There are numerous hiking trails through the beautiful natural area of the Calanques. The GR51 (also locally referred to as the GR 98) runs from Marseille to Cassis along the coast. The entire route is about 20 kilometers long and, due to its difficulty level, probably a bit too long for a day trip, but there are several options to split the hike into sections.
There are numerous hiking trails running through the beautiful natural area of the Calanques. The GR51 (also locally known as the GR98) runs along the coast from Marseille to Cassis. The full route is approximately 20 kilometres long and, due to its level of difficulty, may be too challenging for a single day hike. However, there are several options to divide the walk into shorter sections.
The Calanques area is managed by the Office National des Forêts. Make sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring plenty of water. During the summer months, parts of the area may be closed due to the risk of wildfires.
We highly recommend combining a hike in the nature reserve with a boat trip along the Calanques. From the small harbour of Cassis, numerous boats depart for excursions to 3, 5 or 8 calanques. The ‘9 Calanques’ trip is particularly worthwhile — it costs a little more, but the calanques from the 5th onwards are the most beautiful. This boat trip lasts approximately 2 hours.
Address:
13260 Cassis, France
http://www.ot-cassis.com.
The Calanques are one of the stunning natural areas along the Côte d’Azur where you can enjoy beautiful walks. Below, we list a few more attractive hiking areas:
A beautiful area between Miramar and Cannes, perfect for walking and cycling. The cycle paths are excellent and the signage is clear. You’ll find great places to eat in this area, and the views are fantastic.
Address:
Str. Dip. Cannes–Fréjus, Agay, Saint-Raphaël, France
http://www.esterel-cotedazur.com/massif-de-lesterel-saint-raphael/
A very beautiful walk along the bay with views over Villefranche. The one-way walk takes about 45 minutes and follows a rocky path with steps, ascents and descents. It’s quite manageable and also fun for children. Walking shoes or sturdy flat shoes are recommended.
There are no facilities along the route, so be sure to bring enough water and something to eat. Parts of the path are bordered by a low wall or railing, but often there is no barrier. With children, the walk is perfectly doable as the path is wide enough, but it’s important to keep a close eye on them and make sure they don’t get too close to the edge.
Address:
Chemin des Douaniers, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
http://www.beyond.fr/villages/stjeancfhike.html#_=_
This is one of the most beautiful walks you can do in the area. Parts of the trail are easy to walk, but in some sections you really do need to scramble, so good walking shoes are essential.
The walk starts near Keller Plage, by a small bay and beach. Walk a little further past Keller Plage and you’ll find the start of the coastal path. The route around the cape is easy to follow. You can easily spend a few hours walking here and then return via the public road (depending on where you end up, finding the road can sometimes be a bit tricky — navigation can help). Alternatively, you can turn back at any point if you prefer a shorter walk.
Address:
Chemin de la Garoupe, Antibes, France
This coastal walk from Agay to Saint-Raphaël is also great fun with children. You walk right along the sea and over the rocks. A complete route has been designed to make this walk safe and accessible, and everything is clearly signposted.
Along the way — of course — you’ll find a lovely restaurant called Le Tortue, a perfect place to relax. There’s also a beautiful, quietly located beach with excellent sun loungers.