Known as the most Roman city outside of Italy, Nîmes has one of the best preserved arenas and Roman temples in the world. It's also the birthplace of denim ('de Nîmes'), so you could think of coming to Nîmes as a pilgrimage for your jeans! The city is full of activity and has events and festivals throughout the year, including an annual international music festival held in the Roman arena and local craft and produce markets.
Highlights
Visit the Roman sites - Arena, Maison Carée and Tour Magne (where you get fantastic views of the city)
Go to the Festival of Nîmes - annual international music festival held in June/July and featuring rock and pop legends as well as other contemporary music
Visit a Thursday evening craft and produce market (July / August), or pop to Nîmes covered market (Les Halles) and sample some local goodies
Take a short trip to the Pont du Gard - a World Heritage Roman aqueduct bringing water to Nîmes (or rent a kayak and paddle under it)
Take to train to the medieval walled town of Aigues-Mortes and explore the nearby Camargue - a precious biosphere of salt marshes that's home to flamingos, coypu, wild horses and Camargue cowboys who rear cattle with their own appellation controlée. (You could alternatively hire an electric car - I got one from Sixt)
Station stroll ideas
If you have an hour or two to spare waiting for a train, why not go for a wander?
Tourist info provide a set of maps with the key sights marked here and an interactive map on their website here.
I've also made a downloadable PDF and accompanying google map which will give you a feel for the place and take in the sights.
Guided tours
Tourist info provide guided tours in French which you can book here.
Luggage
If you want to stroll without a care in the world, including your luggage, you could try using the nannybag app to find a place that will take your bags.
If you'd like to find out more about the place before you go, I've made a video below.
Want to see what it's like first?
Let's go explore the place in this video.
..and here's a written version.
Getting there
It takes about 3 hours to get to Nîmes from Paris by TGV. Some of the trains stop directly in the centre, others just call in at Nîmes Pont du Gard, (so called, I think, because it's absolutely nowhere near Nîmes or the world famous Pont du Gard). From here you can catch a local train to the centre.
If you are coming from the south by high-speed train, it's about 3 hours from Girona (2 3⁄4 hours from Figueres, 3 3⁄4 hours from Barcelona).
However, if you don't feel the need for speed, there are also the slower TER trains that take you to Portbou and from there, the Spanish local trains go on to Figueres, Girona and Barcelona. The trains are cheap and you don't need to book in advance - ideal for people like me.
Getting to Pont du Gard
You can get the bus to the Pont du Gard aqueduct from either Nîmes bus station (bus 121) or Pont-du-gard TGV station (bus 126).
Getting to Aigues-mortes
There is a train or bus (bus 132 / P8) from Nîmes to Aigues-mortes
Useful links
Tourist info: https://www.nimes-tourisme.com