Aix En Provence, known simply as Aix, is a small Provençal town with some good shopping and fine architectural merit. This university town is a nice change from the hectic pace of the nearby Côte d’Azur, boasting lots of entertainment and hotels as well as being easy to get to, owing to nearby Marseille Provence Airport.

Aix en Provence has many options for keeping the kids and the active happy. The weather and countryside here are perfect, and on the occasion that it does rain, there is an indoor karting circuit and an ice-skating rink. In addition, those into walking will enjoy the town, the parks and the many hiking trails of Ste-Victoire Mountain.

Most of Aix En Provence’s attractions are of historical value and are best seen in the Mazarin Quarter and ancient Old Town, where many fine museum and fountains can also be discerned. St Sauveur Cathedral is the main landmark in this fine city, while the Roman thermal baths have been cleverly incorporated into a hotel complex.

Marseille Provence Airport is the main point of entry to Aix en Provence and lies midway between the two cities. As one of France’s largest airports, it sees millions of passengers arrive on numerous flights from all over the world each year. Facilities include ATMs and currency exchange at the twin-terminal facility. If you can’t find a flight here, both Nice and Lyon have international airports and are within reach.

Banks: 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday 
Post Offices: 08:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to noon, Saturday 
Government Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday 
Business Centres: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday 
Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday