These scenic inlets stretch for twenty miles and designated as a The hike takes about two hours, so wear sturdy yet comfortable shoes, light clothes and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.You can start your journey either from the Cassis Harbour or Port Miou. If you hope to travel to Cassis by bus, be sure to All of these options sound like more hassle than they’re worth?Consider booking a day trip to Cassis from Aix-en-Provence or Marseille instead!While the summer months bring the best swimming weather to Cassis, they also bring the crowds.Though we visited in April, we mistakenly scheduled our trip to Cassis over a holiday weekend in France, and therefore accidentally sampled what the town feels like when packed to the brim with visitors–and let’s just say we’d rather brave less-than-ideal weather than that level of congestion in Cassis again.Therefore, unless you’re looking forward to swimming more than anything else, we recommend scheduling your visit for shoulder season (either late spring or early fall) instead of in the throes of summer!If you only have time for a brief taste of Cassis, you can get a quick sampling of the Port de Cassis, the lovely, quiet backstreets of the village, and the Port Miou in one day.If you’re road-tripping through France, it’s easy enough to drive to the town (though parking can be a bit of a nightmare, as we discussed above), but if you’d rather not worry about transportation or the logistics of your visit to Cassis, you can easily book a day trip there as well.If you’d rather have time to get out of town a bit and explore more of the Calanques de Cassis, we strongly recommend spending a night or two in town to make the most of your visit–and as a bonus, you’ll also get to see the more quiet side of Cassis once all the daytrippers clear out for the day, which is a reason to stay within itself! We’ve been full-time travelers since May 2016, and are on a mission to find as many adventures as we can around the globe. Kate has been traveling the world full-time for more than 3 years. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases.Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. Known for its calanques, beaches, and beautiful port overlooked by a medieval chateau, Cassis isn’t exactly the image that comes to mind when you think of a typical town in Provence–but it is a lovely addition to any trip to the area. Here’s what to expect in this lovely Provencal town.I said before that stepping into Cassis is like stepping into an impressionist painting, and nowhere is that more true than Cassis’ harbor, the Port de Cassis.From the many boats docked in the water to the many restaurants bursting with noise and color–not to mention the great view of the Chateau de Cassis in the distance–the harbor is the perfect first stop during any trip to Cassis.The area surrounding Cassis is littered with gorgeous (mostly pebble) Meditteranean beaches, but for a very easily accessible option right within Cassis, consider soaking up the sun at the sandy Plage de la Grande Mer!As one of the most easily accessible and most distinctive of the calanques, the Calanque de Port Miou can easily be reached from a parking lot near Cassis–no hiking required.As the name would suggest, this calanque is used as a port, and the views of it from above are absolutely lovely.Want to visit some of the more rugged Calanques de Cassis?Lace up your hiking boots for some fantastic day hikes in southern France–or if you’re less athletically inclined, consider a boat tour from Cassis to admire them from the water!Just a short drive from Cassis sits the highest sea cliff in France: visit Cap Canaille for incredible Meditteranean views!As contrasted with the bustling harbor, the busy beaches, and the popular hiking trails, the small backstreets of Cassis are surprisingly quiet by comparison–but they’re also bright, colorful, and chock full of Provencal charm.Sadly, the medieval Chateau de Cassis isn’t available for tours–but if you want to splurge on a luxury hotel while visiting Cassis, that’s what it is today!Even if you don’t want to check into a room, though, be sure to admire the views of the Chateau de Cassis from the harbor–its dramatic location perched on the cliffs above the town is an absolutely lovely addition to the view.Driving to Cassis is a popular option to visit this little seaside town, and how we chose to visit.However, fair warning–while driving to Cassis is fairly simple, parking can get extremely congested (especially if you accidentally show up during a holiday weekend like we did).Be prepared to drive around looking for a parking place and to walk quite a distance into the center of Cassis once you find one… unless you learn from our mistakes and Trains run regularly between Marseille and Cassis, and take about 30 minutes each way.Buses are also available, but limited, especially in the evening.
Being in the South of France, wine tasting is a must.Some of the recommended are Château de Fontcreuse rosé and sauvignon blanc.Speaking of wine, the Southern location of Cassis means there are vineyards and wineries that you can visit in and around town.There are twelve vineyards situated in the terraced hillside of Cassis, which produces popular wine varieties, from white and red to rosé.As a homage to its wine tradition that dates back to 600 B.C., Cassis holds its annual wine festival Les Vendanges Etoilées every September.Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Warm-up and take a leisurely pace, as you take in the stunning palette of blues, greens, and whites under the sunny skies of Southern France.A large rock that is visible from the Cassis Harbour, Cap Canaille is a must for nature lovers. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Cassis, France on Tripadvisor: See 8,591 traveller reviews and photos of Cassis tourist attractions. If you click through a link on Our Escape Clause, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. So far, we’ve ridden camels in Morocco, learned to scuba dive in Thailand, climbed a volcano in Guatemala, gone cliff jumping in Croatia, and traveled overland from Mexico to Panama. This is a memorable Cassis adventure that you simply must experience.The Calanques can also be accessed by hiking of you’re not up for a boat trip.