Are you in Marseille and would like to explore the region for a day? Here are the 19 rides around Marseille that we recommend!
Marseille always welcomes you with a large smile, its delicious gastronomy and its southern accent. The city's visit is a first approach to Provence. But it is indeed the whole Provence which is exceptional. So a stroll around Marseille deserves a place in your program.
Between the Roman cities, the sumptuous and unique landscapes, the heavenly beaches or the places of hiking, you can hardly do more varied ! Here are the 19 tours around Marseille selected by Wanderlix!
1. Calanques National Park

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gaspar Janos
📍 16 kilometres (Sormiou clam)
🚗 By car: 31 minutes
📷 To see/to do: Calanques, Hiking, Sports activities
This trip around Marseille is a must. A few minutes from the city is the Calanques National Park, a place of wonder and escape. You don't get tired of the view of the calanques, the most beautiful being Sorgiou, Port-Miou and Morgiou.
The Parc des Calanques are also beautiful hikes and many sporting activities such as kayaking, canoeing or climbing. So if you don’t want to stay at the beach all day, you’ll have the embarrassment of choice!
Finally, you can also rent a boat to whip the calanques . The advantage is that you are free on the program, while offering you an exceptional moment. However, make sure you prepare, as many regulations are to be respected. But it's worth it!
2. Cassis

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gaspar Janos
📍 26 kilometres
🚗 By car: 35 minutes
🚆 By train: 17 minutes
📷 To see/to do: Layers of Port-Miou, Cap Canaille, Port, Beach
Less than 20 minutes by train, Cassis allows to enter another world. Its small village port gives it a crazy charm and we love to walk there in summer and winter. Cassis, it is also the calanque of Port-Miou, the most majestic of the park.
For hikers·ses, Cape Canaille will be your favorite place as many trails are there. Finally, after such a beautiful day, what better than a well-deserved rest at the beach after tasting local seafood. In short, Cassis never gets bored!
3. Aix-en-Provence

Photo credit: Shutterstock – RossHelen
📍 33 kilometres
🚗 By car: 38 minutes
🚆 By train: 50 minutes
📷 To see/to do: Old Town, Atelier de Cézanne, Fondation Vasarely, Taste a calisson
Aix-en-Provence is a visit around traditional Marseille. The loca·les love to stroll through its old town and its multiple fountains. Commune both quiet and lively, Aix has the strengths of a city and a village. At the turn of a shop, don’t hesitate to taste a calisson, the local specialty!
It is also a city of painters, especially known to be that of Paul Cézanne . It is possible to visit its workshop and home, the bastide of the Jas de Bouffran. Near the latter is also the Vasarely Foundation.
4. Salon-de-Provence

Photo credit: Shutterstock – RobArt Photo
📍 51 kilometres
🚗 By car: 45 minutes
🚆 By train: 1 hour
📷 To see/to do: Centre-ville et château de l’Empéri, Visit d’une savonnerie
For visionaries and other mediums, this walk around Marseille is a must. Indeed, Salon-de-Provence is known to be the city of Nostradamus! But, without reading the future, we are certain that you will enjoy Salon for its typical Provencal city center where you like to relax on the terrace.
After traveling through the castle of Emper, it is possible to visit a soap factory, making soap being the specialty of the commune.
5. Alpilles Regional Natural Park

Photo credit: Shutterstock – David Hughes
📍 78 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h10
📷 To see/to do: Hiking, Climbing
The Alpilles is the walk around Marseille in the middle of nature. This park is renowned for its many hiking trails, whether hiking, riding stables or cyclos. An ideal place to escape a few hours of the urban tumult. Some can also try to climb!
6. Les Baux-de-Provence

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Oleg Znamenskiy
📍 84 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h10
📷 To see/to do: Walk in the village, Carrières de Lumières, Château des Baux, Museums
Located in the heart of the Alpilles, Les-Baux-de-Provence is a beautiful village perched in the mountain where time seems to have stopped. Despite its small size, each paved alley has its historic monument! At the top are the ruins of the Château des Baux offering a superb panorama.
North of the village, don't miss the visit of the Careers of Lights. These are former careers converted into an underground museum, with the diffusion of works of art on the rock! A walk around Marseille both historical and original.
7. La Camargue

