Sitting between the banks of the Rhône and the wild plains of the Camargue, Arles is a city where Roman history and Provençal charm coexist effortlessly. While the ancient amphitheater and the legacy of Vincent van Gogh often dominate travel itineraries, the city’s green spaces offer a serene counterpoint to the bustling cobblestone streets. For locals and visitors alike, the parks and gardens of Arles provide essential shade, sensory delight, and a glimpse into the region’s horticultural soul.
Unlike the manicured, highly formal gardens found in northern France, the green spaces here are characterized by a rugged Mediterranean beauty. You will find gravel pathways lined with towering plane trees, wild herbs growing beside cultivated roses, and the constant, soothing hum of cicadas during the summer months. These spaces are not just decorative; they are living, breathing parts of the community where families gather, artists sketch, and travelers pause to catch their breath.
Exploring these natural havens allows you to experience a different side of Provençal life. Whether you are seeking a quiet spot to read a book, a safe playground for children, or simply a scenic route for an evening stroll, Arles has a landscape to suit your needs. The variety ranges from historic promenades that have existed for centuries to hidden community plots bursting with vegetables and flowers.
This guide highlights the best outdoor retreats within and around the city limits. We have focused on spaces that offer distinct atmospheres, from the poetic settings that inspired famous painters to modern ecological reserves designed to protect local biodiversity. Each location provides a unique perspective on why Arles is so much more than just a city of stone.
As you plan your visit, remember that the Provençal sun can be intense, particularly between noon and 4 PM. The best times to enjoy these gardens are early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light turns golden and the temperatures drop. Many of these sites are free to enter and easily accessible on foot from the city center.
Below is a curated list of the most remarkable parks and gardens that Arles has to offer, detailing what makes each one special and why they deserve a spot on your itinerary.
Jardin d'été
| Address | Bd des Lices, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 49 36 36 |
Nice little park with benches. There is a plaque at the spot Van Gogh painted one of his masterpieces-Entrance to the public garden in Arles.
Lovely and peaceful garden, and one of the locations with a Vincent Van Gogh easel, the 'L'Entree du Jardin Public Easel’. Worth a stop to enjoy nature in the middle of the town!
As a huge Van Gogh fan, visiting this garden was a truly meaningful experience. Knowing he painted here made it feel incredibly special. It’s a beautiful and peaceful spot — walking through it felt like stepping into one of his paintings. A must-visit in Arles for any art lover. You will be able to find safe to drink water fountain in the park.
The little park is just outside the old walls of Old Town Arles. There are a few beautiful sculptures left and Van Gogh memorial.
Nice little park, with many benches for seating, in a city with a shortage of parks!
The view of the Roman amphitheater is nice with the afternoon sun.
Parc paysager LUMA Arles
| Address | 33 Av. Victor Hugo, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM |
| Phone | — |
Jardin Hortus
| Address | 10 Cours 1 de Barriol, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 13 31 51 03 |
The garden is poorly maintained (or not maintained at all).
Pedestrian access is via roads not designed for pedestrians.
It's a shame because the garden has a lot of potential and deserves better.
We actually went behind the museum because the garden was closed. There were picnic tables in the shade by the water. Pleasant, but quite noisy coming from the museum's air conditioning.
The garden has potential but is poorly maintained and quite dirty (litter scattered everywhere). The small side gardens are nice but not trimmed, so they're a bit dangerous.
A beautiful green space located next to the Arles Museum of Antiquities. Designed in the shape of a Roman circus, it features a large lawn in the center and boxwood and other shrubs forming small labyrinths that conceal play areas for children. The Hortus Garden also has a picnic area with tables and benches, as well as restrooms. Situated below the highway, I would highly recommend it for travelers looking to take a break.
Not bad, even though we didn't really explore everything. We were just looking for a picnic table and we found it there. Free parking on Sundays, great!
Camargue Regional Nature Park
| Address | Mas du pont de Rousty, RD 570, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Open 24 hours Tuesday: Open 24 hours Wednesday: Open 24 hours Thursday: Open 24 hours Friday: Open 24 hours Saturday: Open 24 hours Sunday: Open 24 hours |
| Phone | 04 90 97 10 40 |
An absolutely amazing place and a must-visit🤩Tip: Plan to go early and enter right after the park opens. It can get very crowded later on, making it difficult to find parking. Even though the flamingos don’t mind the crowds, arriving early lets you visit peacefully and take pictures without feeling guilty about people waiting behind you.
Beautiful place - great for bird watching, horse riding and hiking
Nice nature parc where you can see, if you are lucky, wild white horses, flamingos and salt lakes.
Camargue Regional Nature Park is an amazing destination for anyone who loves nature and unique landscapes. The park is incredibly beautiful, with vast wetlands, lagoons, and open spaces that create a peaceful and unforgettable atmosphere. It’s a perfect place to escape from busy cities and enjoy the calm of nature.
One of the highlights is the opportunity to see the famous white horses of Camargue, pink flamingos, and many other bird species in their natural environment. The biodiversity of the park is truly impressive. The scenery changes throughout the day, especially during sunrise and sunset, making it a fantastic place for photography.
