National park · France
Calanques National ParkParc national des Calanques
Enter free on foot; the real cost is getting there and the summer rule — from 1 June to 30 September the land trails and roads close on high fire-risk days, so plan a boat day as backup and start hikes before 9:00.Enter free on foot; the real cost is getting there and the summer rule — from 1 June to 30 September the land trails and roads close on high fire-risk days, so plan a boat day as backup and start hikes before 9:00 AM.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
520 km² (201 sq mi)201 sq mi (520 km²)
approximate
Established
2012
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
At a glance
- Country
- France
- Area
- 520 km² (201 sq mi)201 sq mi (520 km²)
- About 85 km² of land and 435 km² of sea, spread over Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat (check).
- Established
- 2012
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Marseille
Calanques National Park runs along the coast between Marseille and Cassis: limestone fjords cut into white cliffs, with the city's southern suburbs inside the boundary. It is the only French national park that mixes sea, land and urban edge. There is no entrance gate and no ticket. The constraints are heat, water and fire risk: no water points inside the massif, little shade, and daily summer access rules that can shut the trails with a day's notice.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2012.
Size and age
520 km² (201 sq mi)201 sq mi (520 km²) · national park since 2012
About 85 km² of land and 435 km² of sea, spread over Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Marseille.
Why go
- White limestone walls dropping straight into turquoise water, 30 minutes from a major city.
- Three calanques — Sormiou, Morgiou and En-Vau — are reachable on marked trails without a boat.
- The GR 51-98 long-distance path crosses the whole massif west to east.
- Swimming, kayaking and diving in coves that boats can also reach.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool, quiet; some paths muddy
- FebCold wind on the ridges
- MarMild; flowers start
- AprWarm, clear, trails open
- MayWarm; sea swimmable late in the month
- JunAccess rules begin 1 June; heat builds
- JulAbout 30°C (86°F); closures common; crowdsAbout 86°F (30°C); closures common; crowds
- AugHottest and busiest; boat days more reliable
- SepRules run to 30 September; sea still warm
- OctDry, clear, quiet trails
- NovMild; short days
- DecCool, often sunny
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonelli's eagle and other cliff-nesting raptorsAll year · Climbing and some cliff access are restricted in nesting season. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Posidonia seagrass beds and protected fishMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wild boar and foxes around the cabanonsAll year · Do not feed them; they raid bags left on beaches. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Marseille
Metro to Rond-point du Prado then bus 21 to Luminy for the Sormiou and Morgiou trails; bus 19 or 20 toward Callelongue.
40–60 min
Open the page →
From Cassis
Walk from the town centre to Port-Miou in about 20 minutes, then follow the coastal trail east.
20 min on foot
From Aix-en-Provence
Train or bus to Marseille, then local transport to the trailheads.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From By boat
Sightseeing and swimming boats leave Marseille's Vieux-Port and Cassis harbour daily in season.
1–3 h on the water
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Marseille side (Callelongue, Sormiou, Morgiou) | Inhabited calanques with small harbours, cabanons and road access. | Roads and trails; summer road closures possible. |
| Luminy and the central massif | The main hiking hub, with the GR 51-98 crossing the ridges. | Open on foot; no water inside. |
| Cassis side (Port-Miou, Port-Pin, En-Vau) | The classic three-calanque walk, ending at a pebble beach. | Open on foot; En-Vau descent is steep. |
| Marine core | About 435 km² (168 sq mi) of sea with protected fish stocks, seagrass and dive sites.About 168 sq mi (435 km²) of sea with protected fish stocks, seagrass and dive sites. | Boats and diving under park rules; some zones no-take. |
Sketch map
- 1Marseille Vieux-Port · Town≈43.295, 5.374Map ↗
- 2Luminy trailhead · Gate≈43.231, 5.439Map ↗
- 3Calanque de Sormiou · Beach≈43.211, 5.420Map ↗
- 4Calanque de Morgiou · Beach≈43.214, 5.442Map ↗
- 5Cassis harbour · Town≈43.214, 5.537Map ↗
- 6Port-Miou · Beach≈43.205, 5.521Map ↗
- 7Calanque d'En-Vau · Beach≈43.194, 5.507Map ↗
- 8Park headquarters, Marseille · Headquarters≈43.256, 5.403Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the coast between Marseille and Cassis, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry on foot or by bike | Free | person | No gate and no ticket for the massif. |
| Boat trip from Marseille or Cassis into the calanques | EUR 20–45 (≈ US$25–55) | person | 2026 estimate; 1–3 h depending on route. |
| Kayak rental (Cassis or Marseille) | EUR 25–60 (≈ US$30–70) | person | 2026 estimate; half day. |
| Parking at a trailhead car park | EUR 0–8 (≈ US$0–10) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; some lots free, others paid or closed in summer. |
| Guided hike with a park-approved guide | EUR 25–60 (≈ US$30–70) | person | 2026 estimate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Summer massif access permit or guide
Diving in the marine core permit or guide
Cosquer Cave permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €20–45≈ US$25–55
- €25–60≈ US$30–70
- €25–60≈ US$30–70
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parc national des Calanques — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Summer access rules
- From 1 June to 30 September, massif access in Bouches-du-Rhône is set daily by fire risk; trails and forest roads can close with little notice.
