The Calanques of Marseille, in the heart of the Calanques National Park, are free to visit on foot or by boat. From October 1 to May 31 the massif is open except for exceptional closures; from June 1 to September 30, access depends each day on the fire-risk level set by the prefecture (green, yellow or red), and the Sugiton cove can only be visited with a free reservation on certain summer days. This page brings together the official rules, public transport to Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton and Callelongue, a month-by-month calendar of restrictions, and our weather and daylight calculations.
For the rest of the city, read our guide to visiting Marseille.
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Calanques of Marseille: key facts
- Access to the massif: open from October 1 to May 31 (except exceptional closures); from June 1 to September 30, regulated by prefectural order; access banned 24 hours a day on red-level days — checked on 24 October 2026 on marseille-tourisme.com
- Sugiton: free reservation required every day from June 27 to August 30, 2026, and on the weekends of June 20–21, September 5–6 and September 12–13; booking opens 3 days ahead and closes at 6 pm the day before — checked on 24 October 2026 on marseille-tourisme.com
- Roads to Sormiou, Morgiou and Callelongue: closed to motor vehicles in season (dates published every year).
- Where to check: the daily map published by the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture.
- Price: free access; only boats, kayaks and guided activities are paid.
- What to bring: at least 1.5 liters (about 3 US pints) of water per person, walking shoes, a hat, a charged phone and a first-aid kit (tourist office advice).
Access rules: what changes with the season
The National Park stretches from Marseille to La Ciotat. The Marseille tourist office lists 28 calanques of varying size, 25 of them within the municipality of Marseille. Access on land follows three regimes.
| Period | On foot | Road access by car | Source to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1 – May 31 | Open, except exceptional closures | Sormiou, Morgiou, Callelongue: depending on published periods | Tourist office / National Park |
| June 1 – September 30, green or yellow level | Access to the massif allowed | Roads closed to vehicles in season | Prefecture’s daily map |
| June 1 – September 30, red level | Banned 24 hours a day, even on foot | Banned (including the Route des Crêtes between Cassis and La Ciotat) | Prefecture’s daily map |
For 2026, the tourist office published these closures of the roads to motor vehicles: Morgiou and Sormiou on June 5, 6 and 7, then every day from June 12 to August 30, then Saturdays and Sundays from August 31 to September 27 (7 am to 7 pm); Callelongue on June 5, 6 and 7, then every day from June 12 to August 30. The Gardiole and Cap Croisette roads are closed to motor traffic all year. The 2027 dates will be published by the authorities.
Sugiton cove: booking your place
- Free reservation, online on the Calanques National Park website, required for the coastal part of Sugiton; the Sugiton pass remains accessible without a reservation.
- 2026 season: every day from June 27 to August 30, and the weekends of June 20–21, September 5–6 and September 12–13.
- You can book 3 days before your visit and up to 6 pm the day before; a QR code is sent by email and must be shown on arrival.
- Up to 5 people per reservation (no reservation for children under 3); a maximum of 8 reservations per person over the period.
- If the massif closes because of fire risk, all reservations are cancelled and not rescheduled.
According to the tourist office, on some summer days the cove has welcomed nearly 2,500 people, which speeds up erosion of the site: that is the reason for the cap.
Boat trips, kayaks and guides: how to choose
At sea too, activity is regulated. Only passenger boats displaying the National Park’s orange sticker are allowed to sail in the calanques; a missing sticker signals an illegal service. Motorboat rental companies must display a green sticker, and the blue « Esprit Parc national » flag marks a certified service. Speed is limited to 5 knots (9 km/h, 6 mph) within the 300 m (984 ft) coastal strip. Before booking a trip from the Old Port or Pointe-Rouge, ask to see these marks, compare the duration and the calanques served, and read the cancellation clause in case of mistral winds.
Getting there without a car
| Calanque | Public transport listed by the tourist office | Stated walk |
|---|---|---|
| Callelongue | Bus 19 from Castellane to « Madrague de Montredon », then bus 20 to Callelongue; Pointe-Rouge – Les Goudes boat shuttle from spring | — |
| Sormiou | Metro line 2 to « Rond-point du Prado », bus 22 to « Les Baumettes », then on foot over the Baumettes pass | — |
| Morgiou | Bus 22 to the « Les Baumettes » terminus, then on foot | About 1 hour from the parking lot |
| Sugiton | Bus B1 or 21 J to « Luminy PN des Calanques » | About 1 hour from the Luminy parking lot |
Since 2024, bike racks have been installed at the Col de l’Oule (for the En-Vau viewpoint), at Luminy, along the Chemin des Goudes and between Port-Miou and Port-Pin; bike-sharing stations have been added at Luminy, Boulevard Louis-Pierotti, La Madrague de Montredon and Samena.
