As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Avignon’s historic city center is compact, well-preserved and full of original, authentic buildings. Because the city works so hard to preserve its medieval and Renaissance architecture, you won’t find towering modern chain hotels in Avignon. Instead, Avignon’s city center has a small collection of independent and boutique hotels, along with many tempting guesthouses and apartment rentals. After recently spending two weeks in Avignon, I narrowed down the list of Avignon accommodation options to a curated list of the best hotels in Avignon (plus a few guesthouses, apartments and even a castle, too!).
The best hotels in Avignon are mostly located within the historic city walls, although I expanded the boundaries a little bit to fit in a few exceptional properties (like the aforementioned castle, as well as a guesthouse set within an island park). There are accommodation options at a wide range of price points, and sleeping arrangements that can fit between one and five travelers. I’m confident that one of these properties will be the perfect fit for your trip to Avignon, and I’d love for you to come back after your stay to let me know all about your visit!
The Best Budget Hotels in Avignon
As with any historical town built inside ancient fortified walls, Avignon has limited real estate and a relatively small selection of central hotels (especially compared to cities like Paris or Lyon). The are no real hostels in Avignon, so budget travelers can consider one of these three central options or an affordable apartment rental (see below).
Hotel Boquier
One of the most affordable hotels in Avignon is Hotel Boquier, located inside the historic town walls and just across the street from the Tourist Information Office. From here, it’s a five-minute walk to the train and bus station and less than ten minutes to the Palace of Popes. Hotel Boquier is an independent hotel in a heritage building (take note: access is via stairs) and thanks to its super-helpful staff, this Avignon hotel is perfect for visitors looking for some local insight before exploring the city by foot.
Check prices and availability.
Maison Boussingault
If you’d prefer a bed and breakfast, Maison Boussingault has a remarkable 9.5/10 rating at press time. You’ll find this guesthouse just down the street from two of Avignon’s free museums (Musée Calvet and Musée Requien), about midway between the train station and Place de l’Horloge. Rooms are clean, minimalistic and chic, and there is an inviting outdoor terrace.
Check prices and availability.
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Le Magnan
Solo travelers will want to jump on the budget-friendly single rooms available at Le Magnan, a comfortable three-star hotel located just inside the Avignon city walls. This family-run hotel also has double and family rooms, and all are priced very affordably for central Avignon. Many of the air-conditioned rooms overlook the interior garden area. From Le Magnan, it’s an easy four-minute walk to the train and bus stations, and just two minutes to Rue de Teinturiers, where you’ll find Avignon’s ancient canal and last remaining wooden water wheels.
Check prices and availability.
The Best Mid-Range Hotels in Avignon
Like their budget counterparts, these two mid-range hotels in Avignon are located inside the ancient stone walls, within easy walking distance of Avignon’s main attractions. They won’t break the bank, but they also have the services and amenities you’d expect at a central hotel in a busy tourist destination.
Garlande Hôtel Avignon Centre
Garlande Hotel Avignon Centre is located in a heritage building on Rue Galante, a narrow cobblestone street about two blocks away from Avignon’s main street. Originally three separate houses, over the years the buildings were connected and eventually converted into a comfortable independent hotel. The homemade breakfast here gets rave reviews (save one of the sweet pastries for me, please!).
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Kyriad Avignon – Palais des Papes
It doesn’t get more central than the Kyriad Avignon, a three-star hotel right on Place de l’Horloge, in front of the Palais des Papes. They have thirty-eight rooms (some can sleep up to four guests) and a popular buffet breakfast. From here, it’s only two minutes by foot to the Popes’ Palace, and you’re surrounded by Avignon’s best shops and restaurants.
Check prices and availability.
The Best Luxury Hotels in Avignon
There are many guesthouse-style hotels in Avignon that cater to the luxury traveler. The three I’m highlighting here are, of course, all located in or very close to the historic city center, near all the best things to do in Avignon. These properties also get rave reviews from their guests, and are known for going above and beyond to meet the needs of travelers.
Les Jardins de Baracane
Les Jardins de Baracane is frequently rated the best hotel in Avignon. It is located midway between Rue de la Republique (Avignon’s main street) and Rue des Teinturiers (where you’ll find the city’s last remaining wooden waterwheels). This three-hundred-year-old property features a beautiful garden and an outdoor swimming pool that are perfect for refreshing and relaxing after a day of touring.
Check prices and availability.
Villa Aigarden Maison d’Hôtes
Another luxurious guesthouse in Avignon is Villa Aigarden Maison d’Hotes. A few blocks outside the city walls in a quieter, more residential neighorhood, it’s still only ten minutes by foot from Avignon’s historic center. Plush rooms (and one suite!) are decorated in a neo-Provencal style, and open onto a beautiful garden with a summer kitchen and outdoor pool.
