Hike (and swim) the calanques: What exactly is a Calanque? Fair question - we had to look that one up as well before our trip. Calanques are narrow inlets framed by steep cliffs which dot this part of the coast onto Marseille.

Calanque National Park includes several of them which can be accessed on foot from town, each with picturesque beaches. The nearest can be reached in a ~45-minute round trip hike, or you can power on to the furthest calanque (arguably the most stunning) which stretches it to a ~3-hour roundtrip trek. Wear or pack a swimsuit, proper shoes (parts are steep with loose footing), and plenty of water and some snacks. 

Hit the beach: There are two sizable beaches right in town. On a warm day, the pebbles heat up and make the crystal blue waters that much more inviting. And you are never more than a few hops from a beachside restaurant / bar for an afternoon spritz (or three..)

Stay (upscale): The town has abundant lodging options, ranging from no frills motels to Hôtel Les Roches Blanches, a 5-star hotel perched on a cliff on the fringe of town. The hotel boasts a Michelin star restaurant, as well as two additional outdoor spots to grab drinks or dinner, each with amazing views.

Stay (more relaxed): We opted for Hotel de La Plage Mahogany which is 10-minutes walk from both the entrance of the park and the center of town. The hotel had everything we needed with modest but comfortable rooms with 5-star views, a beach club, and an outdoor restaurant where we had breakfast.

Eat (casual): We really enjoyed our meal at Bar de la Marine, which is located right on the harbor in the heart of town. Classic Mediterranean seafood in a setting that's hard to beat. We sat outside and took in the sunset over the harbor and enjoyed an unrushed dinner.

Eat (formal): Located on the terrace of the aforementioned Hotel Roches-Blanches, Rocco offers unbeatable views and a tasty, eclectic menu of small plates mixing cuisines of the Mediterranean. While not the Michelin star restaurant located just a few steps away, it’s still on the pricier side but it’s one of the best places to enjoy a sunset in town and worth the splurge in our books.

Why we loved it: Cassis was our first stop on a week-long trip culminating with a friend's wedding about an hour inland in Provence. In a region packed with so many beautiful and varied places to explore—world-famous vineyards and lavender fields, history-rich cities (Marseille, Nice, Aix, Avignon), the glamorous resort towns of the French Riviera (Cannes, St. Tropez, Antibes)—we came away from our three days in Cassis feeling like we stumbled on an overshadowed gem. It offers a little something for everybody—getting into nature (hiking and swimming in the Calanques), splurge-worthy restaurants and hotels (plus an abundance of options ranging the spectrum), beautiful beaches (relatively empty in mid-May), and last but not least, a historical town center and port with as much charm and beauty as any in the region.