Marseille is one of the best bases in France for day trips. Within an hour you can be in a fishing port under white sea cliffs, a fountain-filled university city or the walled home of the medieval popes, and the coast is on your doorstep. Here is how to choose, and how to get there.
Cassis and the Calanques
The nearest and most dramatic escape lies south-east of the city. Cassis is a pretty harbour town beneath Cap Canaille, whose cliffs are among the highest sea cliffs in France, and the Calanques National Park runs between the town and Marseille. You can reach Cassis by regional train and local bus, by coach, by tour or by car along the Route des Crêtes, the cliff road that is closed in strong wind or fire-risk conditions. From the harbour, boats take visitors along the calanques, and walkers can hike to the coves. Swimming is best from late spring to early autumn. If you would rather skip the logistics, a guided boat tour with swimming stops or a sea-kayak day covers the coast without hiking, and a self-drive convertible excursion puts you in control of the Route des Crêtes.
Aix-en-Provence
Half an hour north, Aix is the elegant counterpart to Marseille. The old town is built around the Cours Mirabeau, a wide avenue shaded by plane trees, with fountains on almost every square, the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, the Musée Granet and morning markets. The city is Cézanne’s hometown, and the surrounding countryside, including Montagne Sainte-Victoire, was his favourite subject. Coaches run frequently from Marseille, taking about half an hour to 40 minutes, and regional trains link the two city centres; note that the TGV station is outside Aix, so choose your station with care. A small-group minivan tour combines Cap Canaille, Cassis and Aix in one afternoon.
Avignon, the Pont du Gard and Les Baux
For the grand Provence of postcards, go west and north. Avignon was the seat of the popes in the 14th century, and the vast Palais des Papes and the ramparts still define the city. The Pont du Gard, a three-tiered Roman aqueduct bridge over the Gardon river, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Les Baux-de-Provence is a village on a rocky spur with a ruined castle and wide views over the Alpilles. Avignon is easy by train, but the other two are best reached on a guided day or by car, and a single day trip can combine all three with a wine stop at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is a long day, so start early.
Wine, lavender and villages
If wine is your passion, ask for tours that taste the white wines of Cassis, the rosés and reds of Bandol or the Côtes de Provence around Aix. Lavender fills the plateaus north-east of the city in late June and July, with some tours running to Valensole or to the Luberon, and the hilltop villages of the Luberon are a scenic day in any season. Prices vary widely, and private tours cost much more than small-group ones, so compare what is included.
Choosing the right trip
For sea and swimming, choose Cassis and the Calanques. For culture and cafés, choose Aix. For history and scale, choose Avignon, the Pont du Gard and Les Baux. For a mix of everything, take the small-group Cassis and Aix tour. Rainy days suit Aix and Avignon better than the coast, and clear mistral days are perfect for the cliff road.
Short on time
If you only have half a day, the closest options are a boat tour along the Calanques coast or an afternoon in Cassis, both of which return you to Marseille in time for dinner. Aix also works as a half day if you go by coach in the morning and come back in the late afternoon. Save Avignon, the Pont du Gard and Les Baux for a full day, because the distances are longer and the sites reward unhurried visits.
Practical tips
Book popular tours a few days ahead in summer. Check the weather and wind before you commit to a boat or the cliff road, and keep a spare day. Carry water, sun protection and a light jacket. Trains and coaches are cheaper than tours but need more planning, while tours handle the logistics and add commentary. Hotels near the Vieux-Port and the station make the easiest base for morning departures, and the Mama Shelter, with its garage, suits drivers who want to set off by road.
