Our selection of the best things to do in Provence with kids: Unesco sites, lavender fields, family beaches and kid-friendly excursions for a perfect family vacation in the South of France.
Provence is a beautiful region of France.
Perched in the South of the country, Provence is a land of historical villages, some of the most beautiful lavender fields in the world, beautiful gorges and stunning coastline.
It is also one of the best places to visit in France with kids, a vacation destination sure to meet the expectations or children and parents alike.
I have always loved Provence and many, when dreaming of the quintessential French vacation, picture this area as their vacation haven.
You can spend your whole vacation in this area, or you can include Provence in your France road trip itinerary: either way, you will not be disappointed!
These are 11 of the best things you can do in Provence with kids and why we believe Provence is perfect for a family vacation in France!
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Table of Contents
Provence with kids map
The best things to do in Provence with kids: our top picks!
Visit Aix-an-Provence with kids
Aix-en-Provence is one of the most famous and prettiest towns in Provence and a perfect first stop for a Provence itinerary for families.
The town is the south of France as you imagine it: historical old town center, small streets, baskets of lavender, artisan workshops, weekly market and plenty of car free areas for safe sightseeing and for kids to run around.
The city is perfect to immerse yourself in Provencal charm and has lovely parks kids are sure to enjoy.
Cool ones for kids are Parc Jourdan, Parc de la Torse and Parc Rambot, all perfect for picnics and equipped with play areas.
For parents and older kids, Aix offers a wonderful and elegant city center, a stunning cathedral and the beautiful Atelier Cezanne (he lived here), perfect to tap into the art side of this beautiful part of France.
Some activities for kids in Aix-en-Provence are a city tour on the tourist train, a private walking tour of the old town, a fun Aix-en-Provence tour by electric bike (good for older kids and teens) or a market tour, perfect especially if you are staying in a rental with self catering kitchen and want to include local produce in your family cooking.
Find family hotels and rentals in Aix-en-Provence here.
Visit Provence’s lavender fields with kids
Provence is famous for its beautiful and fragrant lavender fields and they are very easy to visit with kids!
The fields are in the are of Aix-en-Provence and can easily be visited with a day trip from the city you can make your own way and explore in your own time.
The best area to see them is in and around Valensole. Lavender flowers need sun and dry conditions to grow and the plates of Valensole has sun in spades!
The plateau is bathed in sunlight and this is part of its charm but also the one thing you need to be prepared of, especially if traveling with small kids: the sun here is relentless so sun hats, sunscreen and lots of water are a must!
Visit historical Orange with kids
Provence was already inhabited in Roman times and has impressive roman ruins that are easy to visit with kids.
The most impressive for children and adults alike is the Roman theater of Orange, still perfectly standing in the center of orange!
The Roman theaer of orange is one of thebest preserved Roman theaters n the world and it now listed as Unesco world heritage site.
The theater is open to visitors and it is so impressive, it is easy to enjoy at any age – the view is not quite as spectacular as that of the theater in Taormina but it is very impressive nonetheless and Provence must see!
As well as Roman ruins, Orange shared with other towns in the area the typical charm of the South of France and it is perfect for lazy sightseeing and a lovely meal in one of the city outdoor terraces.
If you come here in the morning, I recommend you visit the theater first, then stop up on picnic supplies from the local shops or market and head for a picnic to Parc Gasparin or Parc de la Coline Saint-Europe, lovely for a day in the park.
Find family hotels in Orange here
Visit Avignon with kids, city of the Popes
Avignon is a wonderful historical town in Provence and a great Provencal town to visit with kids.
Adults may know Avignon as the city of the Popes: in the early XIV century, newly nominated Pope Clemens V refused to move to Rome and effectively moved the seat of the Church to Avignon, where it remained for over 60 years.
The Palace of the Popes is open to the public and is great to visit and any age for its historical meaning but also because it is a real castle complete with turrets, sure to capture the children’s imagination!
The castle is maybe the most famous attraction in Avignon but what is special here is the whole town.
Avignon is still walled and its city center is a maze of wonderful medieval streets, with the same type of charm you may have experiences in towns in Tuscany such as Lucca and maybe even Siena.
Avignon highlights for kids are likely to be Pont St. Bezenet Bridge (Le Pont d’Avignon!), the Rocher Des Doms gardens, an Avignon tour on the local tourist trains and the river cruise, lovely to catch views of the town from the water.
Top Tip: Avignon is very popular and very busy, so much so that the first time we visited we turned the car back and left without seeing anything! Instead of having to come back, as we did, a good way to visit the city is to book a walking tour with skip the line access ticket to the Pope’s Palace!
Find family hotels in Avignon here
Admire incredible Pont du Garde
The Pont d’Avignon may appear in songs children know but the real bridge not to be missed in Provence is Pont du Garde, between Avignon and Nimes!
