Les Calanques
Steep limestone inlets reached on foot or by boat from Marseille and Cassis, inside a national park.
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Les Calanques is a wild, rugged stretch of coast in southern France, near Marseille. The massif runs from the 9th arrondissement of Marseille east toward Cassis. It is about 20 km long and 4 km in width along the coast. A calanque is a narrow inlet with steep sides, and the massif has many of them. Its highest peak, Mont Puget, rises to 565 m. Calanques National Park has protected the area since 2012. The Occitan name is Massís dels Calanques.
The western part is marked by steep limestone cliffs. East of Cassis, the rock mixes limestone, sandstone and puddingstone, so the coast looks different there. Visitors come for walks and boat trips that leave from Marseille and Cassis. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for walking, since summer is hot. Plan at least a full day, and more if you want to see several inlets.
Les Calanques in five
- Check the park on the morning you goIn summer the national park can close trails and whole massifs because of fire risk, and some inlets need a reservation. Look at the park's site and its Mes Calanques app before you set out.Calanques National Park
- Reserve Sugiton before you walk downSugiton has its own booking system, and other inlets carry different access rules. Decide your target first, then confirm the rule for it with the park rather than turning up and hoping.
- Pick a boat, a bus or bootsCruises from Marseille's Vieux-Port and from Cassis show the main inlets from the water. Walking in from Cassis toward Port-Pin and En-Vau fills most of a day and suits fit walkers in real shoes.
- Carry water and start earlyThere is almost no shade or drinking water on the paths, and white rock throws the heat back. From June to September leave before 9am, or come in April, May or October.Insurance for hikers
- Sleep in Marseille or CassisMarseille has the transit and the beds; Cassis puts you at the western trailheads and the harbor cruises. Decide which end you want before you book.Marseille travel guide
Need to know
- Getting there
- City bus from Marseille to trailheads; train to Cassis, then bus or walk
- Getting around
- On foot; cruises from Marseille and Cassis
- Best base
- Marseille for transit; Cassis for the western inlets
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with a cruise and a second walk
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Cool, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, clearFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, windyMarchClear
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Spring walksAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Best for hikesMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Best for hikes
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Hot, early startsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, early starts
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low22°Fire closuresJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fire closures
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Fire closuresAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fire closures
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Warm, hikesSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, hikes
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, quieterOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Cool, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Marseille, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Les Calanques
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Les Calanques
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°10°0%Monday: Clear. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue17°10°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed16°13°75%Wednesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Thu17°14°56%Thursday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 56%.
- Fri17°11°60%Friday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sat15°9°16%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sun17°9°41%Sunday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 09:27 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jun–JulAix-en-Provence FestivalAix-en-Provence, a day trip
- JulFestival d'AvignonAvignon, a day trip
- Jul–AugChorégies d'OrangeAvignon, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Cassisabout 20–30 min by train from MarseilleA harbor village at the western end of the coast, with cruises and the walk to En-Vau.Read the guide
- Marseilleabout 30–60 min by city busVieux-Port, MuCEM and the Corniche for the evening after a day on the rocks.Read the guide
- Frioul islandsabout 20 min by boat from the Vieux-PortRocky islands with coves and a short walk, simpler than the mainland inlets.
Before you go to Les Calanques
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Rules for Les Calanques, checked
- Access can be limited or closed in summer for fire risk, and Sugiton requires a reservation. Check the national park's site on the day.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Les Calanques
Regions, cities and the entry rules
Read the guideMarseille travel guideThe city that sits at the edge of the park
Read the guideCassis travel guideHarbor town at the western trailheads
Read the guideFrance by train and carRail, regional buses and rentals
Read the guideEES border checksWhat changed at Schengen borders in 2026
Read the guideLes Calanques FAQ
Are the Calanques worth visiting?
Yes, if you like walking or swimming in clear water under white cliffs. They are the main outdoor draw near Marseille. If you only want a view, a boat cruise gives it with no climbing.
Can you visit the Calanques without a car?
Yes. City buses from Marseille reach several trailheads, trains run to Cassis, and cruises leave from both towns. A car helps little in summer, when road access to some inlets is limited.
Do you need a reservation for the Calanques?
For Sugiton, yes, through the national park. Rules for other inlets and for car access change by season, so check the park's site or app before you go.
When are the Calanques closed?
Mainly in hot, dry summer spells, when fire risk can close trails and massifs, sometimes at short notice. Check the morning of your visit and keep a plan B, such as a cruise.
How many days do you need for the Calanques?
One day for one or two inlets on foot. Two days if you add a boat cruise or the longer walk from Cassis. Skip a third unless you plan a multi-day coastal hike.
Can you swim in the Calanques?
Yes, in the sea at the inlets, but there are no lifeguards at most of them and the paths in are rough. Wear water shoes, bring your own drinking water and do not jump from cliffs.