guide
What is there to do in Nîmes? Known as the French Rome, the city has one of the best-preserved ancient heritages in the world: arenas still used for shows, an intact Roman temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 18th-century gardens built around a sacred spring. All of it is easy to explore on foot, in one or two days.
Here are our visit ideas, our tips for enjoying Nîmes at a low price and the campsites to stay between the city, the Pont du Gard and the Cévennes.
| Information | In brief |
|---|---|
| Must-see | The Arènes, the Maison Carrée, the Jardins de la Fontaine and the tour Magne |
| Good deal | 3-monument pass at 14.50 euros instead of 21.50 euros separately |
| Free | Jardins de la Fontaine, historic centre, exteriors of the monuments |
| Highlights | Pentecost féria, Harvest féria, ancient reenactments |
| Nearby | Pont du Gard, Uzès, Camargue, Cévennes |
| Suggested duration | One to two days |
Built at the end of the 1st century, the Arènes could hold more than 20,000 spectators come to watch gladiator fights. They are among the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. The visit, with an audio guide, takes you through the tiers and galleries and reveals the life of the gladiators. Even today the Arènes host concerts, bullfights during the féria and historical shows. Expect to pay 11 euros at full price, free for children under 7.
In the heart of the city, the Maison Carrée is a Roman temple built at the start of the Common Era, remarkable for its elegance and exceptional state of preservation. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023. Inside, a film recounts the history of the ancient city. Right opposite, the Carré d’Art, designed by architect Norman Foster, engages in dialogue with the temple and houses a contemporary art museum.
Laid out in the 18th century around the spring that gave the city its origin, the Jardins de la Fontaine are among the first public gardens in Europe. Basins, balustrades, statues and shaded avenues make them a free and much-loved place for a stroll. You will also find the Temple of Diana there, a ruined Roman relic.
At the top of the hill, the tour Magne, a former tower of the Roman enclosure, offers, after a climb on foot, the finest view over Nîmes and its surroundings, all the way to Mont Ventoux on clear days.
Opposite the Arènes, the Musée de la Romanité displays several thousand ancient objects, including superb mosaics, in a contemporary building with an undulating façade. Its archaeological garden and rooftop terrace, with a view of the Arènes, are worth the detour on their own.
Nîmes lives to the rhythm of its festivals. The Pentecost féria draws huge crowds every year for its bodegas, parades and bullfighting shows. The Harvest féria, in September, is more intimate. The Arènes also regularly host historical reenactments, such as the Grands Jeux romains, which bring gladiator fights and chariot races back to life: check the programme for the year.
Some twenty minutes away, the Pont du Gard is the essential excursion: read our guide to visiting the Pont du Gard. Uzès and its Saturday market, the Camargue and Aigues-Mortes to the south, or the valleys of the Cévennes around Anduze to the north-west are all less than an hour away.
Our selection lists several cheap campsites in and around Nîmes. On the edge of the city, the Camping Domaine de La Bastide gets you into the centre in a few minutes. To combine Nîmes with the Cévennes, the Camping Les Plans, in Mialet near Anduze, about fifty minutes from Nîmes, offers a large water park with waterslides, ideal for families. You can also find all our cheap campsites in Gard.
Nîmes is a city of art and history that can be visited without breaking the bank: the Jardins de la Fontaine and the historic centre are free, and the 3-monument pass makes the Arènes, the Maison Carrée and the tour Magne affordable. Come in spring or September for the mild weather, and make the most of your stay to discover the Pont du Gard and the nearby Cévennes.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.
