Where to stay in the Camargue: the 5 areas to know in 2026
South of Arles, no bridge crosses the Rhône: you take a ferry, and the Vaccarès lagoon splits the delta in two once more. Where you sleep decides which Camargue you will see: the farmhouses along the Arles road and Saintes-Maries west of the lagoon, Salin-de-Giraud and its wild beaches to the east, Aigues-Mortes beyond the Petit Rhône.
Guest rooms in Salin go for around $112* a night, and the big ranch farmhouses top $340*. From Arles to Aigues-Mortes, here are the five areas to base yourself in.
Compare hotel prices in the Camargue
In a hurry? Find the best accommodation deals in 3 clicks.
Compare live deals from Booking, Expedia, Agoda and other partners.
One base or several?
The delta is less than fifty kilometres wide, but the lagoon and the river make every journey longer. For two days, keep the same room; for longer, switch sides halfway through.
- A weekend: One base, in Saintes-Maries or in a farmhouse: the bird park, the sea wall by bike and a horse ride.
- Four to five days: Two bases: a farmhouse in the Grande Camargue, then Aigues-Mortes, crossing the Petit Rhône on the Sauvage ferry.
- A week: Three bases: Arles for the town, Salin-de-Giraud for the eastern shore and the wild beaches, then Aigues-Mortes.
How much driving between two bases?
Driving times on a weekday; at summer weekends, allow extra. At both ferries, you sometimes have to wait your turn.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Arles → Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer | 45 min | via the D570 |
| Arles → Salin-de-Giraud | 45 min | via Le Sambuc |
| Arles → Aigues-Mortes | 50 min | via Saint-Gilles |
| Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer → Aigues-Mortes | 40 min | via the Sauvage ferry |
| Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer → Salin-de-Giraud | 1 hr | via the north of the Vaccarès |
| Salin-de-Giraud → Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône | 20 min | via the Barcarin ferry |
| Aigues-Mortes → Le Grau-du-Roi | 10 min | along the channel |
| Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer → Salin-de-Giraud | 2 hr 30 | by bike along the sea wall, 33 km with no cars |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in the Camargue
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Arles, gateway to the delta The old town of Arles, between the arena, the Rhône and the station
for arriving by train and pairing the Camargue with Roman monuments
The only real town in the delta, and the only one you can see without a car. The arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus all lie within a quarter of an hour's walk, and the Rhône flows at the end of the lanes. In summer, the Rencontres de la photographie festival opens exhibitions in chapels and old workshops. The downside: the lagoons and beaches are three quarters of an hour away by road, and you need a car to reach them.
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Jules César Hotel & Spa Arles - MGallery Collection Luxury
A former convent on the Boulevard des Lices, with a spa and a pool.
Hôtel Du Cloître Mid-range
In the heart of the old town, between the Saint-Trophime cloister and the arena, with bikes to borrow for heading out into the delta.
Hôtel Amphithéâtre Mid-range
A 17th-century mansion a stone's throw from the arena, with a patio.
Pros
- Everything on foot, from the station to the arena
- Roman monuments and summer festivals
Cons
- The lagoons and the sea three quarters of an hour away
- A car is essential for the delta
The farmhouses of the Grande Camargue Along the road from Arles to Saintes-Maries and the Petit Rhône
for sleeping among horses, bulls and lagoons
Here you sleep in a mas, a farmhouse at the end of a dirt track. White horses graze behind the fence, flamingos fly over the lagoons, and at night there is not a sound. The Musée de la Camargue, at the Mas du Pont de Rousty, tells the story of the bull ranches. Many farmhouses offer horse rides on site. The downside: you have to get back behind the wheel for dinner, and in the evening the mosquitoes rise from the reeds.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hôtel L' Estelle en Camargue Luxury
On the Petit Rhône road, rooms opening onto a lagoon, a pool and a restaurant.
Cacharel Mid-range
A farmhouse among the lagoons, north of Saintes-Maries, with a large pool and horse rides on request.
Pros
- Silence, horses and lagoons outside your room
- Horse rides without getting back in the car
Cons
- Everything by car, even dinner
- Mosquitoes at dusk, from June to September
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer The white village, between the fortified church, the arena and the beach
for the beach, cycling and flamingos four kilometres away
White houses huddled around a fortified church whose roof you can walk on, facing the sea. In the evening you eat tellines on a terrace and walk home. The digue à la mer sea wall starts at the edge of the village, and the Pont de Gau bird park is four kilometres away. The downside: at weekends and in high summer, the lanes overflow.