The area is well preserved and offers many opportunities for walking, cycling, and observing wildlife. It’s a wonderful experience for families, couples, and anyone who appreciates nature. I highly recommend visiting Camargue Regional Nature Park!
A very unique place and definitely must visit. You will enjoy every minute here. You can get a horse riding experience ( the place we asked was 45 euro pp for 2 hours, but they we closed that day). Very peaceful and quiet and very beautiful.
LUMA Arles, Parc des Ateliers
| Address | 35 Av. Victor Hugo, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | 04 65 88 10 00 |
It’s really amazing here!!!
Planning to visit ? Good place to explore with free tours. There are also two paid and guided tours in the morning around 11:30am and at noon around 2:30pm.
The staff are welcoming and accommodating.
The 9/8th, 3, 2, 1 floors are all free to explore.
Taking photos and touching sensitive items is prohibited within the library.
You’ll enjoy your visit, and there are lots of places nearby to relax, have a drink, or launch.
Now, Go exploooooorrrrreeeeee!!!!!
I used to be a fan of Frank Gehry, a long time ago when I had the chance to admire his studios and sketches. The way he guided his hand whilst sketching was also admirable. But then I visited the much-admired and famous museum in Bilbao and saw how his architecture and fame pushed the art on display into the background... indeed, stifled it. Unfortunately, I was already sceptical upon entering here in Arles, and my suspicions were confirmed. Admittedly, some of the galleries were undergoing renovation, but the striking and celebrated building seemed to be celebrating itself above all else.
Only in the basement was there an exhibition – no, two – that truly deserved to be called an art exhibition. The art was allowed to take centre stage. Unfortunately, there was little in the way of explanation, but the pictures managed to make an impression in those cramped, dark rooms. Upstairs, a great deal of effort and staff were devoted to guiding visitors. The fact that a different department was responsible for every query says a lot about the lack of understanding of intuitive design. Ms Hoffmann’s initiative is brilliant, but the result is too elitist. One definite plus: the building looks fantastic, provides a wonderful platform for viewing Arles from above, and brings tourists and employment to the south of France.
Gehry’s designs are almost always divisive—this museum is no exception—but inside it works in surprising ways… airy, playful, easy to navigate and full of intelligent details and a rotating selection of contemporary art, as well as a trippy site specific installation by Olafur Eliasson at the top of the spiral staircase. Ninth floor terrace offers a spectacular view over Arles and the surrounding area. Overall impressive and worth a couple hours of your time!
Fantastic building and grounds are worth it alone. We actually didn't see the exhibitions (short on time), just wandered around the building and grounds, but even that was amazing! The Tower is surreal.
It's about a 7 minute walk from the historical Alychamps, so easy to combine the 2.
This is absolutely a gorgeous place to visit. It’s free to visit the park and most of the building floors, including the library, terrace and more. You can admire Frank Gehry’s work closely in detail.
Arboretum "The Garden of Gaston"
| Address | Av. de Plaisance, 13310 Saint-Martin-de-Crau |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Phone | 06 99 16 35 27 |
It's very beautiful here, I love the connection with nature and the animals are very friendly with people 😍
This arboretum is a tranquil place with lawns and a lake and many ducks and geese. Dogs are not permitted so it is safe to walk barefoot on the grass!
It's a nice parc and a nice place to enjoy a picnic. Plenty of birds. Lots of trees offer their shade. Free parking right outside the entry.
Nice place to go with small children - the variety of vegetation and birds they can see, the small lake and its very well entertained surroundings
Beautiful place to visit and relax. Also, almost the only thing in town that's open on a Sunday
Le Jardin De La Maison De Sante a Arles Easel
| Address | 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
Very pretty shaded garden with a rest/bar
Waste of time. Garden devoid of plantings (despite being spring), architecture non-descript and shops selling VG cards etc and icecreams.
Best lit
Le Jardin de la Maison de Santé à Arles is a painting by Vincent van Gogh depicting a place you can actually visit in Arles. The courtyard looks very similar today to how it appears in the painting.
A very pretty and charming garden in the heart of Arles. I particularly loved the atmosphere of the place, a blend of vegetation, architecture, and history. It's a pleasant spot to slow down for a few moments and observe the details.
Domaine du Lac
| Address | 13310 Saint-Martin-de-Crau |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
Super..
Petite balade sympa et reposante .
On y fait même des rencontres avec les animaux .
A beautiful lake. Well-maintained. Perfect for a walk or sports. Fishing is possible (with a fishing permit). Numerous ducks and swans. Benches are present. Dogs off-leash are not allowed.
A very pleasant, quiet little walk. Parking was very easy. The only slight downside was the ducks weren't friendly; they told me to stay in my corner! 🦆🦆
It's a very pretty, shady spot, the animals seem fine, but I was shocked by the water for the chickens and roosters, which was green—just enough to make them susceptible to botulism—and some of the other water bowls weren't clean either.
DOMAINE DE MEJANES
| Address | Route de Méjanes, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 97 16 65 |
2 hour horse ride through the camargue, all to myself, just me and my guide Raffy!
So peaceful and beautiful. She was passionate and knowledgeable and took good care of me. I am not an experienced rider and she taught me well. I then took my almost three year old for a pony ride which she adored!
