Many of the most famous attractions in Arles are Roman ruins that have been designated World Heritage sites by UNESCO. These include a theater, an amphitheater, burying grounds (Alyscamps, a cemetery just outside the city), the Roman baths of Constantine, the Cryptoportico (remains of the Roman Forum), the Roman Circus, and the Church of Saint Trophimus. The last one dates to the 1100s rather than the Roman Empire, and features some excellent examples of Romanesque sculpture and architecture. The tourist office sells brochures for 1€ that list themed walks; one of these is the UNESCO World Heritage Trail, which leads you past all the major sites in a 90-minute stroll.

The Arles Archaeological Museum (Musée de l’Arles et de la Provence Antique) is located on the Presqu’Ile du Cirque Romain (near the Roman Circus) and holds exhibits of everything from household items to grand mosaics. The Réattu Museum is Arles’s fine arts museum, with collections of works from as early as the 17th century, though the focus of the galleries is contemporary art. There are quite a few Picassos but no works of van Gogh, rather surprising considered that the great master spent over a year here and painted hundreds of Provençal landscapes. There is also one room dedicated to photography, a rarity among France’s fine arts museums.

The Place de la République is one of the city’s most important plazas. There is a Roman obelisk in the center of the square; here you will also find the Hotel de Ville (city hall), the Church of Saint Trophimus, and a pagan art museum.