May, June, and September are the sweet spot: warm, sunny days, open-air dining, and fewer crowds than midsummer. July and August are hot (often low 30s Celsius) and busy, but they are also lavender season, roughly late June to mid-July on the nearby plateaus, and the city hosts the prestigious Festival d'Aix-en-Provence opera festival in July. April and October are pleasant and quieter, while winter is mild but sleepy, with some restaurants closed. The mistral wind can blow cold and hard for a few days in any season.

The nearest airport is Marseille Provence (MRS), about 25 minutes by car; a regular shuttle bus runs to the Aix bus station in roughly 30-40 minutes. The high-speed TGV stops at Aix-en-Provence TGV station, about 15 minutes from the center by shuttle bus, with fast connections to Paris (around 3 hours) and Marseille (about 12 minutes). The old town is entirely walkable and largely pedestrian, so drive as little as possible and use the ring-road parking garages if you have a car. Ride-hail and taxis are available, but you will rarely need them within the center.