Short on time and wondering about the best things to do in Aix-en-Provence? Start with Cézanne’s places, the Cours Mirabeau, the Granet Museum and the markets. Together they fill a few days.
If you are planning beyond the city, the provence travel guide places Aix within the wider region.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Baroque architecture in France | Third-largest collection, after Paris and Versailles |
| Granet Museum collections | Works from the 14th to the 20th century |
| Calisson blessing, Church of Saint John of Malta | First Sunday of September |
| Markets in Aix | As many as days in the week |
| Time from Marseille International Airport | 25 minutes |
These figures come from the Tourist Office’s must-dos page and the France.fr page on Aix-en-Provence. They can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Things to do in the old town and on the Cours Mirabeau
Aix rewards slow walking. The old centre is partly pedestrianised, according to France.fr, so you can cover most sights without a car.
The Tourist Office says Aix has the third-largest collection of Baroque architecture in France, after Paris and Versailles. Look for the private mansions and the fountains tucked between them.
The Tourist Office’s social feed calls Aix the city of a thousand fountains. Water trickles in lanes and on shaded squares, so the city is as pleasant to hear as to see.
The Cours Mirabeau makes a natural base. Once a street for horse-drawn carriages, it is now one of the busiest and liveliest places in the city, as the Tourist Office describes it, and it suits every time of day:
- Morning: coffee on a café terrace while the city wakes up.
- Lunchtime: a table in the shade of the plane trees.
- Early evening: the happy hour, when people meet after work.
The Granet Museum is very close to the Cours Mirabeau, according to the Tourist Office. A museum stop therefore fits easily into the same walk.
Follow Cézanne through the city and countryside
Cézanne is the thread that runs through Aix. For a deeper look at the painter’s life and landscapes, the cezanne aix-en-provence guide goes further than this overview.
The Tourist Office points to four places that bring his world to life:
- His studio: step into the artist’s private world. France.fr adds that cicadas chirp in its garden.
- Jas de Bouffan: the family property, where you can explore the grounds.
- Bibémus Quarries: a spot to look at Sainte-Victoire through the painter’s eyes.
- Musée Granet: some of his works in a space dedicated to him.
You can also follow a pedestrian route marked by studs stamped with a “C”. It leads from the house where he was born to his final resting place in the St Jean cemetery.
The Tourist Office offers a free Cezanne Pocket Guide for following his life step by step. It also lists a guided tour called “In the Steps of Cezanne” running from April to October.
Which museums and art spaces are worth your time?
The Granet Museum sits in the former Palace of Malta, just off Rue d’Italie and close to the Cours Mirabeau. The Tourist Office says its collections of works run from the 14th to the 20th century, with names such as Rembrandt, Ingres and Cezanne.
Smaller houses add variety to a rainy afternoon. Pick the one that matches your taste:
- Hôtel de Caumont Art Center: a restored private mansion in the Mazarin district, with a tea room, a lounge bar and a bookshop.
- Vendôme Pavilion: a pleasure house with French-style gardens, furniture, paintings and objets d’art.
- Vasarely Foundation: optical art inside a light, kinetic building that is a listed historical monument.
At the Caumont Art Center, France.fr says you can also catch a specially commissioned film about Cézanne, shown throughout the day. The Tourist Office describes two annual temporary exhibitions there, so check what is on before you go.
Eat, sip and shop like a local
The local sweet to try is the calisson. France.fr describes it as a traditional diamond-shaped sweet made with candied melon and ground almonds.
Each year the calisson receives a blessing at the Church of Saint John of Malta on the first Sunday of September, per the Tourist Office. Its shop, the Comptoir du Pays d’Aix, sells regional specialities, including calissons.
Markets are the best way to taste the region’s sun-drenched cuisine. The Tourist Office says Aix has as many markets as days in the week, from fruit and vegetables to books and flowers.
A textile market sets up on the Cours Mirabeau, according to France.fr. Bargain hunters can look at the craftsmen’s wares in front of the Tourist Office, and the bric-a-brac dealers at the top of Avenue Victor Hugo.
Plan your days around the season
Getting there is simple. France.fr lists 25 minutes from Marseille International Airport, and says the TGV Mediterranée links Aix with direct lines to Brussels and Geneva. That page was last updated on 17 July 2019, so treat its practical details as a starting point.
A relaxed few days could run like this:
- Day one: the old town, the fountains, a market and the Cours Mirabeau.
- Day two: the Cézanne sites, from the studio to Jas de Bouffan and the Bibémus Quarries.
- Day three: the Granet Museum, then the Caumont, Vendôme or Vasarely spaces.
If you want one ticket for many sights, the Tourist Office says its City Pass is available from the Tourist Office. Per its homepage, it includes 16 essential tourist sites, 20 guided tours, the little electric tourist train, a treasure hunt and access to the bus network.
France.fr notes a year-long mild climate, and the best time to visit provence guide helps you weigh the seasons. Winter has its own draw: as of the Tourist Office’s November 2026 listing, Christmas events run from 13 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with a Christmas market on the Cours Mirabeau (source).
The same listing shows the Foire aux Santons on the Esplanade Cezanne until 31 December 2026, closed on 25 December, and a launch of the festivities and illuminations on 28 November. The Tourist Office advises you to contact organisers directly to confirm events.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aix-en-Provence easy to explore on foot?
Show answer
Yes. France.fr describes the old centre as partly pedestrianised, so most of the sights are close together.
What should you taste in Aix?
Show answer
Try calissons, the diamond-shaped sweet of candied melon and ground almonds, as described by France.fr. Then browse a market for fruit, vegetables and regional produce.
How far is Aix from Marseille airport?
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France.fr lists 25 minutes from Marseille International Airport. Check the page for transport details, as they may have changed since its last update.
Is there a Christmas market in Aix?
Show answer
As of the Tourist Office’s November 2026 listing, a Christmas market runs on the Cours Mirabeau from 13 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, according to its homepage. Confirm event details with the organisers before you travel.
