Bonjour! We will be in Provence for about a week and may split our stay between two locations. We were originally planning to stay in one spot, but now I'm realizing that to be able to see everything we'd like in Provence plus get time near the beach/ocean, we may need to split the stay between somewhere like Arles and then somewhere along the coast. The only issue is I don't think the amount of time we have is sufficient to justify driving from Arles all the way to Nice. Wondering if Cassis would be a good spot or St Tropez? Curious about the pros and cons to each of these places. St Tropez seems a bit further, but if it's worth it for some reason over Cassis we'd do it. Thanks for any info!
Posted by
Washington DC
28358 posts
I'm not a beach person so not the one to suggest a specific place along the coast, but I'm not sure you necessarily have to go as far east as Cassis, much less St-Tropez. What are you hoping to do during the part of your time in Provence when you're staying on/near the coast? Are there particular towns or sights you want to see during that time?
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10710 posts
Actually, Cassis is in Provence, 20 minutes south of Aix or east of Marseille. Another place would be Bandol.
I can speak only for Cassis. It's in a beautiful setting at the bottom of a geological bowl, but this setting makes huge traffic jams to get into or out of the town, and parking is difficult. It has a long waterfront but the beach is small. If you are looking for a US style long beach with a lot of sand, you need to go to the Atlantic coast. There are very few on the French Mediterranean coast, except in the Occitanie region west of the Rhône.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for your response! Not necessarily looking for a beach to lounge on, just to be near the ocean.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1434 posts
Bandol, just east of Marseille, has a nice little sand beach and the town is lovely. It is about a 2 hour (or less) drive from Arles. There are wineries with excellent rose in there are a. Bandol has an ice harbor with fishing and pleasure boatsd, a charming market at the harbor, and is near the calanques as well. We have stayed there (with family) but it is worth the cost of a hotel room, for sure. I prefer it to Cassis.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1434 posts
Oops! a nice harbor, not an ice harbor!
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for that info!