestone streets. The Palais des Papes has uneven stone floors. This tour is rated Easy but may present challenges for guests with significant mobility limitations.
Age Range
Suitable for all ages. The Histopad VR experience at the Palais des Papes is particularly engaging for older children and adults with an interest in history.
Reserve Your Private Avignon Excursion
Secure your private transfer and guided visit to Avignon directly from the Marseille Cruise Terminal. Spaces are limited to ensure an exclusive, personal experience.
The drive from the Marseille Cruise Terminal to Avignon takes approximately one hour each way under normal traffic conditions, covering around 100 kilometers through the Provence region.
Are entrance fees to the Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon included?▼
Entrance fees are not included in the tour price and are paid separately on-site. You can save money by purchasing a combined ticket for both the Palais des Papes and the Pont d'Avignon at the ticket desk.
What is the Histopad used at the Palais des Papes?▼
The Histopad is a tablet with virtual reality capabilities provided to visitors upon entering the museum. As you walk through each room, you scan QR codes on the device to see an augmented reconstruction of how that space appeared in the 14th century.
Why does the Pont d'Avignon not reach the other side of the river?▼
The bridge, originally constructed in the 12th century, was repeatedly damaged by floods over the centuries and was never fully rebuilt after the last major collapse. Today only four of the original arches remain standing, making it one of Europe's most distinctive incomplete monuments.
Is this excursion suitable for travelers with limited mobility?▼
The tour is classified as Easy, but Avignon's historic center involves cobblestone streets and the Palais des Papes has uneven stone floors. Guests with significant mobility concerns should consider this when booking.
Will the tour return me to the ship on time?▼
This is a private excursion designed to fit your cruise ship's port call schedule. Your driver will plan the return journey to ensure you are back at the Marseille Cruise Terminal well before your ship's departure. Please provide your all-aboard time when booking.
Avignon Day TripMarseille Shore ExcursionPalais des PapesPont d'AvignonPrivate Tour ProvenceCruise Excursion FranceUNESCO Heritage SiteGothic ArchitectureProvence HistoryMedieval FranceVR Museum ExperienceSouthern France Travel
This private shore excursion operates from the Marseille Cruise Terminal in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of southern France. The destination, Avignon, is located in the Vaucluse department approximately 100 kilometers north of Marseille via the A7 autoroute. Avignon sits on the left bank of the Rhone River at the gateway between Provence and the Languedoc. The city is part of the Avignon UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, which includes the Palais des Papes, the Pont Saint-Benezet, and the surrounding historic ramparts. The journey passes through the characteristic limestone landscapes and lavender-adjacent agricultural plains of inland Provence, offering scenic context to the cultural destination.
Region: Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France | Departure City: Marseille | Destination City: Avignon | Excursion Type: Private Shore Excursion | Activity Category: Cultural Heritage, History, Architecture | Difficulty: Easy | Duration: 5 Hours | Sites Visited: Palais des Papes, Pont d'Avignon, Place de l'Horloge | UNESCO: Yes | Cruise Port: Marseille Cruise Terminal
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