Aix-en-Provence Market Walk & Food Tasting with Local Guide

Summary

Farmers Market Morning in Aix: Eat, Shop & Laugh Like a Local

Shop and snack your way through Aix-en-Provence’s lively farmers markets with a local guide who knows every corner. Taste fresh cheeses and breads, chat with vendors, and enjoy coffee or tea along the way — all at your own pace. It’s an easygoing morning you’ll remember long after you leave Provence.

What’s the experience like?

Hands full of cherries before I even realized it — that’s how our morning started at marché Richelme in Aix-en-Provence. Our guide, Lucie, just grinned and nudged me toward a stall where the vendor was slicing goat cheese with a wire, offering samples to anyone who looked curious enough. The air smelled like warm bread and something floral — lavender maybe? It’s everywhere here, tucked between the stalls or bundled up in little sachets. I tried to say “merci” with my best accent; Lucie laughed and whispered that I’d just called the cheese “delicious grandmother.” Oops.

We wandered from Richelme to marché des Prêcheurs, which is bigger and louder — more shouting, more colors. There were Corsican meats hanging behind glass, piles of tomatoes so red they almost looked fake, and a fishmonger who winked at us as he packed up someone’s order. Lucie explained which olives came from nearby villages and which ones you eat with pastis (I still can’t pronounce that right). She knew half the vendors by name; they’d wave or toss her an extra fig. At one point she handed me a piece of banon cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves — earthy, tangy, kind of sticky on my fingers. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.

Lunch was whatever we felt like grabbing: socca hot off the griddle for me (crispy edges, soft inside), some roasted veggies for my partner. We sat on a low stone wall while Lucie told us about her favorite market memories growing up here — apparently everyone has their own “best” bread guy in Aix. The sun kept peeking out between clouds but nobody seemed to care if it rained or not; people just pulled their scarves tighter and kept shopping. There was coffee at a tiny café after, strong enough to wake up anyone who’d stayed out too late the night before (guilty). I still think about that first bite of cherry — sweet but with a little tartness at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tour Aix Farmers Markets

• Visit marché Richelme
• Visit marché des Prêcheurs
• Shop fresh produce and local products
• Sample artisanal meats and seafood
• Explore cheeses, dried lavender, and spices
• Enjoy street food for lunch

Top questions

Is this Aix-en-Provence market walk wheelchair accessible?

Yes, both markets are wheelchair accessible and transportation options nearby are suitable for wheelchairs.

Are infants or small children allowed on this market experience?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome.

Does the tour include food tastings?

You’ll sample local products like cheese and bread during your walk; lunch is available from street food stalls at marché des Prêcheurs.

Is coffee or tea included?

Yes, coffee or tea is included during your visit to the markets.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

The experience can be customized to your food preferences or dietary needs; let your guide know in advance.

Which markets do we visit in Aix-en-Provence?

You’ll explore both marché Richelme and marché des Prêcheurs during this experience.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are permitted on this market walk.

How do we get to the markets?

The markets are centrally located in Aix-en-Provence with public transportation options nearby.

What’s included

Your morning includes guidance from a local expert through both marché Richelme and marché des Prêcheurs in Aix-en-Provence, samples of fresh produce and regional specialties like goat cheese and artisan bread along the way, plus coffee or tea at a café before you finish exploring on your own time.