Walking City Tour of Aix-en-Provence: Local Guide, Small Groups

Walk the streets locals know, taste what makes Aix distinct

A walking city tour of Aix-en-Provence led by a local guide in English, Spanish or French, covering two to three hours of the city's Roman foundations, medieval Jewish quarter, 18th-century mansions and cathedral. You stroll Cours Mirabeau, visit Château de La Gaude and Aix Cathedral, taste the local Calisson delicacy, and get a souvenir photo at the Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins. Groups average two to four people in low season and six to eight in high season. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cours Mirabeau10m
2. Aix Cathedral5m

Explore Aix-en-Provence city highlights

• Meet and safety briefing
• Geographic and historic overview
• Walk along main avenue
• Learn about 18th Century mansion
• Discover stories of Cezanne and Zola
• Photo at Baroque fountain
• Visit Church/Fort of Knights Templars
• Taste local Calisson delicacy
• Explore hidden convent passage
• Admire courthouse and plaza
• Visit medieval Provencal Jewish quarter
• Experience farmers market or people watching
• See city hall and mayor's office
• Hear WWII liberation stories
• Admire opera hall, Black Madonna statue, and cathedral

The experience

The tour opens with a geographic overview and safety briefing, then moves straight onto Cours Mirabeau, the main avenue where you walk past the city's 18th-century architecture and learn how Aix earned its nickname "Paris of the South" during the Renaissance. A local guide walks you through the stories: how Romans founded the city, how religion shaped its medieval layout, why it slept through the 19th century, and how the US Army liberated it from Nazi control.

You'll see the secrets of a 18th-century mansion, discover the lives of 19th-century geniuses Paul Cézanne and Émile Zola at Château de La Gaude, and stand in front of the Baroque Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins for a souvenir photo. The medieval Jewish quarter reveals the region's long history, and a hidden private passage, once a convent, cuts through the heart of the old city. You'll reach the courthouse and plaza at the city's center, then finish at Aix Cathedral, where the guide points out the open-air opera hall and the Black Madonna statue.

Taste matters on this tour. In the morning, you sample the farmers market. In the afternoon, you get a discount at the best gelato in town. The local delicacy, Calisson, comes with a taster at the best spot. You receive a city map, entrance to both the Church of the Knights Templars and the Cathedral, and can refill your water bottle at local sources along the way.

What’s included

• Entrance to Aix Cathedral and the Church of the Knights Templars.
• a taster of Calisson, the local delicacy.
• morning market samples or an afternoon gelato discount depending on departure time.
• a souvenir photo at the Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins.
• a city map.
• access to local water sources to refill your bottle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:10 and 15:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (19 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (1 to 10 years): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Aix Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide who walks at your pace and answers questions as they come, rather than moving through a large group on a set itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (1 to 10 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Cours Mirabeau and why does the tour spend time there?

Cours Mirabeau is the main avenue of Aix-en-Provence, lined with 18th-century architecture and fountains. The guide walks you down it early in the tour to show the city's beauty and explain how it became known as "Paris of the South" during the Renaissance.

What does the tour include to eat and drink?

The tour includes a taster of Calisson, the local delicacy, at the best spot in town. In the morning departures, you sample the farmers market. Afternoon departures include a discount at the best gelato in town. You can refill your water bottle at local sources, though bottled water is not provided.

How long does the tour take and how many people typically go?

The tour runs two to three hours. Groups average two to four people in low season and six to eight in high season, so you stay in a small group with a local guide rather than a large crowd.

Does the tour visit the cathedral, and is entry included?

Yes, Aix Cathedral is the final stop on the tour. Entrance to the Cathedral is included, as is entrance to the Church of the Knights Templars earlier in the walk.