Marseille's 10 most beautiful calanques in 2024

1. Sormiou, Marseille's largest calanque

The calanque de Sormiou is the widest and undeniably one of the most beautiful. Here, a sandy beach borders a lagoon that remains a favorite sport for scuba diving enthusiasts. Between two swims, you can turn right towards Cap Sormiou until you reach Cap Redon, where you can visit the pretty semi-submerged Capélan cave. On the left, you reach the port of Sormiou along a path lined with cottages. The more courageous can climb the Morgiou crest to enjoy an incredible panorama of the natural environment. A day in the Calanque de Sormiou is a must on any trip to Marseille. There's even a restaurant there! Discover this emblematic calanque by booking your electric bike tour !

2. Sugiton, a more intimate setting

The sugiton cove faces the small island of Le Torpilleur. The name was given to it because of its resemblance to a warship. Once there, you'll discover two small coves with pebbles. Once again, the waters are crystal-clear and refreshing. It's a great way to recover from the hour's walk it took to get there! Along the way, the panorama of the calanques' natural environment is breathtaking. Photo enthusiasts be warned. Sugiton is also a popular climbing area.

3. En-Vau, one of Marseille's most emblematic creeks

The height of the surrounding cliffs makes it one of Marseille's most impressive calanques, ideal for hiking. Its cool turquoise waters invite you to take an endless swim, or grab a mask and snorkel to observe the seabed. The Calanque d'En-Vau has a pebble beach where visitors stop to sunbathe or share a picnic. There's no shade on the beach, so hats, caps and sunscreen are advisable in the middle of summer. For the record, the En-Vau calanque was the setting for a scene in the 1964 film Fantômas, starring Louis de Funès and Jean Marais!

4. Morgiou, a calanque inhabited all year round

Yes, 40 residents enjoy the incredible setting of Marseille's calanques all year round. In Morgiou, you'll find a harbor with fishing and pleasure boats, cabanons and a unique bar-restaurant where you can enjoy a refreshing drink and a fish dish. The Calanque de Morgiou boasts a small pebble beach that allows you to enter the transparent waters. A neighbor of Sormiou, it's loved for its picturesque atmosphere. It's definitely a must-see when visiting Marseille's ^9th arrondissement.

5. La Mounine, one of Marseille's narrowest calanques

It's not necessarily the first thing you think of when you take a trip to the Parc National des Calanques. But the Calanque de la Mounine is well worth the detour. Narrow and shallow, its charm is undeniable. Located halfway between the Semaphore pass and the Marseilleveyre calanque, it boasts numerous cavities. These provide shelter for Mediterranean marine fauna such as sars, scorpion fish, sea urchins and starfish. La Mounine also offers a breathtaking view of the Riou archipelago. A delightful break during a hike.

6. Marseilleveyre, one of the easiest to reach

It's a 45-minute walk along the marked GR 98 path from the port of Callelongue to reach this corner of paradise. The calanque of Marseilleveyre is distinguished by its pebble and sandy beach, which offers more space than other calanques to lay your towel. On site, a dozen or so huts with no water or electricity, boats and nature in its raw state, inviting you to commune with it. Swept by the mistral and drenched in sunshine, this calanque in Marseille can quickly fill up or be deserted, depending on the time of year. It's up to you to choose the atmosphere that suits you best.

7. Port-Miou, the closest to Cassis

The calanque of Port-Miou has no beach to speak of. We do, however, love to discover that it is a natural shelter for ships. Like a Provencal fjord, it is 1 km long and welcomes walkers who come to contemplate the contrast of colors, between the blue of the sea, the beige-gray of the cliffs and the green of the pine forest. Visitors are always happy to stop off at one of the restaurants before taking the GR 98, which winds its way through the calanques of Marseille. One of the best things to do on site is to rent a kayak, simply to enjoy the beauty of the Calanques National Park from the water, or toopt for a hike.

8. Port-Pin, one of Marseille's most tree-lined areas

Port-Pin is a cove in Marseille that owes its name to the large number of Aleppo pines found here. In fact, it's one of the most densely wooded in the national park, which should appeal to those who prefer to rest, read or daydream in the shade. The beach, made up of a mixture of sand and pebbles, fills up quickly during the summer months, as do all the calanques. A spring getaway offers a more intimate and serene atmosphere. What's more, it's almost always sunny in Marseille! At Port-Pin, the color of the water is breathtaking. For snorkeling enthusiasts. Explore the Port-Pin cove on a guided hike with an enthusiastic guide !

9. Callelongue, the end of the world in Marseille

Cabanons overlooking a small port, turquoise waters - there's no doubt we're in Marseille's calanques. There's no beach here, but this calanque is so easy to get to from the center of Marseille that we're happy to stop and take a swim down the rocks. There's also a bar-restaurant on site, and we know that the road to the calanques often makes you thirsty and whets your appetite. Callelongue is often the first stop on the road to the wilder calanques. You'll need to bring your camera, as the place is as picturesque as you could wish.

10. Méjean, a calanque on Marseille's Côte Bleue

When we think of Marseille's calanques, we often think of those to the east of the city. But don't forget that to the west, towards Carry-le-Rouet, the Côte Bleue is also home to some superb calanques, such as Méjean. This other piece of paradise in Marseille is divided into two parts. Le petit Méjean boasts a harbor and a small beach lined with pine trees and rocks. Le grand Méjean boasts a lovely cove. An imposing viaduct towers over it in the background. Marseilles is definitely full of pleasant surprises. You'll have to come back again and again to discover all these treasures.

Find out more about the calanques in our dedicated article!

What's the best calanque in Marseille?

The Calanque d'En-Vau is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in France. Steep walls covered with Mediterranean vegetation, limestone peaks, turquoise sea, a beach where you can soak up the sun - the setting is simply sublime. In fact, all you have to do is climb up to the crest of the cliffs to realize just how magnificent and exotic this Marseille calanque is.

Which calanque to book?

This summer, you'll need to make a reservation to access the calanque at Sugiton. This measure, already tested in 2022, has been extended until 2027. Its aim is to protect the natural environment from excessive human activity. Reservations are free and can be made via the Parc national des Calanques website. Access is limited to 400 people per day between July¹ and September 3, and for the weekends of September 9-10 and 16-17.

Which is the easiest calanque to get to?

Callelongue is the most accessible calanque from the center of Marseille. Just take RTM bus^no. 19 in the direction of Madrague-de-Montredon to the terminus, then RTM bus^no. 20 in the direction of Callelongue to the terminus. During the season, RTM maritime shuttles run from Marseille's Old Port to Les Goudes via the Pointe Rouge. Callelongue is a 15-minute walk away, or you can take RTM bus^no. 20. Once there, after a swim, don't hesitate to hike to the Rocher de Saint-Michel, which towers 321 m above the calanques. This is also the area where you can visit the grottes de l'Ours, de Saint-Michel d'Eau douce and de l'Ermite.