Any suggestions on what to see and do in and near Marseille in early July?

Les Calanques.

Avignon is only about 70km away. Very quick train ride.

Trip along the coast to Cassis which is a bus ride away, as is Aix en Provence. Eat bouillabaisse at Chez Fonfon, located at Vallon des Auffes.

Take a boat to Chateau d'If - only of the weather is clear.

Check out the ethnic market north of the old port.

> Trip along the coast to Cassis ..

For the record, that's not possible unless you hike on the calanques for 10 hours or more. By car you have to go most of the part inland. Perhaps you didn't mean it literally.

kappa: Road D559 takes you from Cassis to Marseille via Gineste, the sea is visible on part of that road.

In last years, I have taken the bus Prado/Marseille to Cassis about 5 times (10 times if I count both ways) on Col de la Ginest so I can tell you mostly you don't see the sea and I wouldn't call it a coastal (litoral) route. The scenery is much better than via train though.

Kappa
I remembered an earlierpost on walking in the Calanques where you kindly shared your fabulous photos - its inspired me to go to the area for some walking - are the routes easy to follow and will I need to acquire a map?
Much obliged
Steve

Steve, thanks for the kind words.

Yes, mostly the routes were well made & indicated so I have never got lost. They are not detailed ones but when I got to the start of the each calanque, it was easy enough to find the way. Later I bought a hiking map of the series by IGN (Insititu Géographique National) at a book store in Cassis in order to do En-Vau that's reached from Cassis. I didn't really need it to do my to find my way but it's nice to have detailed map neverthless.

One like this.
http://www.amazon.fr/Carte-randonn%C.../dp/B00005QO6G

This might help for Cassis to En-Vau route via Port-Miou and Port-Pins. You take the red route. Last time only the way up to En-Vau, I took the route GR51 & GR58 but took the coastal/litoral route on the way down . The other time, I did both ways by the coastal route.
http://baladins-vauclusiens.khopywor...Calanques1.pdf

Sorry badly editted.

> Yes, mostly the routes were well made & indicated so I have never got lost. They are not detailed ones but when I got to the start of the each calanque, it was easy enough to find the way.

Above should be : Yes, mostly the routes were well made & indicated so I have never got lost. Most of the calanques, I have done only with the maps I got at the toursist information of Marseille and Cassis. They are not detailed ones but when I got to the start of the each calanque, it was easy enough to find the way.

Many thanks Kappa - I hope to pick up maps at Marseilles tourist information.

Marseille is one of my favorite cities in France and the Vieux Port at night is a magnificent place to stroll.

If you are careful, even the restaurants at the Vieux Port are not bad -- the tourists traps have been severely punished in recent years.

Analogue
Coincidentally I have been posting about safety in Marseilles especially around the port area - seems as if you would not worry about being around there early evening?
Steve

Steve, regarding security, at least from my experience of about 10 visits in last 5 years, each time 2-4 night stay by the Vieux-Port, the quay area remains just as nice at night. Since my hotel is always nearby, I stroll around along the port till late after dinner before going to bed, sometimes even after midnight and I never felt uncomfortable.

Viex-Port is one of the nicest areas of Marseille. Early evening? Absolutely no problem. I enjoy being there at that hour watching the change of colors on the sky over the port. Also nice to see from the port the illuminated Notre de la Garde at the top of the hill after dark like this.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kappa341...01124695771938

Ooops, I'm sorry I messed the page with above long URL I posted. Usually I don't have this problem so I don't bother using tinyurl.com but this time it didn't work.