Arles, city and nature by bike !

Arles doesn’t just have cultural attractions to draw visitors. Cycling enthusiasts will find what could well become a cycling paradise here. Just wander through the pedestrianized old town and you’ll quickly realize that visitors and locals alike can easily navigate the area on two non-motorized wheels. From square to square, from monuments to museums, traffic is calm, allowing you to explore the city at your own pace.

vélo Arles Taco & Co vous transporte de la gare au centre-ville (Crédit Gomet') — Taco & Co takes you from the train station to the city center (Credit Gomet’)

Bicycle rental and transport services are available from the train station, and buses are available for those heading to the narrow streets of the Roman city. There are numerous walks around the city, including the Parc des Ateliers and the banks of the Rhône. There are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs more intensely, or even try the adventure of a getaway to the surrounding treasures.

A glimpse from the terrace of Place de la Major, next to the arenas, reveals Montmajour Abbey, an invitation to a promising stroll that can continue towards the Alpilles. Towards the Camargue or the hinterland, several itineraries offer day trips to discover the region’s natural and cultural treasures.

vélo arles — Bicycle racks on the TER between Marseille and Arles (Credit: Gomet’)

Practical:
Zou line 703 between Arles and Port-St-Louis is equipped with bicycle racks that can carry six bicycles in addition to the hold. The following stops allow for loading and unloading: Arles Sncf, Mas Thibert centre, Eysselle and La Tour. Similarly, the TER line includes bicycle storage in a dedicated carriage.

Cycling in Arles at the heart of European cycle touring routes

Arles is thus at the heart of several European cycle touring routes. The Via Rhôna – EuroVelo 17, from north to south, runs along the Rhône and connects Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea. This 815 km cycle route leads from Alpine panoramas to the beaches of the Camargue. It runs through Arles and the Camargue, following the Grand Rhône to Port Saint-Louis du Rhône.

Le vélotourisme dans le parc naturel de Camargue (Photo JFE/Gomet') — Cycle tourism in the Camargue Natural Park (Photo JFE/Gomet’)

The Euro-Mediterranean by Bike – EuroVelo 8, from west to east, corresponds to the French section of a long-distance European cycle route, from southern Spain to Greece via the Mediterranean coast. In France, it connects the Pyrenees to the Alps over nearly 850 km, with the Mediterranean as a backdrop.