On holiday in Provence or on the French Riviera , you want to discover the Calanques but don't know how to visit the Calanques of Marseille . It's especially important to know what you want so you're not disappointed and don't miss out on simply sublime scenery.

Here are the questions I will answer in this article:

• How to visit the Calanques of Marseille: on foot, by boat, by car, by bus?
• Which calanque to visit in Marseille or Cassis, which are the most beautiful, the most accessible?
• What hike to do in the creeks of Marseille, what itinerary on foot?
• How to access the Calanques from Marseille?

So here are some tips to ensure that your visit to the Calanques of Marseille and Cassis is successful and meets your expectations perfectly.

How to visit the Calanques of Marseille in 1 day?

For those who only have 1 day to visit the Calanques of Marseille, here are the following possibilities of visits:

• To go on a cruise to have a complete overview of the creeks from the sea: Daily departures are reserved directly from the old port of Marseille. Or on Visit of the Calanques by boat.
• Do a guided hike in the Calanques National Park from Cassis. Indeed, there is a beautiful hike that allows you to see several Calanques in 1 day. See itinerary details below.
• Choose a calanque to visit from Marseille, get there by car, bus or on foot and spend the day there (see which are the most beautiful creeks below).

How to visit the Calanques of Cassis on foot?

Here is a hike that remains a classic and a safe bet for visiting the creeks on foot from Cassis.

Where to park to go to the creeks of Cassis?

This hike starts from the Bois Joli car park near Cassis on the Route de la Gineste. However, as this road is often congested in summer, I recommend parking in Cassis and walking to the Port-Miou car park (30-minute walk).

Alternatively, you can park at the Gorguettes Park and Ride , which is free and from where direct shuttles depart for the Calanques (€1,80).

Hike to the creeks of Cassis

From the Port Miou car park, go down the Calanque de Port Miou to the small beach. Then you have to follow the west bank by the GR51 and GR98 to reach the cove of Port-Pin after passing a small pass.

Arrived at Port-Pin, follow the path heading south marked in blue. It will take you to Pointe d'En Vau and take you back north towards Portalet d'En Vau.

You will climb up to the belvedere of the Calanque d'En-Vau. At 120 meters above sea level, you will enjoy an exceptional panorama over the entire Calanques de Marseille national park.

By a steep passage, you will descend into the valley of En Vau. You can then access the beach by following the path marked in red.

Hiking route in the Calanques of Cassis

This hike represents almost 9 kilometers and is done in 4 hours of walking. I therefore recommend that you leave early in the morning so as not to suffer too much from the heat and avoid the crowds.

The route for this hike in the Calanques of Marseille can be found on the Visorando website . You can download the app or the PDF there to follow the route online.

Otherwise, you can do this magnificent hike by booking an excursion with a guide for a ridiculous price (30 €):

How to visit the creeks of Marseille on foot?

If you want to visit some of the creeks of Marseille on your own, I recommend that you use the official Calanques National Park mobile app.

Indeed, the geolocation information is updated in real time. You'll find 23 routes for exploring the Calanques of Marseille on foot ! See details for downloading the app, which is also available in English.

With this application, not only can you follow the hiking routes very easily, but you will be informed in real time about the news and the activities that can be done in the creeks (climbing, hiking, diving, kayaking, mountain biking). You will have online maps and a system of alerts and notifications.

Map of the Calanques of Marseille

To help you choose your hiking route, the Calanques National Park website has published an interactive map that allows you to view all the hiking trails in the Calanques of Marseille and Cassis: Interactive Map

Which creek to visit in Marseille?

Hard to say, it all depends on your desires and your physical condition. To help you choose among the 27 creeks that go from the Madrague de Montredon to Cassis, here are the questions you need to ask yourself:

• What are the most beautiful creeks in Marseille?
• Among the most beautiful, which is the most accessible calanque?
• Among the most beautiful, which are the creeks where you can swim?

What are the most beautiful creeks in Marseille?

They are all magnificent but, according to reviews on forums and travel blogs, here is the list of the most beautiful calanques in Marseille:

• Calanque d'En-Vau (accessible from Cassis)
• Calanque de Sugiton (accessible from Marseille): Be careful because you have to book in advance (see explanations below)
• The Calanque de Sormiou (accessible from Marseille)
• Calanque de Morgiou (accessible from Marseille)
• Calanque de Port-Pin (accessible from Cassis)

What is the most accessible cove?

