Outdoors · Marseille · France
6 best outdoor things to do in Marseille
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Earth777, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Calanques National Park, Frioul islands and Corniche Kennedy. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 14–20 hours across 5 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 14–20 hours
- Areas
- Southern Marseille, Frioul archipelago and Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
Outdoors in Marseille
Nature · Southern Marseille
1.Calanques National Park
Start hikes early, carry at least two litres of water per person and wear proper shoes; the limestone paths are steep and slippery.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Free
- Photo spot
Island · Frioul archipelago
2.Frioul islands
Bring water, sun protection and snorkelling gear; there is almost no shade, and the coves on Ratonneau are calmer than the open coast.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Street · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
3.Corniche Kennedy
Walk or cycle it from Catalans towards the Prado in the late afternoon, stopping at the Vallon des Auffes and Malmousque.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
Beach · Prado and the beaches
4.Plages du Prado and Parc Borély
Go on a weekday morning in summer; weekend afternoons are very crowded and parking is difficult.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes
5.Les Goudes and Callelongue
Take bus 19 to La Madrague de Montredon and change to bus 20, or catch the summer boat shuttle to Les Goudes from the Vieux-Port.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Food
- Views
Waterfront · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
6.Malmousque
Bring water shoes; entry is from rocks rather than sand, and there are no facilities.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Marseille | Calanques National Park | Half a day to a full day |
| Frioul archipelago | Frioul islands | Half a day |
| Endoume and Vallon des Auffes | Corniche Kennedy and Malmousque | 1–2 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Prado and the beaches | Plages du Prado and Parc Borély | Half a day |
| Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes | Les Goudes and Callelongue | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 5 free, 1 low cost. Book ahead for Calanques National Park. The longest visit is Calanques National Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Calanques National Park: From June to September access to the massifs depends on daily fire risk, and the path to Sugiton has required a free online reservation in peak summer; check the park website the day before.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Southern Marseille): Calanques National Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Frioul archipelago): Frioul islands, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Endoume and Vallon des Auffes): Corniche Kennedy → Malmousque, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Prado and the beaches): Plages du Prado and Parc Borély, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes): Les Goudes and Callelongue, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm, sunny and green, with long evenings; the sea is still fresh for swimming.
- June: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and sunny with swimmable sea; Calanques access starts to depend on fire risk.
- July: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak heat and crowds; beaches and boats are busy and some Calanques massifs close on high-risk days.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Endoume and Vallon des Auffes — Seaside residential streets above rocky coves and a tiny fishing harbour
- Prado and the beaches — Wide avenues, the city's main beaches and Parc Borély in the 8th arrondissement
- Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes — Sailing harbours, beach bars and fishing villages at the edge of the Calanques
More of Marseille
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Marseille?
Calanques National Park. Created in 2012, the park protects 20 km of white limestone cliffs and narrow inlets between Marseille and Cassis.
+Which of these are free in Marseille?
Calanques National Park, Corniche Kennedy, Plages du Prado and Parc Borély, Les Goudes and Callelongue and Malmousque.