The Palais des Papes in Avignon is the vast Gothic fortress-palace built for the popes when they ruled the Catholic Church from the banks of the Rhône in the 14th century. As of October 2026 a palace ticket costs €16 and a combined ticket with the papal gardens and the famous Pont d’Avignon costs €19.50; under-10s go free. It opens every day, 9:00–19:00 until 1 November and 10:00–17:00 from 2 November to 18 December, with last entry one hour before closing. A free HistoPad tablet brings the empty halls back to life. Allow two to two and a half hours.
Right now in Palais des Papes
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Tickets and tours for Palais des Papes
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Why the Palais des Papes matters
Nine popes lived in Avignon during the 14th century, and they turned a bishop’s residence into the largest Gothic palace in the world. It went up in less than twenty years, from 1335 to 1352, under two builder popes: Benedict XII, who raised the austere, fortress-like Old Palace around his cloister, and Clement VI, who added the more lavish New Palace with its great audience hall and chapel. The Italian painter Matteo Giovannetti covered the chapels and private rooms with frescoes.
After the popes returned to Rome, the palace slowly emptied; it lost its furniture and later served as barracks, which is why the halls feel bare today. The palace, the episcopal ensemble and the Pont d’Avignon form the “Historic Centre of Avignon” UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1947 its Cour d’honneur has been the main open-air stage of the Avignon Festival every July.
What you’ll see
- The ceremonial halls: the Great Audience Hall and the Consistory, where popes received kings and cardinals, and the Grand Tinel, the immense papal banqueting hall.
- The Great Chapel (Clementine Chapel): a huge Gothic nave for papal ceremonies.
- The pope’s private rooms: the Chamber of the Stag (Chambre du Cerf), Clement VI’s study, painted with rare secular frescoes of hunting, fishing and gardens, and the Saint-Martial and Saint-Jean chapels by Giovannetti.
- The Benedict XII cloister and the terraces: rooftop views over Avignon, the Rhône and the broken bridge.
- The papal gardens: included in the combined ticket.
More than twenty rooms are on the route. Until 15 November 2026 the palace also hosts “Relatum”, an exhibition by the Korean artist Lee Ufan.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and hours from the official Palais des Papes website, as of October 2026:
- Palace only: €16; reduced €13; ages 10–17 €10.
- Palace + papal gardens + Pont d’Avignon: €19.50; reduced €16; ages 10–17 €12.
- Free: children under 10. Avignon residents enter free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
- Included: the HistoPad, a tablet with augmented-reality views of the 14th-century interiors, offered free at the entrance in seven languages.
- Hours: 9:00–19:00 from 1 March to 1 November; 10:00–17:00 from 2 November to 18 December; 10:00–18:00 from 19 to 31 December. In 2026 the palace kept 10:00–17:00 hours from early January to early February, so check the 2027 calendar for winter trips. Last entry one hour before closing.
- Booking: the palace recommends booking online on its official reservation platform.
- Bags and pets: there is a free left-luggage service and free toilets. Pets are not allowed, even on a lead or in a bag, except assistance animals.
How long to allow and when to go
The palace suggests two to two and a half hours for the route, and about two hours for the palace and gardens together. Add 30–45 minutes for the bridge. Summer afternoons are hot and busy, so come at opening time; July is the festival month, when the town is packed and rooms are expensive. Autumn and spring are calmer and still sunny.
Accessibility
The palace is a historic monument with many stairs and steps along the way, so the standard route is partly inaccessible to wheelchair users. For visitors with reduced mobility, a two-hour “comfort route” runs by reservation only on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 and on Sundays from 14:30 to 16:30. Book it with the palace before you travel. Assistance animals are welcome.
Getting there
The palace stands on Place du Palais des Papes, inside Avignon’s walls. Avignon Centre station is a 15-minute walk away, up the main street through the old town. High-speed TGVs from Paris take about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours to Avignon TGV station, outside town, with regional trains linking it to Avignon Centre. Regional trains also run from Marseille and Arles. Drivers should leave the car in one of the car parks around the ramparts, as the old town’s streets are narrow; the closest is the underground car park below the palace by the Rhône.
Combine it with
Use the combined ticket to walk out on the Pont d’Avignon, then climb to the Rocher des Doms garden next to the palace for the view across the Rhône. In the afternoon, taste Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the “pope’s new castle” wine, with our wine tasting guide, or explore more of the old town with our city sightseeing guide. For Arles, the Luberon, lavender and the Pont du Gard, see our Provence travel guide; for the coast and the Calanques National Park, our Marseille guide.
Palais des Papes FAQ
How much does the Palais des Papes cost?
As of October 2026, €16 for the palace, or €19.50 with the papal gardens and the Pont d’Avignon. Ages 10–17 pay €10 or €12, and under-10s go free.
Is the combined ticket with the Pont d’Avignon worth it?
For most visitors, yes: for €3.50 more you add the papal gardens and a walk on the famous broken bridge, a few minutes from the palace.
How long does it take to visit the Palais des Papes?
Two to two and a half hours for the palace route, plus time for the bridge.
Do I need to book the Palais des Papes in advance?
It is recommended, especially in July during the festival and on summer weekends. Tickets are also sold on site.
Is the Palais des Papes wheelchair accessible?
Only partly. The standard route has many steps, but a two-hour comfort route for visitors with reduced mobility runs by reservation on Tuesday and Friday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
Why were the popes in Avignon?
In the 14th century the popes left a turbulent Rome for the safety of Avignon, and nine of them reigned here. The palace was built for them between 1335 and 1352.