Exploring the southern coast of France at your own pace is much easier if you opt for a driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park. Just a few miles outside the city you can enjoy the sea, mountains and villages that deserve a stop.
The advantages of driving around France
If you are thinking of taking a trip through the south of France, renting a car is one of the best decisions you can make. There are many reasons for this. For example, you can optimize your time, visit places that are not well connected by public transport and stop wherever you feel like it. It's this kind of freedom that allows you to make a journey as great as the one from Marseille to the Calanques National Park, a perfect combination of nature, sea and coastal villages.
The Calanques National Park is one of the most spectacular landscapes in Provence. It covers a strip of coast from Marseille to Cassis. It has deep coves, called calanques, which are surrounded by white cliffs that emerge from the turquoise waters.
Some coves are only accessible on foot or by boat, but others have nearby points that can be reached by car. In any case, having your own vehicle will make it easier to reach the hiking areas. If you prefer, you can also make a stop to simply enjoy the views. In this area, there are interesting towns, such as La Ciotat or Cassis.
To enjoy this driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park in total comfort, you can rent your vehicle with OK Mobility, with a branch in Marseille, right at the airport of Marseille-Provence. If you arrive by plane, you can pick up your car after you land. And the same on the way back, before returning home, you can return it in the same place. And if your automotive getaway goes a little further through the country, you can also leave your car in Nice or Bordeaux.
Driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park
This driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park runs along part of the Provençal coast between Marseille and Cassis. You will pass through natural landscapes, cliffs and small villages. In total, the journey is no more than 30 miles or so, but we recommend you make the following stops.
Marseille - Callelongue
The route starts in Marseille. There you can head south along the road to the Les Goudes district. From there, you will reach Callelongue; a small fishing port that is also the entrance to the Calanques National Park. The car will have to stay there, but you can walk to some coves or just marvel at the sea views.
Callelongue - Luminy
When you feel like moving on, go north on the D559 road. Turn off toward Luminy, a university area that also serves as access to the Sugiton Calanque, which is one of the most famous. You will see that there is a car park where you can leave the car. And from there, it is time to visit the cove on foot. It takes about 45 minutes, but the route is easy to follow and the views are unbeatable.
Luminy - Cassis
The next stop on the driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park is Cassis. You will travel along the Route des Crêtes, a spectacular scenic road situated between La Ciotat and Cassis. It overlooks Cap Canaille, one of the highest cliffs in Europe. The road is winding and sometimes closes when there are strong winds. But when it is open, it's one of the most beautiful parts of the tour.
Cassis - Calanque d'En-Vau
From the village of Cassis, you can leave your car in one of the car parks and start the hike to the Calanque d'En-Vau, which is probably the park's most iconic cove. The walk is more demanding and takes about two hours to reach it, but there are less demanding alternative routes if you don't want to walk that far. Cassis also has its charm, and is a good stop to eat fried fish with a view.
Cassis - La Ciotat
If you have some free time on your driving tour from Marseille to the Calanques National Park, you can go to La Ciotat. It is a coastal village that receives fewer tourists than Cassis, with attractive beaches and a nice old town. You can choose to take a dip or go to other coves.
This is our recommendation to get to know this area in depth. But if you travel by car, you can go at your own pace and add as many stops as you fancy. Don't miss the chance to get around with total freedom and rent your car in Marselle with OK Mobility.
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