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The Old Town and Port of La Ciotat, Provence, France.

Things to do in  La Ciotat

Laid-back charm on the Cote d’Azur

Brushing the eastern side of the French Riviera’s Calanques National Park is the seaside gem of La Ciotat. While once known for shipbuilding, the town’s industrial face is fading fast, and today draws visitors with its lively waterfront and charming old town. Most things to do in La Ciotat involve exploring the neighboring calanques—the limestone cliffs that carve the coastline into emerald coves—but the town offers cinematic history and lawn games, too. Here, you can visit the world’s first cinema and experience the birthplace of French boules, aka pétanque.

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When to visit

Like most places in southern France, La Ciotat comes to life in the summer when it’s consistently hot and sunny. At this time, there’s lots going on: In June, there’s La Ciotat Music Festival, while the Old Port (Port Vieux) hosts a daily night market in July and August. Out of peak season, in late March, you can catch Les Nauticales de La Ciotat, a big boat show that attracts yacht buyers, seafarers, water sports lovers, and fishing fans.

Getting around

La Ciotat is small and relatively flat, making it easy to explore by foot or bike, which you can rent while in town. The center does get congested with traffic, so it's better to avoid driving if you can. To explore the eastern calanques, Figuerolles and Mugel are within a 20-minute walk from town, but you can also take the Line 30 public bus (Ciotabus) or a boat from the Old Port to reach them.

Traveler tips

A must-do half-day trip from La Ciotat is to Île Verte, the island directly in front of the town. Shuttle boats usually depart every hour from the Old Port between April and October, and the journey takes around 15 minutes. Once there, you can dine on fresh seafood in the island restaurant, hike around the trails, and cool down in quiet coves away from the crowds.

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People Also Ask
Q:What are the top attractions to visit in La Ciotat?
A:

The big natural attractions here are the Calanques of Figuerolles and Mugel, just two of the rocky bays that punctuate the coastline between Marseille and Cassis. In La Ciotat itself, you can visit or tour the renovated Eden Theatre, which is believed to be the world’s oldest public cinema.

Q:What is the best time of year to visit La Ciotat?
A:

La Ciotat is popular in the summer, although Calanques National Park is subject to closures during these hotter months due to fire risks. If you want more outdoor adventure in the surrounding area, October through May is an ideal time for hiking, climbing, or mountain biking.

Q:What outdoor activities can I do in La Ciotat?
A:

In the summer, you can swim from La Ciotat’s Lumière Beach or snorkel at the nearby Calanques of Figuerolles and Mugel. For hiking, head to Île Verte, a wooded island that faces the Calanque of Mugel. Or, you can play pétanque, a ball game that originated in La Ciotat, year-round.

Q:Are there any historical sites to visit in La Ciotat?
A:

Yes, you can tour La Ciotat’s old shipyards or visit the Eden Theatre—believed to be the world’s oldest cinema—for a tour or to watch a film in French. The 17th-century Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde is a memorable church to visit in the summer, with a dramatic clifftop perch overlooking the Mediterranean.

Q:What local foods should I try in La Ciotat, and where can I find them?
A:

Traditional dishes in La Ciotat hail from the wider region of Provence. Look out for chunky bowls of bouillabaisse fish soup or soupe au pistou, vegetable soup garnished with a French pesto. Sweet-toothed travelers should get their teeth into some calissons, the iced almond cookies sold in most patisseries.

Q:What family-friendly activities are available in La Ciotat?
A:

Aside from family-friendly beaches like Cyrnos, younger kids will love trips to Parc du Domaine de la Tour, where there’s a big wooden playground and a splash park. Older kids can find rock climbing fun at Bloc Session or can visit the Immersio Escape Game center, where experiences are available in English.

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