The Château d'If and the Frioul islands take a day. After that, Marseille is a superb base for exploring Provence — most of the best day trips are less than an hour away by train, bus or boat.
Cassis
The classic day out. Cassis is a small, pretty port thirty kilometres east of Marseille, beneath the red cliffs of Cap Canaille and surrounded by vineyards. Boats from its harbour visit the calanques of Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau; there are town beaches for a swim and terraces for lunch. Get there by train to Cassis station plus a bus, by bus, or on a tour. See our Cassis guide.
The Calanques by boat or on foot
The Calanques National Park begins at the southern edge of Marseille. A half-day boat trip from the Vieux-Port shows you the whole coast as far as Cassis; walkers can reach Sugiton from Luminy or explore around Callelongue and Les Goudes. Read Calanques boat trips and the national park guide.
Aix-en-Provence
Thirty kilometres north, Aix is Marseille's elegant, bourgeois neighbour: the plane-tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, mossy fountains, markets, 17th- and 18th-century mansions and the landscapes painted by Cézanne, who was born here. Frequent buses link the two cities in under an hour; trains also run. Many tours combine Aix with Cassis.
The Côte Bleue
West of Marseille, the Côte Bleue is a quieter coast of small ports and calanques — Niolon, Méjean, Carry-le-Rouet — served by a scenic local railway line that runs along the cliffs. It is good for sea kayaking and for swimming away from the crowds.
Small-group day trip from €99 From Marseille: Cassis & Aix-en-Provence Full-Day Tour
A small-group day trip that follows the scenic Route des Crêtes to the fishing port of Cassis and then crosses to Aix-en-Provence for a stroll along the Cours Mirabeau.
- The Route des Crêtes to Cassis
- The fishing port of Cassis
- The Cours Mirabeau in Aix
Guided sea-kayak tour from €76 Cassis: Calanques National Park Sea Kayaking Tour
Paddle the famous calanques east of Marseille from Cassis — Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau — with an instructor who tells you the stories of the coast. Half-day and longer versions are offered.
- Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau
- Instructor-guided
- Private option available
Day cruise from €125 Marseille: Calanques Eco Boat Cruise with Lunch and Wine
A seven-hour boat day through the Calanques National Park with lunch and wine on board and stops to swim, operated as an eco-minded cruise.
- A long day along the Calanques
- Lunch with wine
- Swimming stops
Guided sea-kayak tour from €60 Marseille: Hidden Côte Bleue Calanques Half-Day Kayak Tour
A guided sea-kayak tour of the calanques of the Côte Bleue, the quieter coast west of Marseille, reaching coves and beaches you can only get to by water. A bestseller with over a thousand reviews.
- Hidden coves reachable only from the sea
- Swim when the weather allows
- Free photos from your guide
Guided hike from €35 Marseille: Calanques National Park Guided Hike with Picnic
A guided walk through the Calanques National Park on foot, with the coast, the creeks and the story of the landscape explained, and a picnic. Note that the park restricts access to its massifs on days of high fire risk in summer; the operator cancels and refunds in that case.
- Coastal paths and creeks of the national park
- Picnic included
- Cancelled with a full refund if conditions are unsafe
Small-group boat tour from €79 From Marseille: Iconic Calanques Boat Tour with Swimming
Marseille's best-selling Calanques trip, with well over 1,700 reviews. A fast boat heads east along the Calanques National Park towards Cassis, stopping to swim and snorkel and visiting places such as Riou island and a sea cave. For many visitors this is the highlight of a Marseille stay.
- Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton and more from the sea
- Riou island and a sea cave
- Snorkelling gear, wetsuits, soft drinks and GoPro
How to choose
- One extra day, summer: a Calanques boat trip in the morning, Cassis in the afternoon.
- One extra day, any season: Aix-en-Provence by bus — markets, fountains and museums.
- Active travellers: sea kayaking on the Côte Bleue or in Cassis, or the hike to Sugiton.
- No car, little time: a guided Cassis and Aix day trip.
Practical tips
- In summer, check the fire-risk access level for the Calanques before any hike.
- Roads to Cassis and the Calanques are congested on summer weekends; the train and boats avoid the traffic.
- If the Mistral cancels your trip to If, Aix is a good wind-proof alternative.