The horses are well cared for and there's a nice snack bar for a cold drink after. A veey pleasant morning out! Thanks Raffy!
Nice horse riding experience. But the ride with the little train was nothing, we haven't seen more than on our way to here.
After one year again here. It was great to be in Camargue with those fantastic horses. Thank you Melanie! We will come again.
Well kept and easily accessible place. could be more explanation of the things to do there as there are many but they dont really explain it/sign it.
Brilliant discovery of what was Paul Ricard's home. The museum about his life is well worth a visit. The restaurant was very accommodating when I arrived past serving time Google having lost me in rice fields... Recommended.
Personal point of view only: disappointed with the tractor journey. Positive point: the staff was friendly in general, especially Herve the driver of the small train. Negative point: 1) no card is accepted (only cash). 2) it is more like an educational tour on the agriculture than the sight seeing tour. During two hours, we only saw two flamingos, several horses and many toros (very interesting knowledge shared by the owner by the way - but under the sunshine for 20 mins was a little bit too much).
Arts Garden
| Address | 38 Rue de la République, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
As always, a pure moment of pleasure, quality cuisine and warm service, all in a dream setting in the heart of the Arles region. I highly recommend it.
We had a wonderful meal and the staff were very friendly. You should definitely go!
Simply a fantastic restaurant, absolutely delicious, perfect portions – not too much, but you'll definitely be satisfied. A pure culinary delight, and the dessert was also amazing. The food arrived quickly. Lovely atmosphere, beautifully decorated, nice outdoor seating area, and everyone was incredibly friendly.
Highly recommended, I'll definitely be back. 🤗
Marais de Beauchamp
| Address | 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Open 24 hours Tuesday: Open 24 hours Wednesday: Open 24 hours Thursday: Open 24 hours Friday: Open 24 hours Saturday: Open 24 hours Sunday: Open 24 hours |
| Phone | — |
A short walk from Old Town. Lovely quiet and easy hike around the dam. You might see otters. Amazing bird life! Great for fishing. When you get to the wooden forest path, do take it, it comes out by the dam a few meters further again.
Beautiful area nearby Arles. Free access and nice walk. We could see some otters and cranes and other birds. Only bad side - the motorway is located right next to it and you'll always here the cars.
Cool
A very pretty spot, it's a shame it's rather neglected.
Access is poorly marked and the path isn't suitable for people with reduced mobility, strollers, etc.
The short walk along the boardwalk is pleasant, but be careful of the holes and uneven surfaces when walking on it.
If you're in the area and want to stretch your legs, this is the perfect spot. There's parking available for campervans at the Sporting Pont de Crau, right at the starting point. You can walk around the loop; I recommend starting to the right. We went left and took the wrong turn at one point, so we ended up on a parallel path back, and even ended up in the town. We had to return to the starting point, and this time we took the right-hand path and were able to complete the loop without any problems. It's an easy walk, suitable for children who can walk, but a bit trickier with a stroller.
L'entree du Jardin Public Easel
| Address | 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
Excellent.
Les Alyscamps (Alyscamps)
A haven of coolness, and you can access the ancient theatre... public toilets and opening hours adapted to summer
不同時空 在同個地點看他作畫的場景
Practical Tips for Visiting Arles Parks and Gardens
To make the most of your time outdoors in Arles, it helps to prepare for the specific conditions of the Mediterranean climate and local culture. The following advice will ensure your visits are comfortable, respectful, and thoroughly enjoyable.
- Hydrate and Protect: Always carry a reusable water bottle. While some parks have water fountains, many do not. Apply high-SPF sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat, as the Provençal sun is strong even in the shoulder seasons.
- Time Your Visit Strategically: To see gardens at their most vibrant, visit during the early morning hours when flowers are freshest and birds are most active. For photography, the "golden hour" just before sunset provides the best light and the least harsh shadows.
- Wear Appropriate Footwear: While many main paths are paved, some of the more rustic and natural areas, especially those near the river or in ecological reserves, can be dusty, muddy, or uneven. Comfortable walking shoes or sturdy sandals are recommended.
- Respect the Environment: Many green spaces in Arles are part of conservation efforts. Stay on marked trails, do not pick the flowers or herbs, and ensure you take all litter with you to help preserve the natural beauty for other visitors and local wildlife.
- Embrace the Siesta: Many smaller, gated parks may close during the hottest part of the afternoon or on public holidays. Do not be surprised if a gate is locked between 12:00 and 14:00; this is standard practice in the region. Plan your visits around these local schedules.
Walking through the gardens of Arles is an exercise in slowing down. The city moves at a leisurely pace, and its green spaces encourage you to match that rhythm. Whether you are sitting on a bench watching the world go by or admiring the intricate patterns of a Mediterranean flower bed, these moments of quiet are often the most memorable part of a trip.
After a day of sightseeing among the Roman ruins and art galleries, the parks offer a necessary sanctuary. They serve as a reminder that Arles is not a museum frozen in time, but a living city where nature and culture are deeply intertwined. Taking the time to explore these outdoor rooms will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the Provençal way of life.