A pretty little town that is worth the trip (preferably on weekdays, otherwise the narrow streets can quickly become stifling).
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hôtel Le Mirage Mid-range
A family-run hotel with a large garden, a hundred metres or so from the beach and the centre.
Le Dauphin Bleu city.oudormir_tier_economique
A hotel facing the Mediterranean, fifty metres from the sand, with a terrace for sunny mornings.
Pros
- The beach and restaurants on foot
- Cycling, the sea wall and flamingos on the doorstep
Cons
- Packed at weekends and in July and August
- Booked up from winter for the May pilgrimage
Le Sambuc and Salin-de-Giraud The eastern shore of the Vaccarès, down to the salt pans and the mouth of the Grand Rhône
for the wildest Camargue and beaches without buildings
The Camargue you never see from the Saintes-Maries road. The D36 runs past rice fields, then the Vaccarès lagoon and its flamingos, to Salin-de-Giraud, a company village of brick houses built for the salt workers. Beyond it lie the mountains of white salt, then Piémanson beach, vast and without a single building. The Barcarin ferry crosses to Port-Saint-Louis. The downside: very few places to stay, and you can count the restaurants on one hand.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Le Mas de Peint Luxury
An 18th-century farmhouse at Le Sambuc, set on a 550-hectare estate, with its own restaurant.
les chambres du Saunier Mid-range
Guest rooms in Salin-de-Giraud, with a pool, a garden and a shared kitchen.
Pros
- The wildest beaches and lagoons in the delta
- The sea wall and the Vaccarès by bike
Cons
- Guest rooms rather than hotels
- Far from everything in the evening: Arles is three quarters of an hour away
Aigues-Mortes and Le Grau-du-Roi The Gard side of the Camargue, from the ramparts to Port-Camargue and L'Espiguette
for the ramparts, the pink salt pans and the sea ten minutes away
Across the Petit Rhône lies the Gard's Camargue. Aigues-Mortes keeps Saint Louis's walls intact, and you dine on the square in the shade of the plane trees. Behind it, the salt pans turn pink in summer. Ten minutes away, Le Grau-du-Roi lines up its fishing port and beaches, all the way to the dunes of L'Espiguette. The downside: for the farmhouses and flamingos of the Grande Camargue, you have to cross back over the Petit Rhône.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
La Villa Mazarin Luxury
In a 15th-century mansion at the heart of the ramparts, with a pool in the garden.
Le Spinaker Luxury
On the tip of the jetty at Port-Camargue, facing the boats in the marina.
Hotel Les Templiers Mid-range
Inside the ramparts, a merchant's house built in the 18th century.
Hotel L'Escale city.oudormir_tier_economique
Right at the foot of the ramparts, with air-conditioned rooms, a garden and parking.
Pros
- A walled town you can enjoy on foot in the evening
- The sea at Le Grau-du-Roi, ten minutes away
Cons
- The Grande Camargue on the other side of the Petit Rhône
- Ramparts packed in high summer
Our tips for booking the right place
- Pick your side of the Vaccarès before your hotel: Saintes-Maries and the farmhouses on the Arles road lie west of the lagoon, Salin-de-Giraud and Le Sambuc to the east, Aigues-Mortes across the Petit Rhône. From one shore of the Vaccarès to the other, allow an hour by road. Choose the area where you will spend your days, then the hotel: you will not be driving round the lagoon morning and evening.
- Factor the mosquitoes into your choice of room: From June to September they rise from the reeds at dusk, especially around isolated farmhouses. An air-conditioned room saves you opening the windows, and repellent is a must if you dine outside.
- Book early for the May pilgrimage: On 24 and 25 May, Saintes-Maries welcomes Roma from all over Europe, and the village's rooms are taken from winter onwards. To follow the procession, stay in Arles or Aigues-Mortes and arrive early in the morning.
- Staying in Saintes-Maries on a July or August weekend without a booking: the village is full, and the Arles road jams.
- Choosing Port-Saint-Louis for the Camargue: the town has little of interest in itself, and the lagoons are on the other side of the Grand Rhône.
- Taking an isolated farmhouse without a car: the restaurants and the beach are several kilometres away, with no bus to reach them.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!