Best Things To Do In Cassis And The Nearby Calanques

Tucked along the Mediterranean coast, along southern France, between Marseille and the French Riviera, is picture-perfect Cassis. This charming seaside town, with sidewalk cafes and pastel-painted houses overlooking a harbor full of colorful boats, is also the gateway to the Massif des Calanques, a National Park known for its limestone cliffs and secluded beaches. Come here to hike, boat, and swim along the calanques, while exploring this small French Provençal town. This post covers the best things to do in Cassis and adventuring in the nearby calanques.

I ended up here from Nice, after many suggestions from the people I met there. I had never heard of it, but it was mentioned so many times, I decided to try it. I, of course, fell in love instantly. Interestingly, it’s still not a place I hear much about, so I consider it a charming little Provençal secret.

The Calanques de Cassis

Massif des Calanques, a protected National Park with imposing limestone cliffs that drop steeply to inlets and hidden beaches, stretches about 12 miles (20 km) between Cassis and the southeastern end of Marseille.

“Calanques” comes from Corsican and Occitan words meaning a type of inlet, and these little inlets, or hidden coves along the Mediterranean, are simply stunning.

There are mutiple ways to explore them, including: hiking, boating, and kayaking.

Hiking

There are three calanques within walking distance to Cassis, making them great hiking options. Calanque de Port Miou, Calanque de Port Pin, and Calanque d’En-Vau.

Calanque d’En-Vau is the most challenging to hike to, but also the most rewarding, with its steep drop to Calanque d’En-Vau beach after reaching its summit. To get there, you’ll pass the other two, making them all accessible in one day. It just depends on how much hiking you want to do.

Calanque de Port Miou

Start at either Cassis Harbor or Port Miou (which is the first calanque). If walking from central Cassis to Port Miou, like I did, it’s about 20 minutes, mostly along the coast. If you prefer, there’s a shuttle here from Cassis. There’s also a parking lot at Port Miou, so you can also drive. You can wander and explore this scenic harbor, but its really best views are from above (farther along the trail).

Calanque de Port Pin

In Port Miou, you’ll see signs directing you up to Calanque de Port Pin. As you get closer, you’ll be able to see Port Pin through the fragrant pine trees that line it. Stop here to rest, relax, and swim. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy, but as it’s the first calanque with swimming access, it’s often crowded. We stopped for a minute, but our goal was to hike all the way to Calanque d’En-Vau, so we continued on.

Calanque d’En-Vau

If you’re ready for more adventure, and more reward, follow the signs past Port Pin, up to the peak of the limestone cliffs for stunning views. It’s moderately challenging, so can be steep, and slippery in spots, but doable if you hike regularly.

From the top, after stopping for some well-earned stunning views, it’s time to head to the Calanque d’En Vau beach. Be careful, as it’s a very, very steep descent.

It took us about 2 hours to hike here, but we hiked at a slow pace, with short stops at the other Calanques. If you focus exclusively on this hike, you should be able to reach this beach from Cassis harbor in about an hour and a quarter.

When we finally arrived, we couldn’t wait to jump in the water, which was refreshingly cold. As there are no lockers here for personal items, and no facilities in this wild beach, we resorted to asking someone to watch our bags while we swam. Thankfully, we got lucky with trustworthy strangers.

Tips On Hiking The Calanques

The trail can be slippery with its rocks and gravel, so wear proper hiking shoes. There’s also minimal shade and no facilities on the trail, so bring plenty of water, strong sunscreen, and any snacks you’ll need.

Keep in mind that if you want to swim, there’s no place to lock up your pack, so don’t bring anything you don’t need, or can’t live without.

Also verify that the trails are open. Sometimes the trails in the Calanques close in very dry, or very windy conditions, for fire hazard reasons. Especially June through September. My visit here was at the end of June and we got lucky that it was open the day we hiked. Just to give you an idea, I wanted to visit again the next day, but the it was considered a red day, so the trails were closed.

Take a Boat Tour

There are a variety of options for boat tours of the Calanques. You’ll find them offered in the main port. Some visit different calanques, I think mine visited eight. Some provide the opportunity to swim and most vary in length. It really is lovely and well worth it to take the boat tours for the views from the sea, so I highly recommend it.

Especially the view of Calanque d’En Vau, to get a better perspective on how high the limestones cliffs above it are. I took the boat tour the day after we hiked them and realized just how high we had climbed before descending to the beach (below).

Kayaking

Kayaking is another great way to explore the calanques, but recommended as a guided tour as the wind can be a bit wild and unpredictable. Look for options around town.

Visit Cassis Harbor

This picture perfect port is uber charming. Lined with sidewalk cafes, it’s a fun place to explore and people watch in Cassis. Plus it’s so picturesque! There are plenty of cafes and restaurants surrounding it, so find one and enjoy the view.

The old medieval castle you see beyond the harbor (below right), is now a luxury hotel called chateau de Cassis. Built as a fortress around the 9th century, this castle has witnessed centuries of attack, destruction, and rebirth. It looks even better at night as it’s magically lit after sunset. Unfortunately, as it’s private property, you can’t explore it unless you stay there. Just know that it books up quickly, so if you plan to stay here, book well in advance!

If you’re lucky, you will get to see a proper Provençal Water Jousting competition in the harbor. It’s hard to tell from my photo below, but the contestants try to knock each other off their boats. The winner gets to challenge the next contestant, while the loser swims to shore.

Beaches

Cassis is not known for stunning or large beaches, but there are a few. The main beach, near the harbor, is Plage de La Grande Mer. This pebble beach provides easy access to the sparkling blue waters. However, as it’s the main beach, it gets really crowded in peak season.

On the west side of Cassis, not far from Calanque de Port Miou, is Bestouan Beach (above). This small pebble beach makes a nice stop after hiking the calanques.