Photo credit: Flickr – jean-louis Zimmermann
📍 110 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1:30
📷 To see/to do: Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Natural reserves and ornithological park, Beaches and ponds
The Camargue is a beautiful region that must be preserved at all costs. Threatened by climate change and rising waters, this national park is certainly one of the most beautiful in France. There are many animal species protected on natural reserves and ornithological parks. We like to observe pink birds and Flemish in their natural environment.
To Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer , you stroll through the small streets of this traditional village. Finally, it is possible to discover beaches and ponds. A visit around Marseille that we visit in conscience to preserve all its treasures.
8. Calanque du Port d’Alon

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Malfootu
📍 48 kilometres
🚗 By car: 47 minutes
A calanque outside the Calanques National Park? This is the calanque of the Port of Alon! Located on the commune of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, this calanque is the visit around Marseille for those who want to rest at the edge of the water. The place is superb, ideal for picnicing and spending the day.
9. Avignon

Photo credit: Shutterstock / S-F
📍 103 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h15
🚆 By train: 1h10
📷 To see/to do: Historic Centre, Palais des Papes, Avignon Bridge, Museums, Avignon Festival
The City of the Popes is one of the most appreciated cities in France. From early childhood, the tablet On the Pont d’Avignon already makes us want to go see this famous Saint-Bénézet bridge , half of which was taken by the waters. Avignon owes his nickname to the papacy? Moreover, the visit of the Palace of the Popes We dive back seven centuries.
The historic centre is typical of the region. After having ventured into the alleys, we like to sit on the terrace to enjoy the places. Well, if you like theatre, don't miss the Festival d’Avignon , which takes place there every year since 1947!
Roman Provence
10. Arles

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gerhard Roethlinger
📍 88 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h10
🚆 By train: 47 minutes
📷 To see/to do: Roman Vestiges and Museum of Ancient Arles, Van Gogh Foundation, Reattu Museum, Abbaye de Montmajour
This visit around Marseille is appreciated by those who love old stones. With its many Roman vestiges, including its amphitheatre, Arles is indeed one of the communes by recensing the most in France. The enthusiasts will be able to visit the Musée de l’Arles antique.
The town is also famous for Van Gogh and a foundation is dedicated to it. The Reattu Museum, especially known for its exterior, is also an obligatory passage. Finally, if the weather allows, you can go to the beautiful abbey of Montmajour to the north of the city.
11. Orange

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Luca Quadrio
📍 117 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h15
🚆 By train: 1h27
📷 To see/to do: Ancient theatre and other Roman buildings, Old Town, Thursday morning market
The City of Princes has not usurped its name. With his Ancient theatre and the arc of triumph, Orange welcomes two important Roman buildings that dive us 2000 years back. In addition, many shows take place every year in the theatre.
Orange is also an old town typical of Provence, with small narrow streets where you like to stroll in front of the traditional clusters. Finally, if you are present on Thursday morning, don't miss the market, noisy and muddy!
12. Vaison-la-Romaine

Photo credit: Shutterstock – JeniFoto
📍 139 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h40
📷 To see/to do: Roman Bridge, Archaeological Site of Villasse, Old Town, Comtal Castle
The ride around Marseille par excellence for the amatists of Roman cities. In Vaison, everything is centered around her story. Between its small Roman bridge and its archaeological site, the Roman remains are numerous and throughout the city. It is discovered everywhere, at the turn of a alley of this beautiful historic centre.
The medieval era also brought its building: the Comtal Castle located at the top of a hill. After a difficult accession, a good ice will be your arrival gift!
13. Nimes

