Day trips · Marseille · France
6 best day trips from Marseille
Where to go when you want a day away from Marseille, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Marseille is Cassis (About 30 minutes by train or bus). The closest option is Cassis, about 30 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Cassis (30 km)
- Most popular
- Cassis
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassis | 30 km | About 30 minutes by train or bus | TER to Cassis station, then a local shuttle bus to the port; or coach | Couples, Beach, Food lovers |
| Aix-en-Provence | 30 km | About 35 minutes by express coach | Express coach from the bus station next to Gare Saint-Charles | Culture, Couples, Food lovers |
| Avignon | 100 km | About 35 minutes by TGV | TGV to Avignon TGV then shuttle, or TER to Avignon Centre | Culture, First-timers, Couples |
| Arles | 90 km | About 1 hour by train | TER from Gare Saint-Charles to Arles | Culture, Couples, Quiet stays |
| La Ciotat | 35 km | About 35 minutes by train | TER from Gare Saint-Charles to La Ciotat, then local bus | Families, Beach, Quiet stays |
| Côte Bleue | 30 km | About 30–40 minutes by train | TER coastal line from Gare Saint-Charles to Carry-le-Rouet | Quiet stays, Beach, Couples |
The day trips
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30 km · About 30 minutes by train or bus
1.Cassis
A small fishing port backed by the Cap Canaille, one of the highest sea cliffs in France, with pastel houses, cafés and its own white wine. Boats from the harbour visit the calanques of Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau, and a trail from Port-Miou reaches them on foot.
- Getting there
- TER to Cassis station, then a local shuttle bus to the port; or coach
- Best for
- Couples, Beach, Food lovers
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30 km · About 35 minutes by express coach
2.Aix-en-Provence
The elegant university town of Cézanne has plane-tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, dozens of fountains, 17th- and 18th-century mansions and excellent morning markets. The painter's studio and the Terrain des Peintres viewpoint over Montagne Sainte-Victoire are a short walk from the centre.
- Getting there
- Express coach from the bus station next to Gare Saint-Charles
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Food lovers
100 km · About 35 minutes by TGV
3.Avignon
Avignon was the seat of the popes in the 14th century, and the vast Gothic Palais des Papes and the half-ruined Pont Saint-Bénezet still dominate the walled city. In July the town hosts one of the world's largest theatre festivals.
- Getting there
- TGV to Avignon TGV then shuttle, or TER to Avignon Centre
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers, Couples
90 km · About 1 hour by train
4.Arles
Arles has a Roman amphitheatre and theatre, Romanesque cloisters at Saint-Trophime and the places Van Gogh painted during his stay. The LUMA Arles arts centre and its Frank Gehry tower add a contemporary layer, and the Camargue wetlands begin just south.
- Getting there
- TER from Gare Saint-Charles to Arles
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Quiet stays
35 km · About 35 minutes by train
5.La Ciotat
A shipbuilding town where the Lumière brothers filmed some of the first motion pictures; the Eden Théâtre, one of the oldest cinemas in the world, still screens films. It has sandy family beaches, the Calanque de Figuerolles and boats to the Île Verte.
- Getting there
- TER from Gare Saint-Charles to La Ciotat, then local bus
- Best for
- Families, Beach, Quiet stays
30 km · About 30–40 minutes by train
6.Côte Bleue
West of Marseille, a scenic railway runs along the cliffs and viaducts of the Côte Bleue, stopping at small ports and coves such as Niolon, Carry-le-Rouet and Sausset-les-Pins. It is quieter than the Calanques, with seaside walks and seafood restaurants.
- Getting there
- TER coastal line from Gare Saint-Charles to Carry-le-Rouet
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Beach, Couples
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buses along the Corniche fill up on summer weekends; leave early for the beaches.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Marseille?
Cassis. A small fishing port backed by the Cap Canaille, one of the highest sea cliffs in France, with pastel houses, cafés and its own white wine.
+How long does it take to get from Marseille to Cassis?
About 30 minutes by train or bus — TER to Cassis station, then a local shuttle bus to the port; or coach, about 30 km.
+How long does it take to get from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence?
About 35 minutes by express coach — Express coach from the bus station next to Gare Saint-Charles, about 30 km.