In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · France
Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Spend a half‑day to a full day exploring the Crau steppe, markets and local museums; stay longer only for Alpilles hikes.
Saint-Martin-de-Crau is a small Provençal town on the Crau steppe. Its attractions – the Maison de la Crau, weekly markets and the nearby Alpilles – fit comfortably into one day. Longer stays are justified only for dedicated nature walks or cycling circuits.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, occasional thunderstorms)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–110 excl. bed · High €110+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Ambulance / SAMU 15 · Fire 18
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €1.5–2.5 |
| Fresh fruit at market | €1–3 per kg |
| Maison de la Crau entry | €4.5 |
| Public pool entry (15+) | €3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MRS · Marseille-Provence Airport
- Free shuttle to TER Vitrolles‑Marseille station; then regional train to Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau (≈45 min).
- FNI · Nîmes‑Garons Airport
- Limited connections; bus or train to Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau (≈1 h).
Typical fares
- Marseille → Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau (TER)
- about €12 one‑way, 45 min (check)
- Bike rental (day)
- ≈ €15–20 depending on shop
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is walkable; most attractions are within 2 km (1.2 mi). Bike the 12 marked circuits or use TER regional trains (Gare de Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau) for nearby Arles (≈20 min). Local bus service is infrequent – plan ahead.The town centre is walkable; most attractions are within 1.2 mi (2 km). Bike the 12 marked circuits or use TER regional trains (Gare de Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau) for nearby Arles (≈20 min). Local bus service is infrequent – plan ahead.
See and do
Known for
- Crau steppe (dry and wet)
- Maison de la Crau museum
- Weekly Provençal market
- Arènes Louis Thiers bull arena
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arles | TER train from Gare de Saint-Martin-de-Crau, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Saint-Rémy-de-Provence | Car or bus via Arles, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Aix-en-Provence | TER train to Marseille, then another TER to Aix, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| Cassis | Car via A54 and A50, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
| Tarascon | TER train, about 15 min | About 25 min |
| La Ciotat | Car via A50, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Ibis Budget
- Budget chain near zone Ecopole; easy road access.
- Hôtel‑Restaurant de la gare
- Close to the TER station, basic rooms.
- Hôtel La Mare
- Mid‑range, central location.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?sayt kombiɛ̃ |
| Where is the bus stop? | Où est l’arrêt de bus ?u ɛ l aʁɛ də bys |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?ʒə pø paje paʁ kaʁt |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twalɛt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat can exceed 35 °C; carry water.
- Public transport runs limited on Sundays and holidays.
- Check dates for the Feria de la Crau (last weekend of April) – road closures around the arena.
The town is low‑risk; watch for summer heat and limited Sunday transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Saint-Martin-de-Crau yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Crau steppe (dry and wet)
- Maison de la Crau museum
- Weekly Provençal market
- Arènes Louis Thiers bull arena
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Saint-Martin-de-Crau: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Saint-Martin-de-Crau, revision 5244952 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244952
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/saint-martin-de-crau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.