2 Days in Marseille: Day Trips to Provence
Two days puts Cassis and the Calanques on Day 1 and Aix-en-Provence on Day 2, the two easiest, most direct-train day trips Marseille offers. Both leave from Saint-Charles station and return the same night, no car and no extra hotel required. Want Avignon or Arles too? Move up to our 3 or 4 day version instead.
Book these before you go
- Hotel near Marseille Saint-Charles: compare rates on Booking.com
- A Calanques boat tour straight from the Vieux-Port: check sailings for the Iconic Calanques Boat Tour with Swimming
- Both towns in one guided day instead of two separate trains: the Cassis and Aix-en-Provence Sightseeing Tour
| Day | Day trip | Travel time from Marseille |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Cassis + the Calanques | 30-45 min by train and transfer |
| Day 2 | Aix-en-Provence | 30-45 min by train |
Day 1: Cassis And The Calanques
- Morning: Head to Marseille Saint-Charles for the Cassis train, about 25 minutes, then a short bus or taxi down into the port since the station sits inland. Board a Calanques boat tour from the Cassis waterfront, EUR 21-33 for a standard circuit past Sormiou, Morgiou, and En-Vau. Prefer to skip the transfer entirely? The Calanques boat tour with swimming leaves straight from Marseille’s own Vieux-Port
- Afternoon: Swim at whichever calanque your boat stops at. Hiked in instead? The Calanque de Sugiton needs a free reservation booked 3 days ahead during peak summer, checked by QR code at the trailhead
- Evening: Dinner in Cassis’s port, or back in Marseille’s Vieux-Port if you took the direct boat option
Is 2 days enough for Cassis and Aix?
Yes, for these two specifically. Both run on direct trains under 45 minutes each way with frequent departures, so a tight two-day trip covers the Calanques and Aix’s Cours Mirabeau without rushing either one. Avignon, Arles, the Camargue, and the Luberon all wait for a longer version.
Day 2: Aix-En-Provence
- Morning: Train to Aix-en-Provence, 30 to 45 minutes with frequent departures. Walk the Cours Mirabeau, the grand 18th century boulevard lined with fountains and plane trees
- Afternoon: Cezanne’s studio and the Musee Granet, or just linger over lunch on the Cours Mirabeau, Aix rewards a slow pace more than a checklist
- Evening: Train back to Marseille for dinner, or catch the Cassis and Aix-en-Provence Sightseeing Tour instead if you’d rather combine both towns in one guided day
Do you need a car for either of these day trips?
No. Cassis and Aix both run on direct trains from Marseille Saint-Charles, and the boat tours that cover the Calanques leave right from the Vieux-Port or the Cassis waterfront. A car only becomes useful once the Camargue or the Luberon villages enter the plan.
Transportation
Marseille Saint-Charles is the hub for both day trips, a short walk or one metro stop from the Vieux-Port. Live timetables and tickets are on SNCF Connect . Inside Marseille itself, RTM runs the metro, tram, and bus on one fare, 1.70 EUR a single ride or 5.20 EUR for a day pass.
Tips And Essentials
- Book the Calanques boat a few days ahead in summer, weekend sailings sell out
- Currency is the euro, and cards work almost everywhere, no need to carry a lot of cash
- The Calanques park’s trail rules and closures sit on calanques-parcnational.fr
Two days moves fast, so lock in the Calanques boat and your Saint-Charles hotel before you land. If Avignon’s Papal Palace or Arles’ Roman ruins end up on your must-do list after all, our 3 day itinerary and the Marseille France guide both build straight on top of this one.