Major city · France
Carpentras
Base here 1–2 nights only if you want the Friday market and a quiet Comtat Venaissin base; otherwise day-trip from Avignon (40 min, €7).
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat, 35°C+), mid-August crowdsavoid Jul–Aug (heat, 95°F+), mid-August crowds
- Airports
- AVN · MRS
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Carpentras is a small Provençal town in the Comtat Venaissin, 25 km from Avignon and at the foot of Mont Ventoux. Its Friday morning market fills the old town, and the truffle market runs in winter. Most travellers see it in half a day; one night is enough to catch the market at its best.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Carpentras, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyA quiet, safe Provençal town; the real risks are summer heat, pickpockets in the Friday market crush and mistral wind on the Ventoux roads.
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers17 police · 18 fire and ambulance · 112 European emergency (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAVN Avignon Caumont (About 25 km; limited routes).AVN Avignon Caumont (About 16 mi; limited routes).
- Getting aroundThe old town is walkable in 15 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range restaurant€25–40 (≈ US$30–50)
- Museum or sight ticketIndoor public pool entry€2.40 (≈ US$3)
- Budget bedHostel or budget double, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €180 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AVN Avignon Caumont (About 25 km; limited routes) · MRS Marseille Provence (About 120 km; main international gateway for the area)AVN Avignon Caumont (About 16 mi; limited routes) · MRS Marseille Provence (About 75 mi; main international gateway for the area)
Weather and climate
Carpentras: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
6 rd
Feb
12°C54°F
2°C36°F
5 rd
Mar
16°C61°F
5°C41°F
5 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
7°C45°F
7 rd
May
24°C75°F
11°C52°F
6 rd
Jun
28°C82°F
15°C59°F
5 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
18°C64°F
3 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
17°C63°F
4 rd
Sep
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
5 rd
Oct
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
7 rd
Nov
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
7 rd
Dec
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
6 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. TransVaucluse buses leave from the Terradou bus station to Avignon, Orange, Vaison-la-Romaine, Sault and Cavaillon. Trains run hourly to Avignon Centre (about 40 min, €7 one way). A free parking shuttle runs on Friday mornings for the market.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Avignon
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train from Carpentras station, hourly, about 40 min
€7 one way; the Pope's Palace and Pont d'Avignon fill a day.
Orange
goDoor to door: About 1 h
TransVaucluse bus 10 via Sarrians and Jonquières
Roman theatre; check the bus timetable before you go.
Vaison-la-Romaine
goDoor to door: About 1 h
TransVaucluse bus 11 via Malaucène
Roman ruins and medieval upper town.
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
goDoor to door: About 45 min
TransVaucluse bus 13.1 via L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Sunday antiques market is the draw.
Mont Ventoux
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h to the summit
Car via Bédoin or Malaucène; no direct bus
Cyclists' climb; check road closures and wind before driving up.
Apt
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Car via the D4/D938; bus links are limited
Candied fruit and Luberon gateway.
Cavaillon
cautionDoor to door: About 50 min
TransVaucluse bus 13.1
Roman arch and melons in summer.
Lourmarin
overnightDoor to door: About 1 h
Car via the D943 through the Luberon
Too far for a relaxed return day without a car.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town (centre historique)
Walk to the market, cathedral and synagogue; book early for Friday nights.
Around the station and Terradou
Bus and train links to Avignon, Orange and Vaison-la-Romaine; cheaper rooms.
Outskirts and campsites
Car parks and pools; you need a car or the free market shuttle.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €120 | €120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €100 | €200 |
| Train Carpentras – Avignon, both ways2 × €14 | €28 |
| Guided tour of the synagogue and Jewish cemetery2 × €5 | €10 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €39 |
| Trip total≈ €214 per person per day, bed included | €427≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Carpentras excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a café | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €14–20 (≈ US$17–25) |
| Dinner, mid-range restaurant | €25–40 (≈ US$30–50) |
| Glass of Ventoux or Côtes-du-Rhône wine | €4–7 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Berlingot candy, small bag | €3–6 (≈ US$4–7) |
| Train Carpentras – Avignon | €7 (≈ US$9) one way |
| Indoor public pool entry | €2.40 (≈ US$3) |
| Cinema ticket | €7.60 (≈ US$9) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many shops and restaurants close Sunday afternoon and Monday.
- The Friday market is crowded: go before 09:30 or after 12:00.The Friday market is crowded: go before 9:30 AM or after 12:00 PM.
- Summer afternoons hit 35°C+; do sights before noon.Summer afternoons hit 95°F+; do sights before noon.
- The synagogue and Jewish cemetery are visitable by guided tour only, booked through the tourist office.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Fire and ambulance
- 18
- European emergency
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CarpentrasCarpentras
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police17
- Fire and ambulance18
- European emergency112
Embassy
No embassies in Carpentras; the US consulate-general and most others are in Marseille, with embassies in Paris.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Carpentras → Avignon Centre: about €7 (≈ US$9), 40 min, hourly
- Bus Carpentras → Orange (line 10): TransVaucluse fare, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi in town: short hops €8–15 (≈ US$10–18) (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-zhoor)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-see)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-bee-en)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-syon seel voo pleh)
- Je voudrais celui-ci — I would like this one (zhuh voo-dreh suh-lwee see)
- Où est le marché ? — Where is the market? (oo eh luh mar-shay)
Tourist office: place du 25 Août 1944, +33 4 90 63 00 78 (check hours).
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Carpentras. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, 35°C+), mid-August crowds · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MRS and AVN: last TransVaucluse departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: place du 25 Août 1944, the cathedral and Porte d'Orange, the synagogue and Hôtel-Dieu, the market streets.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (synagogue, Jewish cemetery, Inguimbertine library, Graineterie Roux) and eat pages with last orders.
- Friday market and truffle-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.