Arles Van Gogh Walking Tour: Self-Guided App with 20+ Stops

Walk the streets Van Gogh painted, comparing his 1888 canvases to the city as it stands today.

This self-guided walking tour of Arles uses an offline app with GPS-triggered audio stops to trace the locations Van Gogh painted during his months in the city. You move at your own pace through 16 stops spanning the Roman arena, the Yellow House site, Café Terrace at Night, Place du Forum, the hospital garden, and Les Alyscamps necropolis, each with narration in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German. The app includes detailed directions to both famous landmarks and quieter spots, and the tour takes two to three hours depending on how long you linger.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Van Gogh sites in Arles

• Explore Arles’ Summer Garden
• Discover Arles’ ancient Roman Theatre
• Step into Arles’ Roman arena
• Walk along Van Gogh’s regular street
• Visit Van Gogh’s first Arles lodging
• See the ornate 1887 Amédée Pichot fountain
• Stand where Van Gogh’s Yellow House stood
• Visit Musée Réattu, former Knights of Malta priory
• See Café Terrace at Night location
• Explore Place du Forum
• Visit Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles
• Stand beside the staircase Van Gogh painted
• Stand on the bridge overlooking the Rhône
• See the recreated hospital garden Van Gogh painted
• Walk into Les Alyscamps burial ground
• Finish at medieval Saint Honorat Church

The experience

The app works offline, so you download it before you arrive and navigate without needing a data connection. Each stop triggers audio narration when you reach it, telling you what Van Gogh saw, what he painted there, and how the place has changed since 1888. You'll stand at the exact spot where the Yellow House once stood and compare the easel panel mounted there with the street as it is now; you'll see the Café Terrace at Night building and learn how Van Gogh painted it glowing after dark; you'll walk into Les Alyscamps, the ancient burial ground lined with Roman tombs that inspired both Van Gogh and Gauguin. The narration covers not just the paintings but the history underneath: the Roman Theatre built in the 1st century BCE, the arena constructed around 90 AD where Van Gogh watched bullfights, the hospital garden he painted in spring 1889 after his stay with Dr. Félix Rey.

The tour includes over 20 narration points across Arles, mixing the well-known sites with hidden corners most visitors miss. You'll discover why Van Gogh walked past the Roman Theatre but never painted it, learn about the Bourg-Neuf quarter where he lodged in his first weeks, and stand on the bridge over the Rhône where he painted the original before war destroyed it. The app gives you detailed directions to each stop and works at whatever speed suits you: pause to sit in a square, skip ahead if a stop doesn't interest you, or spend an hour at Les Alyscamps if the light is right. The minimum age is 16, and the tour suits all fitness levels since you're walking at your own pace through city streets and historic sites.

Public transportation options are nearby if you need a break, and the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles is one of your stops, where you can see exhibitions featuring Van Gogh and contemporary artists. The tour ends at the medieval Saint Honorat Church, where Van Gogh painted the church rising above the ancient tombs of Les Alyscamps. Service animals are allowed throughout.

What’s included

• Offline app with GPS-triggered audio narration at over 20 stops.
• detailed directions to both famous landmarks and hidden spots.
• access to the Alyscamps necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• easel panels at key locations so you can compare Van Gogh's 1888 paintings with today's streets.
• narration covering Roman architecture, the Yellow House, Café Terrace at Night, Place du Forum, the hospital garden, and the medieval church.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 58 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Trippy Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Two to three hours means you can finish the tour in a morning and still have the afternoon free for museums, lunch in the old town, or a second walk through neighborhoods the app doesn't cover. If you prefer a guided experience with someone speaking to you in real time, a led tour would suit you better. This one is built for travelers who want to move at their own pace and linger where the paintings speak to them.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Yellow House and why does Van Gogh matter so much to Arles?

The Yellow House was Van Gogh's lodging and studio in Arles, where he dreamed of creating a shared Studio of the South with other artists. You'll stand at the exact spot where it once stood and compare the easel panel with today's street view. The city celebrates Van Gogh even though Arles owns only one work by him: the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles, one of your stops, holds exhibitions connecting his vision to modern artists.

Can I really see the places Van Gogh painted, or are they too changed?

You can stand at the actual locations and compare them to his paintings using the easel panels mounted at key sites. Café Terrace at Night, Place du Forum, and the hospital garden are all recognizable from his canvases, though the city has changed in 135 years. The app narration explains what has stayed the same and what has shifted, so you understand both the 1888 view and the present one.

How long does this tour take and can I do it in one morning?

The tour takes two to three hours depending on how long you pause at each stop. You control the pace entirely, so you can finish in a morning, break it into two shorter walks, or spend a full day if you linger at sites like Les Alyscamps or sit in Place du Forum.

Do I need to download anything before I arrive in Arles?

Yes, you download the Trippy Tour Guide app before your trip so it works offline without using data. Once downloaded, the GPS-triggered audio guides activate automatically when you reach each of the 20+ stops.

What languages does the audio guide come in?

The app offers narration in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and one additional language, so you can choose whichever suits you best.