Four easy escapes by train and boat, none of them needing a car.
A harbour village of pastel houses, and the western gateway to the calanques and the Cap Canaille cliffs. Boat trips leave from the port, and trails start on the edge of town.
Tip: The national park advises against driving, since parking is hard. Travellers report that the station sits a fair way from the trails and that the bus can be packed in summer, so a sunny weekend calls for an early start.
Weather: Cassis
A calmer town of shaded squares and ochre façades, and a clear change of mood from Marseille.
Tip: Half a day is plenty for the old centre. Walk the lanes, sit under the plane trees and head back after dinner.
Weather: Aix-en-Provence
The walled city of the popes, with a vast Gothic palace, the broken bridge over the Rhône and ramparts that you can walk beside.
Tip: Keep the shuttle ride in mind when you plan the return. Late afternoon light turns the palace gold.
Weather: Avignon
An archipelago of bare white rock just off the Old Port, with small coves for swimming and short walks between them.
Tip: One traveller who tried to squeeze it into a few hours said it deserves a full day: the boat out, the walking, a swim and the crossing back all take their share. Ferries depend on the weather, so keep a flexible plan.
Weather: Marseille