Weather, sun and light: our calendar
The table combines the Météo-France normals for Marignane (Marseille-Provence airport), used on our Marseille page, with the access regime and the sunset time at Sugiton. It adds a calculation of our own: the average number of rainy days in a week.
| Month | Max temp | Sunshine (h) | Rainy days | Per 7 days | Sunset | Access to the massif |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.8 °C (53 °F) | 148 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 5:27 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| February | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 173 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 6:08 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| March | 16.4 °C (62 °F) | 235 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 6:44 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| April | 19.3 °C (67 °F) | 251 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 8:20 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| May | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 299 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 8:54 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| June | 27.9 °C (82 °F) | 338 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 9:19 pm | Regulated (fire risk) |
| July | 30.7 °C (87 °F) | 372 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9:16 pm | Regulated (fire risk) |
| August | 30.5 °C (87 °F) | 334 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 8:41 pm | Regulated (fire risk) |
| September | 25.9 °C (79 °F) | 264 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 7:48 pm | Regulated (fire risk) |
| October | 21.3 °C (70 °F) | 196 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 6:55 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| November | 15.7 °C (60 °F) | 151 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 5:14 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
| December | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 138 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 5:03 pm | Open except exceptional closures |
How to read it: May and October combine a massif open without seasonal restrictions and highs of 21 to 24 °C (70 to 74 °F); May gets nearly 300 hours of sunshine. In July it rains less than one day a week on average, but it is over 30 °C (86 °F) and access depends on fire risk. October and November have the most rainy days: the limestone paths become slippery.
Which calanque should you choose?
- Sugiton: starting from Luminy, the easiest by public transport, but subject to a visitor cap in summer.
- Morgiou and Sormiou: the two large inhabited calanques, reachable by car only off-season and under conditions; on foot from Les Baumettes the rest of the time.
- Callelongue and Les Goudes: at the end of the coastal road, the starting point of the GR 98 trail; the tourist office recommends public transport or cycling, as parking has been reduced.
- En-Vau: reached on foot from the Col de l’Oule, on the Cassis side.
- Cosquer Cave: the decorated cave, underwater near Cap Morgiou, cannot be visited; its replica is shown at the Villa Méditerranée, near the Mucem.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Setting out in summer without checking the prefecture’s map of the day: at red level, the massif is closed even on foot.
- Heading for Sugiton in July without a reservation: access to the beach will be refused.
- Driving up to Sormiou or Morgiou in season: the roads are closed to vehicles.
- Setting off with a small bottle: the tourist office recommends at least 1.5 liters (about 3 US pints) of water per person.
- Boarding a boat without an orange sticker: it is an illegal service.
- Picking plants: it is forbidden and finable.
What to see nearby
In Marseille, go up to Notre-Dame de la Garde and visit the Mucem. On the east side of the park, Cassis gives access to Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau. For a departure by sea, see our cruises from Marseille, and for the wider region, our Provence guide. See also entry requirements for France.
Frequently asked questions
Is access to the Calanques of Marseille free?
Yes, access to the National Park is free. The summer reservation for Sugiton is free too; only activities (boat trips, kayaking, guided outings) are paid.
Are the Calanques open in summer?
From June 1 to September 30, access depends on the fire-risk level published each day by the prefecture: allowed at green and yellow, banned 24 hours a day at red.
Do you need to book for Sugiton?
Yes, on certain summer days: in 2026, every day from June 27 to August 30 and several weekends in June and September. The reservation is free and opens 3 days ahead.
Can you drive to the Calanques?
Only to some, off-season and under conditions. The roads to Sormiou, Morgiou and Callelongue are closed to vehicles in season, and the Gardiole and Cap Croisette roads all year.
Which calanque is easiest to reach from Marseille?
Sugiton from Luminy (bus B1 or 21 J), with about an hour’s walk according to the tourist office; Callelongue is served by bus 20.
What is the best month for the Calanques?
May and October combine access without seasonal restrictions and mild temperatures (highs of 21 to 24 °C, or 70 to 74 °F, at Marignane). In summer it is over 30 °C (86 °F) and access may be banned.
Our sources
- Marseille tourist office (marseille-tourisme.com): pages « Rules for accessing the Calanques », « How to get to the Calanques », « The Calanques of Marseille » and « Everything about access to the Sugiton cove », consulted on 24 October 2026 (the Calanques National Park website was not responding on the day of the check)
- Météo-France: Marignane climate sheet (13054001), 1991–2020 statistics
- Coordinates of Sugiton: Wikipedia article « Calanque de Sugiton »
- Sunset and rainy days per 7 days: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Europe/Paris time zone, coordinates of the Sugiton cove, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.