Day Trips to Provence from Marseille

Provence is a region as vast as it is varied. It is home to some of the most beautiful villages in France, natural areas of great environmental value and places steeped in history. Not forgetting, of course, those marvellous lavender fields that are its most typical postcard.

If you are going to spend several days in the city, as well as enjoying some of the best tours of Marseille to discover all its charms, I recommend you get a few kilometres away. The excursions I am going to show you will allow you to enjoy the best of the landscapes, culture and gastronomy of a region that will remain forever engraved in your memory and in your heart.

In the Calanques National Park, you will see some of the most spectacular landscapes in Provence. It is a stretch of coastline punctuated by small fjords with charming coves hidden inside. You will be amazed by the colour of the water, which is an intense blue that contrasts strikingly with the white of the limestone cliffs that shape the landscape.

The best way to discover the beauty of this place is with a guided excursion. Bear in mind that some of these coves are not easy to reach and that not all of them are equally spectacular. The most recommended ones? Port-Miou, Port-Pin and d'En-Vau, among others. By the way, don't forget your swimming costume.

Another advantage of excursions to the Calanques is that you can choose between hiking, cycling and even sidecar tours. If you fancy something more relaxed, you can join one of the boat trips from Marseille to discover this jewel of nature.

My advice? If you're staying long enough in the city, admire the Calanques from every possible point of view. And whichever way you choose, it's one of the best things to do with children in Marseille.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 35 euros if the excursion is on foot, around 75 euros if it is by bike and around 130 euros if it is by boat.
• Duration: between 4 and 7 hours, depending on the means of transport chosen.
• Advantages of this option: there are different types of excursions that can be adapted to the time available or your physical condition.

Aix-en-Provence is the historic capital of Provence. An elegant and stately city where you will discover a host of 18th-century mansions. But this is also the birthplace of Paul Cezànne. If you like art, you will enjoy the guided tour as you follow in the painter's footsteps throughout the city.

However, this town in the heart of Provence has much more to offer. For example, its wines and its gastronomy. If you are one of those who can't resist a good sweet, give in to temptation and try the calisson, a kind of fruity marzipan typical of the area.

The second stop on the tour will take you to Cassis, a small seaside town that has managed to preserve all the charm of the seaside villages. Its main attraction, in fact, is its port. It is home to a large number of bars and restaurants where you can sample the delicious Provençal gastronomy.

But you don't have to stop at the port. Excursions leave time to stroll through its streets and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where time passes slowly and which has nothing to do with the hustle and bustle of Marseille. All this without forgetting the charming beaches and the possibility of taking a boat trip to admire the views.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 130 euros
• Duration: about 9 hours
• Advantages of this option: it offers the possibility to discover two completely different cities and to appreciate the contrasts of Provence.

They can also be visited separately

Most tours offer a visit to Cassis and Aix-en-Provence in the same day, but you can visit them separately. If you don't have much time, or if you prefer to enjoy them at a leisurely pace, visit them separately. These are half-day excursions costing around 70 euros.

The Luberon Natural Park is one of the natural treasures of Provence, where you can discover incredible villages. In fact, Roussillon, Gordes and Lourmarin are among the most beautiful villages in France. So don't forget to take your mobile phone or camera with you because you won't be able to stop taking pictures.

Trying to describe them is difficult. In Rousillon, an expert guide will explain why the façades are covered with ochre in different colours. Don't miss a visit to its quarry or a stroll through its steep streets where you will discover a number of mansions with centuries of history.

From Gordes you will take away one of the most beautiful postcards of the region: that of a village perched on a cliff and crowned by an imposing château. From here, you will also be able to admire one of the most beautiful views of the Luberon massif.

Lourmarin is another village with a Provençal feel, steep winding streets and a Renaissance château. A place, by the way, that was once a refuge for Albert Camus. These three stops will give you one of the best memories of Provence.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 130 euros
• Duration: about 7 hours
• Advantages of this option: it is a very complete tour where you will appreciate the best of Provence.

If you are passionate about history, I recommend this route. It is the closest you can get to a journey back in time, starting from the time of the Roman Empire. In fact, the Pont du Gard is one of the most spectacular and best preserved Roman aqueducts that has survived to the present day.

If you go a little further in time and distance, you will arrive at Les Baux de Provence, a beautiful fortified medieval village. Its castle was one of the most imposing and important in the south of France. Don't miss the views from it because they are spectacular.

Next stop: Avignon. You may know that for years it was the papal see, competing with Rome. Its magnificent Gothic palace, the largest of its kind in Europe, dates from this period. A stroll through its rooms will take you back to a time when this city was practically the heart of the Western world.

But in the free time you have in the city, you can still discover its other treasures. Special mention should be made of the magnificent unfinished bridge that is the subject of a popular children's song. By the way, it has a name of its own: Pont Saint Bénezet.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 130 euros.
• Duration: about 12 hours
• The advantages of this option: in addition to the visit to the historical sites, the tours usually include a stop at Châteauneuf du Pape to discover and taste its famous wines. If you plan to enjoy Marseille in August, you can also take part in the grape harvest festival.