Photo credit: Shutterstock / RossHelen
📍 122 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1:30
🚆 By train: 1h12
📷 To see/to do: Arenas, Square House and other Roman vestiges, Museum of Romanity, Downtown
Nîmes is not exactly in Provence but the city is as well known as the others for its Roman vestiges. It is even in Nîmes, with its Maison Carrée, that remains one of the two great Roman buildings, with the Pantheon of Rome, intact since ancient times. Other exceptional place, Arenas of Nimes , whose conservation status is also bluffing!
Roman sites are elsewhere throughout the city, such as the Jardins de la Fontaine. The Romanity Museum completes your stay in ancient Rome. Finally, the city center of Nîmes is just as friendly and becomes a little crazy every year at the time of the feria !
14. Toulon " La Seyne-sur-Mer

Photo credit: Shutterstock / lr.s
📍 66 kilometres
🚗 By car: 45 minutes
🚆 By train: 50 minutes
📷 To see/to do: Rade, Mont Faron, Landing Memorial, Downtown, Beach
The big boats will love this visit around Marseille. Toulon is one of the largest civilian and military ports in France and is visiting the year. After a small walk in the city centre and the visit of the Debarquement memorial in Provence, you can take the cable car to go to Mount Faron. From there, a magnificent view of the sea awaits you.
Speaking of the sea, don’t hesitate to go to La Seyne-sur-Mer, the neighboring city, which has very beautiful beaches!
15. Hyères Porquerolles

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Telly
📍 86 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h15
🚆 By train: 1h45
📷 To see/to do: Castle, Presqu’Ile de Giens, Porquerolles Beach, Magic World
Here is the stroll around Marseille for those who love the sublime beaches. Hyères is known for its peninsula of Giens and especially Porquerolles, a few minutes away from boat . The turquoise color of water transports us to the Caribbean for a day! The peninsula also has beautiful landscapes and the view from the Tour Fondue is superb.
The ruins of the castle of Hyères are also an obligatory passage during your visit. Finally, if you have children, Magic World amusement park, will be their gift!
16. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gordon Bell
📍 86 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h05
🚆 By train: 2h
📷 To see/to do: Downtown, Walk along the Sorgue, Toy Museum
Traversed by the Sorgue River, the town is a small escape from the cities. The historic centre is absolutely magnificent and we love to stroll through traditional boutiques. The best place for lunch? On the terrace along the Sorgue!
The artists of art and ancient objects will find their foot during this walk around Marseille because the village is renowned for its antique dealers. Finally, to delight your child soul, the Toy and Poupée Museum is for you.
17. Roussillon

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Boris Stroujko
📍 89 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h20
📷 To see/to do: Historic Centre, Sentiers des Ocres and Ecomusée de l’Ocre
The geology lovers will make this trip around Marseille their priority. Indeed, Roussillon is known for its Trail des Ocres which gives its unique color to the surrounding landscapes, which can recall the colors of Colorado.
An ecomusée de l’ocre, Ôkhra, retraces the historical contribution of the ocher to the region. However, these geological wonders should not make forget that Roussillon is also a pretty village with a small historical centre in Provence, with small alleys and traditional echoes.
18. Mornas

Photo credit: Flickr – jean-louis Zimmermann
📍 124 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h18
📷 To see/to do: Fortresse, Cour des Platanes and Downtown
This beautiful medieval village is a getaway for those who love old stones. With its courtyard of the Platanes, the historic centre has great assets to be used. Finally, the fortress of Mornas, which we visit without moderation, is the symbol of the village.
19. Aigues-Mortes

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Picturereflex
📍 135 kilometres
🚗 By car: 1h40
📷 To see/to do: Remparts and old town / 135km east of Marseille, about 1h40 road
At the edge of the Camargue (in the Little Camargue ), the city of Aigues-Mortes is one of the most beautiful villages in this natural region. It owes its reputation to its situation and its imposing ramparts, whose observation towers have been preserved. In Aigues-Mortes, you like to get lost in the small streets, eat an ice cream or sip a cocktail on one of the many terraces.
Finally, finish your transition to Salins du Midi to know everything about these huge mountains of salts.
You have just seen him, beautiful walks around Marseille await you! Enjoy your stay!
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