Cassis is one of the most underrated places nestled on the Mediterranean coastline and definitely worth a visit. It was love on first sight with the town, its people and the environment. See, Cassis has a cute beach, but it’s also the most conveniently located town if you are planning on visiting the marvellous Calanques. It was the first stop on our route through the south of France and the warmest welcome you could expect! This travel guide to Cassis explores one of the most underrated destinations on the Mediterranean coast, perfect for those who love quaint towns and stunning natural beauty.
How long to you need in Cassis?
As much as we loved our time in Cassis, we did not stay for a very long time. Our stay only lasted 3 nights, 2 days and we recommend to do so because there are so many other beautiful places you could visit along the coastline! Funny enough, we only came to Cassis because it was meant to be a good location to stay in if you want to hike through the Calanques, which we second. Little did we know that we would fall in love with the town itself! If you want to explore the Calanques and Cassis, a good range would be 2-4 days in our opinion.
How to get to Cassis?
The best way to reach Cassis is to fly in Marseille airport and rent a car. After researching the local rental options, which we always recommend, we decided on Sixt. We reserved a small car, but as it happens quite often, we got upgraded to a nice and roomy Ford Fiesta. The service was agreeable and we did not have any issues with the Sixt at the Marseille airport. It was about 50 minutes drive from the airport to the town which was very manageable.
Where to stay in Cassis?
Cassis has a great range of accommodation types. It really depends on how long you are going for and what activities you plan on doing. We knew we were going to be out most of the time and had already booked accommodation with pools further along the route, which is why we opted for a very small (but cute) airbnb in the middle of the town center. Our airbnb had the bare necessities done in a nice way, it even had a drop down bed. The most convenient part was the location, though. For the time we visited, we really felt part of the town.
Where to eat and drink in Cassis?
Breakfast Club
Having breakfast outdoors means ultimate relaxation. We stumbled upon this cute cafe during our morning stroll and decided to come back for lunch. Even though we had a reservation, it took a while to seat us. However, it is a great place for some Eggs Benedict or Avocado toasts. The hollandaise sauce was very sour, though, so if that is not your cup of tea, we suggest you pick something different from the menu.
Click here to see their Instagram page.
La Tarte Tropézienne
If you are anything like us and love breakfast on the go, don’t be shy and go to a nice bakery. This bakery in particular had some of the most scrumptious pastries, both sweet and savoury. Seated in the sun with this amazing view of the port, we enjoyed a homemade quiche (heated at the bakery) and amazing strawberry pastry. 10/10.
Click here to see their Instagram page.
Le Poisson Rouge
Hidden in an alleyway of an alleyway don’t miss out on the cutest restaurant in town: Le Poisson Rouge (the red fish). We booked for the next day, as they were fully booked that night and could not wait for the time of our visit. As this was in summer, we were seated outside, right next to the chalkboard menu. Don’t be fooled by this though, as the dishes were served very elegantly. This restaurant was vegetarian and pescatarian friendly at the time we were there, though they work with changing menu (hence, the chalkboard) so it could be a little unpredictable for people with strict diets. We enjoyed the look and taste of or meals thoroughly and we had an amazing night.
Click here to see their Instagram page.
La Cevicheria
For a good mix of a poke bowl and French cuisine, try this place out. You can sit down, but very casual and fast service. As some sit-down restaurants in Cassis can be booked out quite easily, you can count on a casual and fast service at La Civecheria.
Click here to see their Instagram page.
Monsieur Brun
There are multiple cute bars and cafes in town, but Monsieur Brun seemed to be buzzing extra hard. We are usually not big fans of touristic places but we were very keen on some people watching in a lively area. Monsieur Brun was therefore a good option to sit back and enjoy being in France. Service was okay, but rather fast. We enjoyed an Aperol Spritz and wines. This place is great for the view, some drinks and the ambience.
Click here to see their Instagram page.
What to do in Cassis?
As Cassis is only a small town on the picturesque coast of France, there are not a whole load of activities to do in town rather than to stroll through its wonderful alleys and chill. The town however gives you so much energy, it is a great place to sit back and relax. It does have some cute shopping alleys and has a surprising amount of boujee clothing stores.
Our travel guide to Cassis wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the breathtaking Calanques, a must-visit for any traveler.
As the sun goes down, you can find so much lively energy coming from the port and its restaurants. We took a stroll the night we arrived and we immediately noticed how everyone dressed so nicely. Not overly fancy and pretentious, just people radiating their energy from inside and out. The night after, we obviously had to join.
It’s just this immaculate vibe that we have not experienced in other towns like this, it is hard to explain but it was definitely a positive experience.
Going on adventure and finding the best swimming spots was our main activity during this trip. If you want to know how to reach the Calanques and other out-of-this-world type of swimming spots around Cassis, have a read of the article below!
Read about the 10 best swimming spots in Provence here.
We hope this travel guide to Cassis helps you plan an unforgettable trip to one of France’s hidden treasures.