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Les Confidences – Chambres d’Hôtes
Back inside the city walls, Les Confidences – Chambres d’Hôtes can bit a little bit hard to find: it’s tucked away on a narrow pedestrian street behind the Palace of Popes. Inside its stone walls you’ll find rooms decorated with local antiques, all of which look out over the interior garden space (yes, it has a pool!).
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The Best Vacation Rentals in Avignon
Since Avignon has few budget hotels (and there are no good hostels in Avignon), many travelers opt not to stay in a hotel in Avignon, and choose a vacation rental instead. Renting an apartment in Avignon means that you can enjoy some of the advantages of the French lifestyle, like lingering over coffee in the morning and a bottle of wine in the evening. When I was recently in Avignon, I opted for an apartment rental for exactly those reasons!
Studio Apartment on Rue Plaissance
This studio apartment is just one block away from where I stayed on my trip to Avignon, and I really liked the location. It’s just off the north end of Rue Vernet, but on a quiet pedestrian street that is mostly used as a shortcut by locals. This is a small studio apartment that would be perfect for one or two travelers (if you sleep separately, though, make sure you’re comfortable with the raised, loft-style second bed!).
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Nos Cachettes One-Bedroom Apartment with Terrace
It’s so nice to have an outdoor space to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, and this Avignon apartment rental has the perfect terrace. Nos Cachettes is a spacious one-bedroom apartment in a historic townhouse. Here, you’re about two or three blocks behind the Palace of Popes and just five minutes away from some of Avignon’s best restaurants. Another bonus here is that it has a washing machine!
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Central Apartment Opposite the Train and Bus Station
If you’re planning to explore the areas around Avignon by bus or train, this central apartment is less than 200 meters from the central train station and bus station. This is a renovated one-bedroom apartment with a well-equipped new kitchenette (if you love to cook you’re also close to both a big supermarket and Les Halles, the main food market in Avignon).
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Modern Apartment With Room for Five
Traveling to Avignon with family or friends? Clos des Arts Suspendus is a spacious loft-style apartment just three blocks from Rue de la Republique and fifteen minutes (walking, of course) from the Pont d’Avignon. This two-bedroom apartment can sleep up to five people, and to accommodate a group it has a separate bathroom and toilet. Although the building is historic, the apartment itself has been renovated and features both air conditioning and elevator access.
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The Best Hotels Near Avignon, France
These hotels are outside of the historical center of Avignon, but they could be a great option if you have a car. All three of the properties I’m sharing here are within a fifteen-minute drive of Avignon’s historic center (look closely – can you see the Palace of Popes in the distance in the photo?). If you’re staying outside the center, free parking is available on the west side of Avignon, on Ile de Piot. From the free parking lot you can easily walk into town, and a free shuttle is often available as well (check hours in advance if you know you require shuttle service).
Villeneuve-les-Avignon
Villeneuve-les-Avignon is a historical suburb of Avignon, which is just ten minutes away from Avignon’s center by public bus #5. If you want to go sightseeing in Avignon by day but relax somewhere more peaceful by night, consider staying on this side of the river. Hotel La Suite is right in the middle of Villeneuve-les-Avignon’s old c town. It is a boutique hotel that has a turquoise swimming pool surrounded by relaxing sun chairs and white-washed walls. From here, you can easily walk to all the attractions in Villeneuve-les-Avignon.
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l’île de la Barthelasse (Barthelasse Island)
Just north of Avignon’s city center, in the middle of the Rhone River, you’ll find l’île de la Barthelasse. The most charming bed and breakfast on this park-like island is Domaine de Rhodes, a sixteenth-century hunting lodge converted into an eclectic guesthouse. The hotel is inside a park, so the greenery is astounding, and you’ll find other outdoor amenities like a swimming pool, table tennis, bike rentals and a playground for children.
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Medieval Castle in Vedène
If you’ve ever dreamed of spending the night in an actual castle, you’ll want to book a stay at Château de Vedène, eleven kilometers outside Avignon. This is an actual 12th-century stone castle, once belonging to the de Sade family, which is now a bed and breakfast. This is a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, so while there may be some minor inconveniences associated with staying in a thousand-year-old castle, you’ll check out feeling almost as though you stepped back in time.
🏰 Check prices and availability.
Before you go, check out my guide to the best things to do in Avignon and the best day trips from Avignon.
I spent almost two weeks in Avignon (without a car!) figuring out the best things to see and do in the city and its surroundings, and I’m so happy to be able to share them with you!
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