Nimes

Day 1: Roman Nîmes unveiled
Begin with the city’s Roman heart, all within a short, walkable axis. Pick up the combined ticket for the amphitheatre, Maison Carrée and Tour Magne (the museum is separate) and carry water—summer heat reflects fiercely off the limestone.

• Morning: Enter the amphitheatre as it opens to beat tour groups and heat; take the audioguide, explore the galleries and climb to the upper tiers for skyline views. Check the calendar in advance—on concert/Feria weeks access can be limited or closed for set‑up.
• Midday: Cross to the Musée de la Romanité for 60–90 minutes; its cool interiors, mosaics and AR tools are a relief at peak sun. Have lunch on the rooftop terrace with the single best view back to the amphitheatre; pre‑book in high season.
• Afternoon: Wander to the Maison Carrée and circle it slowly to read the stone and spot the tiny holes from the lost bronze inscription. Step into the Carré d’Art opposite; ride the lifts to the library level for a framed view of the temple and a coffee while the light softens.
• Evening: Settle on the steps of the Carré d’Art or the café terraces on Place de la Maison Carrée for sunset—the golden hour makes the limestone glow. If the Festival de Nîmes is on, catch a concert in the amphitheatre; otherwise dine in the Écusson a street or two away from the main plazas for better value.

Day 2: Springs, skyline and the old town
Trace Nîmes to its source at the sacred spring and then lose yourself in the medieval lanes. Wear good shoes—the garden paths are gravelly and the climb to the tower is warm but rewarding.

• Morning: Stroll the formal lower basins of the Jardins de la Fontaine, then slip into the atmospheric ruin misnamed the Temple of Diana. Climb Mont Cavalier to the Tour Magne (ticket/Pass) for a 360‑degree read of the Roman city; take a hat and water in summer, a windproof in winter.
• Midday: Picnic in the shade by the canals or lunch at a nearby brasserie; in hotter months, linger under the plane trees before heading back into town. If mobility is an issue, enjoy the lower gardens and skip the climb.
• Afternoon: Dive into the Écusson: Rue de l’Aspic, Rue de la Madeleine and the tiny placettes; peek into open portes cochères for hidden courtyards. Snack your way through Les Halles (brandade, picholine olives) and detour to the discreet Castellum Divisorium and the Porte d’Auguste to grasp the city’s infrastructure and walls.
• Evening: Apéritif on Place du Marché by the crocodile fountain—locals’ prime people‑watching spot. On summer Thursdays, follow the live music and crafts of Les Jeudis de Nîmes; during the Ferias, expect packed bodegas and very lively streets (keep valuables secure).

Day 3: Aqueducts and contemporary dialogues
Make a half‑day for the Pont du Gard, then round out Nîmes with lesser‑seen gates, sculpture and modern architecture in conversation with the Roman stones. If rain hits, swap outdoor time for more museum hours.

• Morning: Bus 121 or drive to the Pont du Gard; walk both banks to feel its scale and visit the on‑site museum. In warm weather, bring swimwear and water shoes for a dip below the arches; morning light is best for photos and cooler walking.
• Midday: Return to Nîmes for lunch—either market counters in Les Halles (stand‑up seafood or a plat du jour) or a shady square near the Esplanade. Stock up on picnic bits if you prefer to linger riverside at the Pont du Gard instead.
• Afternoon: Sample Nîmes’ modern edge: revisit the Carré d’Art from within if you skimmed it, or head to the Musée de la Romanité’s temporary show. Architecture fans can add a quick look at Nemausus 1 (bus/taxi) and loop back via the Porte de France, Hôtel de Ville’s atlantes and the austere façade of the former prison near the Quai de la Fontaine.
• Evening: For a finale, time the Musée de la Romanité rooftop or the amphitheatre perimeter for blue‑hour shots. Celebrate with Costières de Nîmes and a southern menu; if you’re here in late April/early May, book the Great Roman Games night show well ahead (and expect site closures around event times).

By Air

• Nîmes–Alès–Camargue–Cévennes (FNI, “Nîmes Airport”): 12 km SE. Limited/seasonal flights (mainly low‑cost). Shuttle bus to Nîmes centre (c. 20 min) timed to flights; taxi c. 15–20 min.
• Montpellier–Méditerranée (MPL): 50 km W. 45–60 min by car. Airport shuttle to Montpellier city (tram to St‑Roch), then TER to Nîmes (25–35 min). Overall 1–1.5 hrs.
• Marseille Provence (MRS): 110 km E. 1h15–1h30 by car. Shuttle to Vitrolles Aéroport TER station (5 min) + TER to Nîmes (about 1h20–1h40). Direct coaches also run (c. 1h45–2h20).
• Avignon Provence (AVN): 55 km NE. Small airport, limited flights. 45 min by car; otherwise taxi/shuttle to Avignon Centre/TGV then TER to Nîmes (30–45 min).
• Lyon Saint‑Exupéry (LYS): 220 km N. ~2 hrs by car. Rhônexpress to Lyon Part‑Dieu (30 min) + TGV to Nîmes (1h30–1h50).
• Paris CDG: Direct TGVs to Nîmes (often Nîmes Pont‑du‑Gard) in about 3h–3h20; or RER to Paris Gare de Lyon then TGV (2h50–3h10).

By Train

• Stations:
  • Nîmes‑Centre (city centre; main bus/taxi hub).
  • Nîmes Pont‑du‑Gard (Manduel‑Redessan, out‑of‑town high‑speed stop). TER shuttle 10–15 min to Nîmes‑Centre; check which station your train serves.
• Typical times (fastest services):
  • Paris Gare de Lyon: 2h55–3h15 (TGV INOUI/OUIGO; some services to Pont‑du‑Gard).
  • Lyon Part‑Dieu: 1h30–1h50 (TGV/TER).
  • Marseille St‑Charles: 1h10–1h30 (TER/TGV).
  • Montpellier St‑Roch: 25–35 min (TER).
  • Avignon Centre/TGV: 30–45 min (TER).
  • Toulouse Matabiau: 2h30–3h10 (via Montpellier).
  • Barcelona Sants: around 3h45–4h30 when direct high‑speed services operate; otherwise 4–5 hrs with a change (service patterns vary—check timetables).
• Operators: SNCF (TGV INOUI, OUIGO, TER Occitanie); Renfe on some international high‑speed routes.

By Bus/Coach

• Gare Routière (main bus station) by Nîmes‑Centre (Esplanade Charles‑de‑Gaulle).
• Long‑distance: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to Montpellier (~1 hr), Avignon (~1 hr), Marseille (1h45–2h15), Lyon (3–3h30), Paris (8–9 hrs), Barcelona (5–6 hrs).
• Regional: liO Occitanie buses (e.g., to Pont du Gard/Uzès, Arles, Le Grau‑du‑Roi). Tickets via liO or operators’ apps.

By Car

• Motorways: A9 (Orange–Perpignan) and A54 (to Arles/Salon/Marseille) serve Nîmes. Exits Nîmes‑Ouest (25) and Nîmes‑Est (24).
• Approximate drive times: Montpellier 45–60 min; Avignon 45–50 min; Marseille 1h20–1h40; Lyon 2h15–2h45; Toulouse 2h30–3h; Barcelona 3h45–4h30 (tolls on most routes).
• Parking: the old town (L’Écusson) is largely pedestrian. Use underground car parks (Arènes, Maison Carrée, Les Halles) or P+R, then walk.