Shopping Tour in Arles
The best shopping in Arles isn't in the malls — it's on the streets. From vintage stores to artisan workshops, spots like Eglise Saint-Trophime are scattered through neighborhoods that reward the curious walker. Wander further and you'll stumble on Espace Van Gogh — the kind of find you can't replicate online.
A shopping tour in Arles is less a fixed itinerary than a way of reading the city: anchor the walk on Eglise Saint-Trophime, then let the streets in between set the pace. Between them, detour toward quieter finds like Espace Van Gogh and Alyscamps — the kind of stops a shopping tour rewards but a standard sightseeing list skips. Arles leans toward history, art and photography, so a themed route here naturally folds those in. Everything stays self-guided, so you can linger where it matters and skip what doesn't — with narration filling in the why at each stop.
Free Shopping Tour in Arles with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free shopping tour route in Arles. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Eglise Saint-Trophime — This 12th-century Romanesque church boasts one of the finest carved portal tympanums in all of Provencal Romanesque art, depicting the Last Judgment with Christ in Majesty surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. The adjacent cloister, built in two phases from the 12th to 14th centuries, features exquisitely carved capitals with biblical scenes. The church is part of Arles's UNESCO World Heritage designation., plus hidden gems like Espace Van Gogh — This former hospital, the Hotel-Dieu, is where Van Gogh was treated after severing his ear in December 1888. The central courtyard garden has been replanted to match his painting 'The Garden of the Hospital in Arles,' with beds of irises, oleanders, and forget-me-nots arranged exactly as he depicted them. The building now houses a cultural center, library, and university offices. and Alyscamps — One of the most famous necropolises of the ancient Western world, this Roman-era burial ground lined with carved stone sarcophagi was a prestigious burial site for nearly 1,500 years. Dante referenced it in the Inferno, and both Van Gogh and Gauguin painted its atmospheric tree-lined avenue of tombs during their brief shared stay in Arles in 1888. The Romanesque Church of Saint-Honorat anchors the far end of the avenue..
Use this page as a starting point for a Arles walking tour, a free route, or the Roamee app for Arles. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
How to Plan This Shopping Tour
A strong Arles shopping tour should connect recognizable anchors like Eglise Saint-Trophime with a few slower discoveries around Espace Van Gogh and Alyscamps. Use the major stops for orientation, then let the route bend toward the neighborhoods, viewpoints, markets, paths, or cultural details that match a shopping tour.
Roamee Pro treats the page as a starting brief rather than a fixed script: it can prioritize history, art, photography, adjust the walking time, and keep narration focused on why each stop matters for this specific theme.
Top Shopping Tour Spots
- •Eglise Saint-Trophime — This 12th-century Romanesque church boasts one of the finest carved portal tympanums in all of Provencal Romanesque art, depicting the Last Judgment with Christ in Majesty surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. The adjacent cloister, built in two phases from the 12th to 14th centuries, features exquisitely carved capitals with biblical scenes. The church is part of Arles's UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Hidden Shopping Tour Gems
- •Espace Van Gogh — This former hospital, the Hotel-Dieu, is where Van Gogh was treated after severing his ear in December 1888. The central courtyard garden has been replanted to match his painting 'The Garden of the Hospital in Arles,' with beds of irises, oleanders, and forget-me-nots arranged exactly as he depicted them. The building now houses a cultural center, library, and university offices.
- •Alyscamps — One of the most famous necropolises of the ancient Western world, this Roman-era burial ground lined with carved stone sarcophagi was a prestigious burial site for nearly 1,500 years. Dante referenced it in the Inferno, and both Van Gogh and Gauguin painted its atmospheric tree-lined avenue of tombs during their brief shared stay in Arles in 1888. The Romanesque Church of Saint-Honorat anchors the far end of the avenue.
Shopping Tour Perspective
Visitors explore Arles for history and art, but every walking route ends up passing through Eglise Saint-Trophime and neighborhood markets that tell their own story about the city. Don't overlook Espace Van Gogh — it reflects what the people of Arles actually buy, make, and value.
Shopping smart in Arles
- ›Hit markets early for the best selection and late for the best prices — vendors discount perishables and bulky items rather than pack them up.
- ›Know the haggling norm before you start: in souks and flea markets it's expected, in fixed-price boutiques it's rude. When in doubt, ask politely.
- ›Buy what's actually made locally — ceramics, textiles, food, craft — not mass-produced souvenirs that ship from the same factory worldwide.
- ›Use Eglise Saint-Trophime as a landmark, then explore the side streets around it where independent shops and workshops cluster away from the chain stores.
- ›Carry a foldable tote and small cash, and if you're a visitor, ask about VAT/tax-refund forms for larger purchases before you pay.
Walking Tip
The Saturday morning market on Boulevard des Lices is unmissable. Arrive by 9am for the best selection.
Best Time to Visit
March through June and September through November. The mistral wind can be strong in spring.
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