- No fires or smoking
- Open flames, barbecues and smoking on trails are banned year-round; the fire risk is the reason for the summer closures.
- No camping
- Wild camping is not allowed in the park; sleep in Marseille, Cassis or La Ciotat.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead and off the beaches; they disturb wildlife and other walkers.
- Leave no trace
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins inside the massif.
- Drones
- Flying drones in a French national park needs permission (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Marseille
The widest choice, from hostels near the Vieux-Port to hotels in the 8th arrondissement close to the trail buses.
Near the park
Cassis
Small hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of Port-Miou; book early for summer.
Near the park
La Ciotat
Quieter base at the eastern end of the park, with its own calanques.
In the park
Sormiou cabanons and the UCPA centre
Simple seasonal lodging inside the calanque; book well ahead (check).
Safety
Heat and no water on the trails high
Getting stuck when a trail closes medium
Falls on steep, loose descents medium
Wind on the ridges medium
Swimming from the rocks medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Boat trips from Marseille and Cassis give close views of the calanques without walking.
- Some viewpoints near Callelongue and the Cassis road are reachable by car with short, level walks.
- The main calanque trails are steep, rocky and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Use the bus to Luminy instead of driving; summer car parks fill by mid-morning.
- Stay on marked trails — shortcut paths erode the limestone and damage rare plants.
- Do not anchor on seagrass; use the mooring buoys where they exist.
- Take all rubbish out, including fruit peel.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Calanques National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate; you walk in from Marseille, Cassis or La Ciotat, or arrive by boat. You pay only for transport, parking where charged, a boat trip (about €20–45 in 2026) or a guided hike.
What are the best hikes in Calanques National Park?
The Sormiou trail from Luminy (2–3 h return) is the classic. Morgiou (3–4 h) is quieter and steeper. The Port-Miou to En-Vau walk from Cassis (4–5 h return) covers three calanques and has the roughest descent. All are exposed, with no water on the way.
When is the best time to visit Calanques National Park?
April, May, October and November: mild, clear and mostly free of access closures. July and August are the worst — about 30°C, heavy crowds and frequent fire-risk closures. If you come in summer, plan a boat day as your fallback.
Can the trails close in summer?
Yes. From 1 June to 30 September, access to the massifs of Bouches-du-Rhône is regulated daily by fire risk. Trails and forest roads can be shut with little notice, sometimes leaving only the sea route open.
Do I need a guide?
No for the marked trails from Luminy, Callelongue or Cassis. A guide helps if you want the long GR 51-98 sections, climbing, or a boat-and-walk combination.
Can I swim in the calanques?
Yes, from the beaches at Sormiou, Morgiou, Port-Pin and En-Vau. There are usually no lifeguards, the water deepens quickly and the rocks are slippery.
Can I visit the Cosquer Cave?
Not the real one — its entrance is 37 m underwater and entry is prohibited. The replica, Cosquer Méditerranée, is in Marseille and takes a normal museum ticket.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go