Pont du Garde is an incredible, double-story bridge dating back to Roman times and now UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bridge is part of a Roman Aqueduct, and it is somewhat reminiscent of the one we saw in Segovia, Spain, and it is incredible for kids but also for adults.
It is the tallest Roman bridge in the world and it was built in only 5 years!
The bridge is surrounded by beautiful nature and has educational exhibits and play areas that are fun for kids; you can pop in, see it and get a wow or, if you have time, you can spend a morning here and not run out of things to do.
Get dusty on the Route des Ochres in Roussillon
For those days when the kids just want to run around, get dirty and forget about historical towns and sightseeing trips, you cannot miss the fantastic Route des Ochres.
Route des Ochres (lit. Ochret’s trail) is in Roussillon, in the heart of the Luberon Natural reserve, famous for its incredible deep yellow, orange and red-colored terrain.
The trail leads you through beautiful rock formations in the warmest possible colors and it is great fun for kids who are sure to get super dirty but also super giggly as they walk along the trail and its boardwalks.
The walk here follows two different paths, both easy for kids of pretty much any age – try to get on the longer one for the best views!
Find family accommodation in Roussillon here
Explore Arles with kids
Arle is another delightful Provencal town and a great place to visit with kids especially. thanks to its connection with Van Gogh.
The painter produced some of his most famous paintings here, including starry night which your kids may know, and the city pays homage with a Van Gogh trail easy to enjoy at any age.
Top tip! Get a Van Gogh coloring book so your kids can use it for their scavenger hunt around Arles!
As well as Van Gogh, Arles is home to a stunning Roman arena and also has a lovely park close to the tourist office, perfect for time playing and relaxing.
Find family accommodation in Arles here
Get active at the impressive Verdon Gorges with kids
Provence has a huge variety of landscapes and one of the best places to experience them with kids is to add a stop at the impressive Verdon Gorges.
Nature here is stunning and feels worlds away from the quaint villages with lavender on the windowsills.
Here, you have imposing gorges carved by the crystal clear, green waters of the river Verdon and some of the most spectacular mountain views n the region!
The gorges are beautiful and an outdoor paradise for sporty families.
Here, you can hike, see waterfalls and relax, play and try waterspouts at lake St Croix, a calm lake that is now a family-friendly recreational area.
Enjoy on the beaches of the French Riviera
The region of Provence stretched all the way to the coast and includes the Cote d’Azur, aka the French Riviera.
The French Riviera is usually mentioned as a place for couples or glamorous visitors who want to enjoy beautiful foods and aperitifs on the Cannes Croisette, however, it is also a lovely place to visit with kids!
The Cote d’Azur has several pretty beaches for kids, many beautiful towns to discover and play parks and play areas both on the sea and in the woods immediately inland from the sea.
Read our guide to the French Riviera with kids to learn why we love it for a family vacation in France and what not to miss!
Get sporty at the beautiful Calanques
les Calanques is a wonderful natural area in southern Provence, famous for beautiful rock coves stretching into the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean.
The area is protected and a paradise for hikers but is even better if visited from the water since this is how you truly see how beautiful this coastline is!
With kids, you can explore the Calanques with a catamaran cruise and lunch from Marseilles or joining a sea kayaking tour (age 6 and up).
Sporty teenagers may also like to explore the area by mountain bike!
More things to do in Provence with kids
Half Day 4×4 Safari from Arles to the Camargue, to explore this incredible area famous for salt plains, flamingoes and wild horses. Kids under 6 go free – bring binoculars!
Full day from Marseille to the Valensole Lavender Fields – perfect if you are visiting Provence without a car
Play Petanque -a national pastime, it is super easy to enjoy pétanque (boules) with kids and a great way to break up sightseeing!
Visit markets – Provence is full of beautiful markets perfect to stock up for a meal or even just to breathe in the perfumes and fill your eyes with the colors of the local fare.
Buy souvenirs – bring home a little piece of Provence buying lavender seeds, soap and fragrances made with local products and plants, perfect to add a touch of Provencal flavor to your own home
What to pack for visiting Provence with kids
Provence gets very hot in summer so if you are planning to visit during school holidays, light and summery clothes are a must.
Make sure you have summer dresses, shorts, sun hats and sandals and also bring with your walking shoes for trails and uneven terrains.
For kids, I recommend you bring sandals and water shoes, so they are well equipped for all situations.
If planning on going to the sea, you will need or your sea and sun essentials, which you can find on our family beach vacation packing list.
I highly recommend you bring a stroller, ideally an all-terrain one if you are planning on a lot of time in nature, and also a summer baby carrier.
How to get around Provence with kids
The best way to visit Provence with kids is by renting your own car.
If you cannot or do not want to drive here, I recommend you choose as your base a town from where you can easily join organized eexcursions: Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille are all good options.
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to the best places to visit in Provence with kids. Safe travel planning!
Provence with kids – pin this!
