Avignon food and wine tour: 15+ tastings with a local guide

A sit-down bistro meal is built into the afternoon, not tacked on at the end.

A 3.5 to 4-hour food and wine tour of Avignon led by a native English or French-speaking guide, moving through artisan workshops, a 16th-century bakery, a historic wine cellar and a local bistro near Place des Carmes. You taste 15+ handpicked regional foods (olive oils, cheeses, pastries, tapenades, fougasse) paired with fine Rhône wines and conclude at the Jardin des Doms overlooking the Rhône. The guide is Zahra, recommended by Rick Steves. Covered market access is morning-only. Monument tours are not included in this option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Avignon food and wine tasting tour

• Welcome and olive oil tasting
• Provençal aperitif with tapenades
• Sweet Muscat wine and Oreillette pastry
• Wine and cheese masterclass
• Gourmet pastry bistro dessert
• Artisanal coffee or herbal tea finale
• Stroll in Jardin des Doms park
• Visit Place des Italiens square

The experience

You arrive with a free afternoon and no restaurant reservation. This tour fills it by moving through six stops across Avignon (each one a working artisan space or family-owned bistro) tasting as you go instead of sitting down once at the end. The rhythm is unhurried: you spend time in each place, meet the people who make the food, and taste things in the order the guide has arranged them to build flavor. Zahra leads in English or French and shapes the stops around what's fresh that day. The covered market access happens only in the morning, so the afternoon itinerary pivots to the wine cellar, the 16th-century bakery, the roastery and the bistro.

The tasting sequence opens with cold-pressed olive oils and aged cheeses in an elegant setting, then moves to a boutique workshop for red wine, tapenades and crispy toasts. At a hidden square, you taste a crispy Oreillette pastry and sweet Muscat wine in a 1931 tea room built around Avignon's oldest baking oven. The wine cellar, operating since 1900, hosts an interactive masterclass pairing exceptional Rhône Valley bottles with local cheeses. Then comes the sit-down meal: a gourmet bistro near Place des Carmes where you eat a caramelized Tarte Tatin, Crème Brûlée and seasonal salad with wine. The finale is artisanal coffee or herbal tea and gourmet sweets at a family roastery awarded Best Roaster in France. Between stops, you climb to the Jardin des Doms for 360-degree views over the Rhône, the broken bridge and the vineyards.

The 3.5 to 4-hour span means you can book this on an afternoon you're free and still have your evening open. Children from age 6 are welcome. The tour is led by Zahra, a native guide. The itinerary includes alcoholic beverages and tastings throughout, so plan accordingly if you're driving after.

What’s included

• A native English or French-speaking guide (Zahra).
• 15+ regional tastings including olive oils, aged cheeses, fougasse, pastries, tapenades and crispy toasts.
• fine Rhône wines paired throughout.
• a sit-down Provençal meal at a local bistro near Place des Carmes with dessert and wine.
• artisanal coffee or herbal tea and gourmet sweets at a family roastery.
• a stroll through the Jardin des Doms with panoramic views over the Rhône and vineyards.
• all tastings and beverages.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Thursday and FridayDeparts at 16:00

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish 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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Avignon Bespoke Tours

Is this one for you?The 3.5 to 4-hour span leaves your evening free, so you can book this on an afternoon you have and still have dinner plans or time to rest. Zahra leads in English or French and shapes the stops around what's fresh that day, so the itinerary is not locked to a rigid schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Jardin des Doms and why do we go there?

The Jardin des Doms is a hilltop English-style park at the highest point of Avignon, offering 360-degree views over the Rhône River, the famous broken bridge and the vineyards of the valley. You visit it between tastings for a refreshing stroll and conversation about the region's geography and history.

Do we visit any monuments or historic sites inside the city walls?

The tour moves through historic courtyards, heritage sites and viewpoints as part of the walking route between tastings, but formal monument tours are not included in this option. The focus is on artisan workshops, local bistros and the Jardin des Doms.

How much food and wine do we actually consume across the afternoon?

You taste 15+ handpicked regional specialties: warm fougasse, olive oils, aged cheeses, pastries, tapenades, crispy toasts, Oreillette pastry, and a sit-down bistro meal with dessert and wine pairings. The guide describes it as leaving you delightfully full.

What time of day does this tour run, and can I book it on short notice?

The tour is described as an afternoon journey. Covered market access is morning-only, so the afternoon itinerary focuses on the wine cellar, bakery, roastery and bistro. Check availability for your preferred date when booking.