Free walking tours in Nîmes and what to see

Must-sees

Nîmes keeps a remarkable group of Roman monuments, and its centre is easy to explore on foot. The Arena is a 1st-century amphitheatre still used for shows and bullfights, and you can visit inside right up to the top tiers. A few minutes away, the Maison Carrée is an almost intact Roman temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opposite it, Norman Foster’s Carré d’Art houses the contemporary art museum.

Facing the Arena is the Musée de la Romanité, a modern building with mosaics, inscriptions and objects from the ancient city, and a terrace with views. The 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine were built around the spring where the city began and include the ruins of the Temple of Diana. From the top of the gardens you climb to the Tour Magne, a remnant of the Roman wall. The old town, the Écusson, holds the Porte d’Auguste and streets of mansions.

Free tours and guided visits

Civitatis has a free walking tour of Nîmes covering the centre and the Roman monuments, as well as a private tour if you prefer a guide just for your group. It also offers tickets for the Arena with an audio guide and tickets for the Musée de la Romanité, handy for skipping the wait. The Pont du Gard, half an hour away, is usually visited on your own by car or bus.

How long to spend

In a full day you can see the Arena, the Maison Carrée, the Musée de la Romanité and the Jardins de la Fontaine with the Tour Magne. With two days you can spend half a day at the Pont du Gard and wander the Écusson at leisure. If you add Uzès, Avignon or Arles, all nearby, allow three or four days. In summer it gets very hot, so start early.

Where to stay

The Écusson and the streets between the Arena and the Maison Carrée are the best base, with everything within walking distance. Near the station, at the end of Avenue Feuchères, there are practical hotels if you arrive by train. Around the Jardins de la Fontaine the atmosphere is quieter. If you are driving, Uzès and the villages near the Pont du Gard have country cottages.