We knew Cassis was going to be beautiful, but we didn’t realize HOW beautiful.

Located on the southern coast of France, Cassis is a fishing port that offers incredible views of pebbled beaches and towering limestone cliffs called “calanques.” Cassis makes a great spot for outdoor adventurers, or for those who simply enjoy sitting on a patio and taking in the scenery — we did quite a bit of both. We had no idea this town would be so beautiful – pictures do not serve it justice!

While we were in Cassis, we spent most of our time staring out at the Mediterranean sea, but we also did boat tours, kayaked, hiked, and snorkeled. Out of the eight calanques we explored, Calanque d’En-vau was the most stunning – dramatic white cliffs laced with trees and shrubs against the bright blue sea, just breathtaking! We have never seen such clear, blue water in person; it was so clear, you could see the fish swimming and vegetation floating with the current on the sea floor 25 feet down. There’s a reason they call d’En-vau “The Jewel”!

We also enjoyed a couple glasses of local white wine (something Cassis is known for) in a vineyard at sunset. This offered us a view of the town we hadn’t seen before and the views were just as beautiful.

We ate plenty of fish, bread, and cheese while we were there. As for the best dishes we ate, Alston had a fantastic peppered gnocchi with filet and Jack had the signature moules frites and massive oysters to boot. Honorable mention goes to a huge caprese salad that we each ordered and would very likely eat every single day if given the opportunity.

There were fresh pastries and top notch cappuccinos available in the morning, 90-cent baguettes and local brie available for easy lunches, and an artisan market that set up every night that we could walk around while eating our cones of gelato. The easy going French Riviera life was on full display in Cassis.

We enjoyed our time in the south of France and would love to go back to visit another coastal town someday. There are so many places that we saw along our train ride to and from Cassis that looked equally as beautiful and we hope we can explore them next time!