A short trip to Provence can work wonders: the balmy Mediterranean air, the scent of lavender—and everything feels right again. Here, I’ll share my very own tips for Aix-en-Provence.
Aix-en-Provence: The romantic small town in the south of France
I’m probably what you’d generally call a Francophile. While others complain that the French always refuse to speak even a single word of any other foreign language, I’m happy about it. It feels good to dust off my school French again. Admittedly, it’s a bit rusty, but it’s more than enough for a quick chat. French is a beautiful language, and honestly, I can totally understand why the French are so proud of their culture and language.
That said, a lot has changed in recent years. I still remember well how, during my early years as a pilot on flights to France, there was hardly a single French person who spoke even a little English. Communicating without any knowledge of French was quite a challenge back then. That hardly ever happens these days—almost everyone speaks a few words of English, and if they don’t, they don’t expect the other person to speak French either. The French have really become quite modern. And I always look forward to our now-rare overnight stays in France—for example, in Aix-en-Provence.
Aix-en-Provence: Tips for an afternoon
I feel like I’ve been to Aix-en-Provence a hundred times—though in reality, it’s probably closer to fifty. That’s pretty often. It always surprises even me how much I’ve accumulated over my 18 years of flying. And yet I still manage to get lost time and again in the pretty old town center of Aix-en-Provence, which, admittedly, isn’t even that big. My sense of direction is truly abysmal. But that’s okay—there’s always something new to discover—and something old to enjoy.
Aix is one of the most expensive cities in France, but it also offers one of the highest qualities of life. That makes sense. The city is compact, small, and tranquil—and it’s a college town, so it’s not at all stuffy, as one might expect given its many historic buildings and rich history. The city is constantly reinventing itself without losing even a bit of its old charm.
And in the alleys you can find all kinds of nice little stores, cafes and restaurants. No wonder I’m always happy to while away an afternoon there. A few tips:
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➜ You can find more tips in my France blog
Food & Drink in Aix-en-Provence
Pâtisserie Weibel – A pastry classic in Aix! A bit pricey, but you get mega tartlets, macarons, éclaires, and just about everything French pastry piggy you can imagine. And since the last renovation, the attached café is also visually an absolute pastel sugar dream!
Burger Bar – Open around the clock, which is quite handy in my case when I’m on early duty! Otherwise, in classic French fashion, most restaurants in Aix don’t open until dinner time at 7 p.m., and by then I’m usually already throwing on my pajamas.
Shopping in Aix-en-Provence
Even though Aix is a small town, there are plenty of shopping options—and, conveniently, they’re all concentrated in a small area. There’s even an Apple Store at the end of Cours Mirabeau! Next door, on the new little shopping street, you’ll also find the larger chain stores—like Zara, Zara Home, Sephora, and Fnac—that aren’t located in the historic city center. And there’s a branch of Maisons du Monde, my favorite home decor store. If you’re lucky, the farmers’ market will be on at Place Richelme. Or, on the weekend, check out the flea market on Cours Mirabeau with its beautiful antiques—it’s got that authentic Provence vibe.
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