Bus line schedules for the Bouches-du-Rhone department are available from the www.lepilot.com website.

Towns served by these Bouches-du-Rhone bus lines include Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, Barcelonnette, Briançon, Brignoles, Carpentras, Castellane, Cavaillon, Digne-les-Bains, Forcalquier, Gap, Grenoble, Gréoux-les-Bains, Le Luc, Manosque, Marseille, Nice, Sisteron, Tarascon, Toulon.

A car is the best way and is an essential in order to get around the Bouches-du-Rhone region. Car rentals are available at all arrival points in France (airport, train station, port, etc.). The network of country roads and highways are easily navigated with a village situated about every ten minutes by car.

Highways A1, A6 and A7 : Lille, Paris, Lyon, Marseille
A62, A61, A9, A54: Bordeaux, Toulouse, Narbonne, Montpellier, Nîmes, Arles
A54: Nîmes, Salon-de-Provence
A8: Italy, Nice, Marseille
A51: Gap, Sisteron, Aix-en-Provence

Rentals -- To rent a car, you`ll need to present a passport, a driver`s license, and a credit card. You will also have to meet the company`s minimum age requirement; 21 or above at most rental agencies. The biggest agencies have pickup spots all over Southern France, including Budget (Tel.) 800-472-3325; Hertz (Tel.) 800-654-3001; and Europcar (Tel.) 877-940-6900 in the U.S. and Canada.

All About Car Rentals

Cycling in the Provence - Bouches-du-Rhone Department is a very popular way of exploring this destination bringing you past vineyards, orchards, sunflowers, wineries, ochre valleys, and lavender trails while offering the most spectacular views.

There are some sign-posted cycling routes, but you may want to build your own route. You`ll find many excellent general websites dedicated to cycling in France and worldwide. Some worth noting that offer valuable advice and information are www.veloloisirprovence.com/fr to learn more about cycling in the Provence and the Alpilles area and www.freewheelingfrance.com.

Something that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the electric bikes in hilly Provence for obvious reasons. Using these to get around has become much easier thanks to longer-lasting batteries and a growing network of recharge points. A big added bonus: It`s a lot easier to park a bicycle at a top tourist spot than to find a space for your car.

The Bouches-du-Rhone offers an extensive and accessible network of walking/hiking paths and trails, linking villages that are often just a few miles apart. There are trails for people of all abilities, including many hikes which are very suitable for families with younger children. These trails are extensive, well-maintained and reasonably marked. The walking paths will take you through farms, orchards and woods offering the most breathtaking views.

Winter, spring and fall are ideal times to use these walking trails. If you hike the trails in the summer, try to walk/hike in the early morning or late afternoon and be sure to drink plenty of water. Summer is typically a dry time of year, and some areas may be closed for hiking due to risk of fires.

Taxis and private car hires are available to help you visit the Provence - Bouches-du-Rhone department. Some taxi services will offer you a choice of several tours and can accommodate larger groups as well.

The region is very rural and public transportation is virtually always scheduled to get residents to and from work, so it doesn`t always work well for tourists who want to visit multiple sites on a given day. We recommend having a car during your visit so you will not be so limited in regards to what you can see and do.

The Bouches-du-Rhone`s CARTREIZE coach network (www.lepilote.com) offers highway shuttle services for fast and easy access to the area`s main cities, plus local services to towns throughout the area. Whether visiting Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Aubagne, La Ciotat, Arles or Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer, you can sit back in a comfy coach and enjoy the ride.

Le Pilote (www.lepilote.com) is an alliance of public transport services available in the Bouches-du-Rhone (bus, tram, metro and train). Le Pilote suggests the best ways to travel and provides websites and other ideas for getting around (on foot, by bike, car sharing, etc.), as well as real time traffic updates.