If there is one image that identifies Provence like no other, it is that of the endless lavender fields. Imagine strolling through them, letting yourself be enveloped by the scent of the flowers and taking thousands of photos to upload to your social networks.

It's one of the best things to do in summer in Marseille because that's when the lavender is in bloom. But keep in mind that it's only a short period. If you want to enjoy the purple landscape in all its glory, you only have a few weeks between June and July.

What else do you need to know about these excursions? That there are different destinations, although all of them are spectacular. The best known are Valensone and Sault. In addition, some excursions will take you to other places of great beauty, such as the charming village of Gorges or the gorges of the Verdon River, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the south of France.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 125 euros
• Duration: about 9 hours
• Advantages of this option: it is the one that allows you to really enjoy Provence's most characteristic scenery and to take a leisurely stroll through the lavender fields.

If there is one landscape that can surprise you in Provence, it is its endless fields of vineyards, which in some areas extend almost to the sea. Are you one of those who can appreciate a good wine? Then I recommend this guided tour because you will enjoy it with all your senses.

To give you a little idea, very close to Marseille there are two areas with designation of origin: Cassis and Bandol. With a guided tour you can taste the white and rosé wines of Cassis and the red wines of Bandol. In their cellars, they will also tell you all about their history and how they are made.

There is another wine-growing area that you can also visit with a guided tour: the south of the Luberon. In this case, it is located in the interior of Provence, although the landscapes are just as beautiful. As for the wines, they also have designation of origin and are of excellent quality.

And while you're tasting the wine, try some of the other typical products of Provence, such as cheese or cured meats. If you're still hungry for more, you can always discover more of Provence's gastronomic delights on one of the gastronomic tours in Marseille.

Interesting details of this tour

• Price: around 125 euros
• Duration: about 7 hours
• The advantages of this option: in addition to vineyards and wine cellars, you will stop in some of the most charming villages of Provence.

The landscapes of Provence have inspired artists throughout history. If you want to discover some of the artistic treasures of this region, there are places not to be missed. This excursion will take you there.

Vincent Van Gogh lived in Arles for a few months. It was one of his most tormented periods, but also one of his greatest artistic production. He was later admitted to a hospital in Saint Remy, where he continued to paint almost compulsively. This excursion will allow you to follow in his footsteps and admire his work in the very place that inspired him.

And there are still other surprises in store for you. For example, you can immerse yourself in the region's Roman past by contemplating the remains of the entrance to the ancient Glanumn at Saint Rémy or by visiting the amphitheatre at Arles. Not forgetting the medieval castle of Les Baux or the spectacular artistic projections of Carrières des Lumières.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: around 135 euros
• Duration: about 10 hours
• The advantages of this option: you will have a different view of Provence, more focused on history and art. You will also get to see some of the most beautiful landscapes of the region.

The Camargue is one of Provence's little-known natural treasures. It stretches between two branches of the Rhône river in a delta of surprising richness. If you would like to explore a unique landscape and your visit to Marseille leaves you time, come and join us on this excursion.

The guides will show you the varied landscape of this natural park, which is home to countless species of animals and is a migratory stop for birds. The image of thousands of pink flamingos resting peacefully in the marshes is one of the most beautiful you will see in Provence.

Visiting the Camargue is always an interesting plan for nature lovers. If you are one of them and you are planning things to do in Marseille in June, make a note of this excursion, spring is one of the best times to visit it. Don't forget comfortable clothes and shoes, and don't forget your binoculars.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 125 euros
• Duration: about 8 hours
• Advantages of this option: as well as visiting and getting to know this natural area in depth, some excursions include visits to outstanding localities in the area or leave time for a swim at one of its beaches.

The French Riviera and the Côte d'Azur are also part of Provence. So, if you have time, it's a good idea to include this excursion in your plans in Marseille for 4 days. Along the way, you will be able to admire the elegance of places like Nice or Monaco and really beautiful coastal landscapes.

But this excursion will allow you to discover much more, for example, one of the greatest treasures of the Côte d'Azur: Èze. It is a small village perched on a rock that stands out in the landscape. The views of the Côte d'Azur from it are spectacular.

Interesting details of this excursion

• Price: from 135 euros
• Duration: 11 hours
• Advantages of this option: it allows you to discover the most picturesque places of the coast of Provence and also the luxury and glamour of cities that are not usually associated with this region.

Any of the excursions to Provence are worthwhile. My advice is that if you have the time, do more than one. This will allow you to get the most complete picture of this amazing region. Bear in mind, however, that most of them take up a whole day.

The Calanques tour has some advantages: it takes less time and it is a unique natural area. If you want to get to know Provence in its purest form, the ones that go into the Luberon are perfect. If you've ever wondered where that abbey surrounded by lavender fields is that you've seen in a photo, it's near Gordes, it's the abbey of Sénanque.

And if you're travelling with children, Cassis is a good choice because it's near Marseille and if the weather is good you can enjoy the beach. You can also opt for tours of the Camargue, where you can see a host of super-interesting animals in the wild.