The calanques of Cassis are the most accessible: Calanque de Port Miou , Calanque de Port Pin , and Calanque d'En-Vau . See access details above in the chapter: Hiking in the Calanques of Cassis

Among the most beautiful calanques of Marseille, Sormiou and Morgiou are the most visited because they were the easiest to access until recently. However, during the summer months, the only road access is closed to tourists on its final section. Check the official website of the Calanques National Park of Marseille:

" Sormiou, Morgiou, and Callelongue roads: seasonal closure by order of the City of Marseille to allow access for emergency services. In 2022, the roads are closed to motorized vehicle traffic."

• Every weekend and public holiday (Monday April 18 and Thursday May 26) from Saturday April 9, from 7:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
• Every day from Wednesday June 1 to Friday September 30, from 7:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m."

How to get to the Calanque de Sugiton?

To get from Marseille to the Calanque de Sugiton, you can take the RTM B1 bus towards Campus de Luminy and get off at the Luminy – PN des Calanques stop. From there, it's a 30-minute walk to the viewpoint and a 45-minute walk to the calanque itself.

Hike to the calanque and the belvedere of Sugiton

But beware, from this summer, access becomes regulated: See below.

How to visit the Calanque de Sugiton?

Access to the Sugiton cove, one of Marseille's most beautiful, will be regulated starting this summer . To avoid overcrowding, visitors will need to reserve a permit to access the cove. Only 400 people per day will be allowed entry, and these permits can be reserved in advance, free of charge.

The reservation system will be tested on June 26 and July 3, 2022, with final implementation every day from July 10 to August 21.

How to book to go to the Calanque de Sugiton?

Open to all from 9 a.m., free booking to access the Calanque is done online on the Calanques National Park platform.

You can book 3 days before the day of his visit and until 18 p.m. the day before the scheduled day of your visit.

After booking online, you will receive a confirmation email with confirmation of your booking with a QR code. This QR code must be presented upon arrival in the Calanque de Sugiton.

How to get to the Calanque de Sormiou?

From the center of Marseille, take metro line 2 towards Sainte Marguerite – Dromel. Get off at the Rond-Point du Prado stop and take bus 23 towards Les Baumettes, getting off at the La Cayolle stop . From there, it's about an hour's walk to reach the Calanque de Sormiou.

Go to the Calanque de Sormiou by car

If you have a car, you can park in the Baumettes car park in the 9th arrondissement of Marseille. From there, on foot, cross the Baumettes park and take the red-marked trail at the far left. Continue uphill to a wide track and take a path to the right to reach the Col des Baumettes pass on the left. After passing the pass, begin the descent to Sormiou beach. Allow 50 minutes for the walk.

Calanque de Sormiou Hike

Here are some ideas:

Hiking route: the Calanque de Sormiou via the Col de Sormiou

Hiking route: the Calanque de Sormiou via the Col des Baumettes

How to get to the creek of Morgiou?

Go to Calanque de Morgiou by public transport

To get to the Calanque de Morgiou, go to the Prado roundabout and take bus number 22 to the Les Baumettes terminus . Then continue on foot to the Parc des Baumettes and follow the signs for Calanque de Morgiou + 1 hour hike.

Alternatively, you can also take bus 21 to Luminy . Then follow the main path as if you were going to Sugiton. 500 meters before reaching the Col de Sugiton, turn right onto the path marked with yellow dots that descends to Morgiou. Allow 50 minutes for the walk.

Go to Calanque de Morgiou by car

The Calanque de Morgiou is accessible by car only out of season and under certain conditions. This is why it is better to park your car in the Baumettes car park and walk for around 1 hour from the car park.

What are the easiest creeks?

All creeks are deserved. Indeed, you cannot arrive by car near a creek and only take a few steps to enjoy the beach and the rocks.

That's why, if you don't like walking, I recommend visiting the Calanque de Port Miou near Cassis.

From the free park and ride at Les Gorguettes , a shuttle provides direct access to the calanque, and (if you have the courage), you can continue on foot towards the magnificent calanques of Port-Pin and En - V au.

Do you love turquoise waters and magnificent landscapes? Then visit the Verdon Gorges and hike the splendid Martel trail!

And don't forget to set aside a day to visit Marseille.