There are also two small rocky beaches, Plage du Corton and Plage de l’Arene (towards Cap Canaille), about a 15-20 minute walk from the main harbor. As they’re a bit farther away, they’re usually much quieter.

Visit Cassis’s Wineries

Winemaking, introduced here by the Greeks in 600 BC, is still strong today. And although the Provence region is known for its rose wine, Cassis stands out for its award-winning whites, some of the best in France. They’re even protected by their own appellation (AOC).

There are 12 wine estates in Cassis. They’re all open to the public, except Domaine de la Dona, which caters exclusively to commercial sales.

If you really want to explore the wines here, visit during one of its wine festivals. There are two. A smaller one in mid-May, and a more robust one, Les Fetes des Vendanges, in late September.

Cassis Provençal Market

Wednesday and Friday mornings, the Cassis Market takes over the city center, along several streets near Place de Baragnon. The market opens around 8:00 AM and closes around 12:30 PM.

Come to peruse fresh produce, regional delicacies, artisanal baked goods, local crafts, clothing, fresh flowers, and other typical Provençal items.

Explore Cassis Old Town

Wander the narrow streets to see typical Provençal life in Cassis. The streets are full of sidewalk cafes, so you can dine alfresco on fantastic seafood and French dishes. Typical French style, everything is fantastic!

The Old Town of Cassis is also full of charming little shops that are fun to explore. Especially on market days (above) when vendors set up stalls around the plaza.

Cap Canaille, or Cap Naio, And La Route Des Cretes

South of Cassis, Cap Canaille, the highest sea cliff in France, soars almost 1,300’ (394 m) above sea level. Its distinctive rock face, Falaises de Soubeyrannes, is beautiful to look at and to view from. It’s a great place for a stunning view of Cassis.

The Corniche des Cretes road zig-zags over the top of the cliff. A fun place to drive and explore the best spot to stop for a view.

I didn’t have a car, so chose to walk up to Pas de La Colle for this stunning view.

You really can’t go wrong with the charming little town of Cassis. Especially is you want something less crowded than the normal stops or a spot on the French Riviera that’s off the beaten path.

If you’ve been here, please drop a note on your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.

Best Time To Visit Cassis

The weather is pleasant in Cassis between April and June and September to November. The months of July and August can get quite hot, plus, the Calanques are often closed in peak summer months due to fire hazards. This can also extend into June and September.

To make it easier, there is an app, Mes Calanques, that provides more details and information on closures. Of course, if you’re interested in visiting the Provençal Market, as noted above, it’s held Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Best Places To a Stay In Cassis

I’ve researched some of the best places to stay in Cassis. Note that as many of these are rated very highly, they book up in advance.

Budget

• I stayed at Au Petit Chez Soi. This little hostel has dorm rooms close to the beach front area, a 5-minute walk to the harbor. The owner is very nice and helpful. One thing that was a bit strange about this place is they use disposable sheets, which is a little odd. Despite this, it is usually always booked up.

Moderate

• Charmant Studio Au Ceour De Cassis is a studio apartment only has a full sized bed, but is on the low end of moderate and close to the harbor, a 4-minute walk to the Plage de La Grand Mer. It includes the entire apartment, which includes a kitchen and living room.
• Le Best a Cassis, Top Emplacement is an apartment with a king sized bed close to the harbor. Its a 4-minute walk to the Plage de La Grand Mer. It includes the entire apartment, which includes a kitchen, living room, and a balcony. 

Splurge

• Calanque D’en Vau is a stylishly decorated 1 bedroom apartment is a 2-minute walk to the Plage de La Grand Mer. It has a fully equipped kitchen and a balcony with sea views.
• The Address Cassis Each room in this 5-star boutique guesthouse has a sea view. It’s located a 13-minute walk to the Plage de La Grand Mer and has a pool.

How To Get To Cassis

If driving, Cassis in on the A50, about a 40-minute drive south east of Marseille (which is the closest airport) or about 35-minutes west of Toloun, France. It’s also about 2 hours from Nice and Cannes.

If driving, make sure to obtain an International Drivers Permit (IDP) before you leave your home country. The problem with driving is that’s there’s often a lot of traffic, especially in peak season. You don’t really need a car when you are in Cassis, so they recommend parking at Des Courgettes and taking the shuttle into Cassis. It’s inexpensive and hassle free.

There is also a train station, Gare de Cassis, which connects to many nearby cities in France. It’s located a little away from the port, so you’ll need to take a taxi to get to town. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus, but most recommend just taking a taxi.

How Much Time To Spend In Cassis

While you can see all the sites in a day here, it’s best to stay at least two to experience the town. Especially if you plan one of your days as a hiking/beach day.

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Want More Of France?

Other top spots to explore in the Cote d’Azur include Nice, once a playground for royalty, as well as swanky Tropez, Cannes, and Antibes, playground of the rich and famous.

Of course you can’t miss France’s most visited city, Paris, one of the most romantic cities in Europe. And from Paris, there are several must-do day trips, like the Palace of Versailles, or Giverny, to see Claude Monet’s house and gardens.

If you want to explore some of France’s more historic smaller cities, consider visiting amazing Strasbourg, Lyon, Brittany, and Mont Saint-Michel.

Provence is another must-visit region with several stunning stops including Avignon, seat of the papacy in the 14th century, Aix-en-Provence, Provence’s cultural capital, picture perfect Gordes, charming Lourmarin, Arles, and St. Remy, where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works.

And to learn more about France’s outstanding wines, there’s also Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Loire Valley. Each with their own incredible terroir, varietals, and historic architecture.

To see all the places to fall in love with France in, as well as tips on money, safety, scams, and how to best get around, see my France Travel Guide.