Swimming in the Calanques

Can you swim at the Calanques?

Yes, from the beaches and rocks and from boats that anchor. There are no showers, toilets, kiosks or bins at the calanque beaches, and only Sormiou is supervised in summer.

The park's own FAQ is blunt about it: the swimming spots are hard to reach, have no facilities and fill up fast. For a beach day with a café and a lifeguard, it points you to the town beaches of Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat.

From a boat, the swim is simpler. The skipper anchors in a cove, you go off the back or the side into deep, clear water, and you climb back up the ladder. Most beaches are pebble, so water shoes help if you swim from the shore.

How warm is the water in the Calanques?

About 22 to 23°C from July to September, 19°C in October, and 13 to 15°C in winter. Swimming season starts in May for most people.

Average sea temperatures off Marseille, by month (climate averages):

The Cassis boatmen say swimming is possible from May, weather permitting. September is our pick: water as warm as July, fewer boats. Some trips lend wetsuits when it is cold; the catamaran and paddleboard tour and the picnic catamaran both list one.

Which boat trips stop to swim?

The catamaran trips, the schooner day, the iconic Marseille boat and the snorkel trip all stop. The Cassis port boats, the Bandol cruise and the Aix minibus don't.

Swim stops are what each listing says, and they depend on the weather on the day.

Anchor in the calanques, then paddleboard, snorkel or jump off the roof. Bring your own food: only soft drinks are included.

★ 4.8 · 3 to 4 hours · from $89

Explore the catamaran and paddleboard tour → Tour details

Can you swim at En-Vau?

From the beach, yes, if you walk or paddle in. From a tour boat, no: boats may not land there, and since 2021 they may not anchor or drift in En-Vau or Port-Pin.

This catches a lot of people out. The listings that name En-Vau show it to you from the water; the swim happens in another cove or out at the islands. One stop on the picnic catamaran route, for example, is listed as "En-Vau (optional, photo)".

The way in by water is the paddleboard tour from Port-Miou, with an hour of free time on the beach. On foot it is about an hour from Port-Miou, with a steep last stretch. The park notes En-Vau falls into shade in the afternoon, which cools the water and you. More in the best calanques.

Where is the best snorkelling in the Calanques?

Around the Riou islands and off the sea-only coves. The park's seven no-take zones, about 10% of its sea, hold the most fish.

No fishing at all is allowed in the seven no-take zones, and the fish know it. The eastern half of the Riou archipelago is one of them. Marseille Tourisme names La Mounine, at the western end, for snorkelling, and Morgiou for diving.

The snorkel trip from Pointe Rouge is run by a dive centre. It picks the site on the day from Riou, Planier, Frioul or Maïre according to wind and visibility, gives a marine-life briefing, and has hot showers back at the base. A wetsuit is mandatory, and it isn't for under-8s. The listing asks for biodegradable sunscreen; bring it on any trip. Feeding fish is banned in the park.

Instructors, a wetsuit and a site picked for the day's conditions, with a hot shower back in port.

★ 4.5 · 3.5 hours · from $50

Explore the snorkeling trip → Tour details

What does the mistral do to the water?

It cools it fast, by pushing the warm surface water offshore and pulling cold water up from below. It also cancels boats.

The mistral is the cold north-west wind of Provence, averaging about 50 km/h and sometimes reaching 100. It blows most in winter and spring, in episodes of one to three days. In summer it causes upwelling along the coast, and water that felt warm one day can be bracing two days later. Port-Miou has its own cold spot, a freshwater spring under the sea.

Boats run weather permitting, and no operator publishes a cancellation rate. The online tours here refund or rebook if they cancel. Keep a spare day in your trip if the swim matters.

Are there jellyfish in the Calanques?

Some summers, yes. The most common is Pelagia noctiluca, the mauve stinger. Its sting hurts but isn't dangerous.

The park published a jellyfish warning in August 2024: their presence is natural, hard to predict and driven by currents. If you are stung, get out of the water. Rinse with vinegar if you have some, then hold the area in water at about 40°C for 40 minutes, the advice of an Aix-Marseille University jellyfish specialist. Don't rub it, don't rinse it with seawater, and skip the urine myth. If the face or eyes are hit, call for help.

Ask the skipper before you jump. They see the water every day. You can report sightings in the park's Mes Calanques app.

What should you bring for a swim day?

Swimsuit on under your clothes, a towel, water shoes, biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and water. Bring food unless the listing includes it.

• Food: the catamaran and paddleboard tour includes soft drinks, not food. The picnic catamaran and the schooner day include lunch.
• A layer: the ride back is windy, and wet skin cools fast.
• A dry bag: for a phone on a paddleboard. The paddle tour lends one.
• Rubbish: take it home. En-Vau has no bins.

Frequently asked questions