Driving along the Corniche Kennedy, you could easily miss it: just below the road, under a stone viaduct with arches, a narrow inlet shelters a crowd of small wooden fishing boats — the colourful pointus of Marseille — and a cluster of fishermen’s cabanons and restaurants. The Vallon des Auffes takes its name from the esparto grass (auffo in Provençal) once worked here into ropes and nets.
It is a few minutes from the city centre but feels like a fishing village, and it is one of the places Marseillais go for fish soup, bouillabaisse and the sunset over the islands.
What to see and do: Vallon des Auffes
Photograph the boats and the bridge
Walk down the steps from the Corniche into the little harbour for the classic view of the boats beneath the arches.
Eat fish by the water
A few restaurants here specialise in bouillabaisse and grilled fish. Book ahead for summer evenings and expect city-centre prices or higher.
Walk the Corniche
Continue along the Corniche Kennedy for sea views towards the Frioul islands and the Château d’If, and a swim at the Catalans or the Prophète beach.
How to get to Vallon des Auffes
- Bus 83 runs along the coast from the Vieux-Port towards the Prado beaches and stops near the Vallon.
- On foot, it is a pleasant walk of around 40 minutes from the Vieux-Port past the Palais du Pharo and along the Corniche.
- Some catamaran tours pass the Vallon from the sea.
Insider tips
- Come at sunset, when the light hits the boats and the islands on the horizon.
- Parking on the Corniche is difficult; take the bus.
- The Vallon is a living harbour: do not climb on the boats or the fishermen’s gear.
Best tours & tickets for Vallon des Auffes
These well-reviewed experiences pair well with a visit to Vallon des Auffes:
Catamaran cruise from €79 Marseille: Calanques Catamaran Tour & Stand-up Paddle
A lively catamaran trip that takes in the Vallon des Auffes, passes the Château d'If and anchors in the Frioul calanques, with paddleboards, snorkelling gear and a GoPro on board and a diving board on the roof. Over a thousand reviews and a 4.8 rating.
- Vallon des Auffes, the Château d'If and the Frioul calanques
- Stand-up paddle and snorkelling gear included
- Diving board on the catamaran roof
Guided e-bike tour from €50 Marseille: Sightseeing E-Bike Tour via MuCEM & La Corniche
A three-hour guided e-bike ride that takes in the MuCEM waterfront and runs along the Corniche, with sea views towards the Frioul islands and the Château d’If.
- The MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean
- Along the Corniche Kennedy
- Rated 4.9
Guided e-bike tour from €57 Marseille: City Highlights Guided Half-Day E-Bike Tour
Marseille is hilly and spread out; an electric bike makes it easy to link the Old Port, the Corniche and Notre-Dame de la Garde in one half-day with a guide.
- Covers the hills without the effort
- Notre-Dame de la Garde and the coast
- Rated 4.8
