Avignon food & wine tour: 20+ tastings with artisan shopping

Taste your way through Avignon's hidden artisan world, then shop like someone who knows where to look.

A bespoke food and wine activity in Avignon where you taste 20+ curated artisan bites and regional wines, eat a full meal in an exclusive setting, and shop for Made in France goods in private boutiques and the covered market: all guided by a native speaker who opens confidential doors. The experience runs 5+ hours and caps at six guests. Tastings shift with seasonal availability. The covered market is morning-only, with a premium alternative offered for afternoon tours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Avignon artisan tastings and shopping

• Discover Avignon's City Hall and Opera House
• Explore ancient Roman Forum remains
• Walk shaded main square to partner boutiques
• Private tasting of local wines and artisan bites
• Shop PDO-certified lavender cosmetics and herbs
• Visit Gothic Basilique Saint-Pierre area
• Private tasting of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wine
• Explore Rue des Ciseaux d’Or boutiques
• Lunch with exclusive local recipes
• Shop artisan jewelry and concept stores
• Stroll Rue des Teinturiers and Rue Carreterie
• Enjoy multi-course Mediterranean meal with wines
• Visit Rue Saint-Bernard and nearby boutiques
• Sweet tasting of artisan chocolates and pastries
• Admire Chapelle des Italiens facade
• Shop custom jewelry and herbalists
• Visit Les Halles covered market
• Taste cheeses, tapenades, and charcuterie
• Sweet break at Place Pie with gelato and chocolates
• Enjoy panoramic views at Rocher des Doms
• Prestigious Côtes du Rhône wine tasting
• Shop high-end fashion and art boutiques

The experience

How does a food tour work when the guide decides what you taste based on what just came in that morning? You start in the majestic heart of Avignon (near the City Hall and Opera House), and move through hidden squares and cobblestone alleys, stopping at private ateliers and independent artisans. Your guide, Zahra, a native Avignon resident recommended by Rick Steves, takes you behind the scenes into spaces most visitors never find. The route shifts week to week because the tastings follow what's fresh: rare local wines, artisan cheeses, fine charcuterie, handcrafted pastries, elite chocolates, regional tapenades. You'll taste at least 20 curated bites paired with Rhône wines, including a glass of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, a velvety dessert wine from the region.

The meal itself is a private, multi-course sit-down affair: Mediterranean recipes and seasonal delicacies, not a snack between stops. You move through neighborhoods with names that matter: Rue des Teinturiers, famous for its historic waterwheels on the Sorgue canal; the quiet alleys around Basilique Saint-Pierre; Rocher des Doms, where you taste wines while looking out at the Pont d'Avignon and the Rhône. The covered market (Les Halles, with its Vertical Garden) opens only in the morning, so afternoon tours swap it for a premium alternative. Each stop is chosen for both the tasting and the shopping: master chocolatiers, confectioners, high-end fashion designers, custom jewelry workshops, traditional herbalists, art galleries.

Shopping is guided but not included in the price. Zahra uses what she calls an "uncompromising eye for quality" to open doors to confidential boutiques and concept stores, steering you toward authentic Made in France pieces away from the tourist crowds. The group stays small, six people maximum, so the pace adapts to your interests and purchasing goals. You'll need to bring water, and the experience assumes you can walk the cobblestone streets and climb some steps. Public transportation is nearby if you need it.

What’s included

• 20+ curated artisan tastings paired with Rhône wines including Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
• a private multi-course meal with expert wine pairings in an exclusive setting.
• guided access to hidden boutiques, private ateliers, and the covered market (morning tours only).
• expert shopping guidance through confidential concept stores and independent artisans.
• a native English or French-speaking guide who opens doors to spaces most visitors never find.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SaturdayDeparts at 16:00

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Avignon Bespoke Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or French, so book in the language you're most comfortable with. The small group size means clear conversation throughout the day. This tour suits anyone who wants to taste and shop like a local insider rather than follow a fixed itinerary. If you prefer a set schedule and predictable stops, a standard group tour will serve you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What does "bespoke" actually mean on this tour? Do I get to choose what I taste?

The tastings themselves evolve weekly based on what local producers have that day, so Zahra adjusts the menu for freshness and perfection rather than a fixed itinerary. The experience is bespoke in that it's designed around your pace and your shopping interests: if you want to linger at a chocolatier or skip a stop, the guide adapts. You're not choosing the menu in advance, but the tour bends to how you want to move through the city.

Is this tour just tastings, or do I actually sit down and eat?

You get both. The 20+ tastings are paired bites at different stops throughout the day, but there's also a private, full multi-course meal (refined Mediterranean recipes and seasonal delicacies) served at an exclusive setting with wine pairings. It's a proper sit-down experience, not grazing alone.

What's the difference between morning and afternoon tours at the covered market?

Les Halles, the covered market, only opens in the morning, so morning tours include a stop there to taste directly from local producers and shop for cheeses, tapenades, and charcuterie. Afternoon tours swap that stop for a premium alternative venue that delivers the same quality tasting experience.

Does the tour include shopping, or is that extra?

Shopping is not included in the price. Zahra guides you through boutiques and introduces you to artisans, opening doors to confidential shops and concept stores, but any purchases you make are separate. She shares her standards and knowledge to help you buy authentic Made in France goods, but the spending is yours.

How much walking is involved, and what's the terrain like?

You'll walk through cobblestone alleys, shaded walkways, and historic streets for 5+ hours, with some steps to climb: particularly at Rocher des Doms. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Public transportation is available nearby if you need a break.