Minibus Hire Across France

Avignon Minibus Hire for Provence Villages

Avignon sits at the heart of the Provence most visitors picture: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Luberon villages, the Pont du Gard. A minibus with a driver puts several of them into one day, starting at the foot of the ramparts.

Inside the walls, on foot

Within the ramparts, Avignon is a zone de rencontre where people on foot share the streets with slow traffic. Heavy vehicles are not allowed in, so a coach drops groups at the walls. Ask your driver where a smaller vehicle can meet you.

Next to the Pont d'Avignon, the Esplanade Saint-Bénézet has been kept since July 2025 for tourist coaches stopping half an hour or less; for anything longer, they move to the Île Piot. A party of 20 or more reserves its Palais des Papes visit through Avignon Tourisme. Afterwards, climb to the Rocher des Doms garden beside the palace for the view over the Rhône.

White minibus parked at the curb
White minibus parked at the curb

Festival month

The Festival d'Avignon fills the town every July. While it runs, entry to the walled centre by vehicle is filtered between 12:00 and 02:00, and only residents and registered users may drive in, so arrange pick-ups outside the ramparts.

Vineyards and villages

A morning tasting at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, some 25 minutes up the road, makes an easy start. L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and the Pont du Gard are about 40 minutes each, Gordes and Arles about 50, Roussillon a little under an hour.

Pair villages that sit close together: Gordes with Roussillon, or Les Baux-de-Provence with Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. You will spend more time at café tables and less on the road.

Flying in to Avignon

Places your group will love in Avignon

  • Festival d'Avignon — Theatre festival every July; in 2026 it ran from 4 to 25 July
  • Rocher des Doms — Garden above the Rhône beside the Palais des Papes
  • Ramparts and intra-muros — The walled historic centre, visited on foot
  • Pont Saint-Bénezet (Pont d'Avignon) — The medieval bridge; tickets through the same Avignon Tourisme booking service. Coach stop of 30 minutes at most on the Esplanade Saint-Bénézet
  • Palais des Papes — Gothic palace of the popes; group visits (20 people or more) are booked through Avignon Tourisme

Where groups tend to stay

  • Avignon Sud / Agroparc (near the TGV station)
  • Avignon Nord / Le Pontet
  • Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
  • Île de la Barthelasse
  • Gare Centre / Cours Jean Jaurès
  • Intra-muros (inside the ramparts)

Stickers and arrivals

Avignon has no ZFE in October 2026. During pollution episodes, though, the préfecture can bar heavy vehicles rated Crit'Air 3, 4 or 5, or unlabelled, so a sticker is still worth having. Check before travel.

High-speed trains from Paris, Lyon and Lille stop at Gare d'Avignon TGV, about 6 km south of town. Flying in? Marseille Provence is around 85 km off, mostly on the tolled A7.

Your questions, answered

Is the Parking de la Foire suitable for coaches?

It has open-air, unsupervised coach parking, entered from avenue du Blanchissage.

What makes a good half-day from Avignon?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Orange's Roman theatre, both within about 35 minutes, fit nicely into a morning.

Could we combine Nîmes and the Pont du Gard?

Nîmes is about 45 minutes from Avignon and the Pont du Gard about 40, so the two make a natural Roman-themed day out.

Can we be met at Avignon Centre station?

Yes. It sits just outside the ramparts, about two minutes' walk from the historic centre, and is served by regional trains.

More days out you can book with us

Other vehicles with a driver