A Getaway to the Calanques: Why Villa M Is the Perfect Starting Point for Les Goudes

For a stay in Marseille focused on the Calanques, Villa M is the place to go to save time. Located near the Calanques on Marseille’s southern coast, this hotel lets you step out of the comfort of an elegant room and reach Les Goudes or Callelongue in about fifteen minutes by car, before returning to enjoy the pool, spa, and restaurant overlooking the sea.

A hotel on the southern coast, naturally facing the Calanques

Located in Marseille’s 8th arrondissement, overlooking the sea and the Borély Racetrack, Villa M is a 4-star spa hotel just a stone’s throw from the beaches. The location checks all the boxes for a hotel near the Calanques: it’s already on Marseille’s southern coast, between city and nature, with the Prado beaches and Borély Park just a few minutes’ walk away. From Place Louis Bonnefon, the road then leads to Pointe Rouge, La Madrague, Les Goudes, and Callelongue.

When staying in Marseille with a focus on Goudes, it makes all the difference. You avoid long drives through the city to reach the Calanques National Park. You step out of your room, walk through the lobby, pick up your car from the underground parking garage, and head straight for the coastal road. In high season, starting out on the “right side” of Marseille is a real advantage for enjoying the coves early in the morning or at sunset.

From the bedroom to the creek: a seamless experience from morning to night

Villa M was designed to be a place to live rather than just a place to stay. The 140 Mediterranean-inspired rooms and suites are bright and contemporary, with some featuring private terraces and panoramic ocean views. Here, you wake up to a view of the open sea, ready to set out and explore the coves and trails of Les Goudes.

The idea is to make your getaway to the Calanques as seamless as possible. Take your time enjoying a buffet breakfast or a coffee on the terrace, then head out to the southern coastal road. In about fifteen minutes, you’ll go from the comfort of the hotel to the narrow streets of the village of Les Goudes or the trail leading to Callelongue. No need for complicated logistics: a backpack, good shoes, water, and you’re already at the edge of Marseille.

On the way back, the transition is just as smooth. You leave the dusty trail behind and step back into the cool lobby, then into your air-conditioned room, where a shower or bath awaits to wash away the salt and heat. This constant back-and-forth between the Calanques and urban comfort is at the heart of the experience.

Les Goudes and Callelongue: the “end of the world” within easy reach

Les Goudes, a small fishing port at the edge of town, is often seen as a remote corner of the world. Staying at Villa M lets you explore it at your own pace. From the hotel, simply follow the coastline toward Pointe Rouge, then take the winding road that runs along the cliffs to the village. To reach Callelongue, just continue on for a few more minutes.

When you choose a stay in Marseille centered around Les Goudes, you can alternate between swimming in the coves, hiking along the trails of the Calanques National Park, and relaxing on a terrace. The advantage of staying at a hotel near the Calanques, such as Villa M, is that you can make multiple short trips back and forth: a morning hike, a long break at the hotel, then a return to Les Goudes for sunset, without feeling like you’re crossing the entire city every time.

This convenient location in no way detracts from the sense of escape. The contrast between the rugged, rocky landscape of the Calanques and the warm materials, ochre tones, and touches of saffron at Villa M reinforces the feeling of experiencing several different journeys in a single day.

After the hike, a true welness retreat

A getaway to the Calanques takes a little planning… and plenty of relaxation. That’s where a 4-star spa hotel really comes into its own. At Villa M, the Sport & welness area welness an outdoor pool heated during the off-season, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room, and a fitness center. After a day on the trails between Les Goudes and Callelongue, relaxing your muscles in the warm water or the steam room prolongs that vacation feeling.

The guest rooms are designed for relaxation: high-quality bedding, fully equipped bathrooms—some with both a shower and a bathtub—and terraces where you can enjoy the evening breeze. It’s easy to transition from an active day in the Calanques National Park to a quiet evening by the pool or dinner at the hotel restaurant.

This leisurely pace, alternating between activity and relaxation, is the key to a successful getaway along the southern coast of Marseille. Villa M serves as a comfortable home base, always ready for another outing to the nearby coves.

A restaurant and bar where you can wind down the day with a view of the sea

Once you’ve left Les Goudes, there’s no need to get back in the car to find a good place to eat: Villa M’s restaurant serves seasonal Mediterranean cuisine, which you can enjoy in an elegant dining room or on the terrace overlooking the racetrack and the sea. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a day of hiking, with a glass of wine in hand.

The bar rounds out the experience with a cocktail menu and a selection of light bites perfect for those with a small appetite after a day at the beach. Having everything on-site—rooms, a spa, a restaurant, and a bar—enhances the seamless experience of a stay focused on the Calanques.

Key points

• A 4-star spa hotel located in the 8th arrondissement, on the southern coast of Marseille
  
  
• A prime location for a stay in Marseille Goudes, near the Prado beaches
  
  
• Quick access by car to Les Goudes and Callelongue from the southern exit of the city
  
  
• Rooms and suites with ocean views, some with terraces, perfect for relaxing before or after a hike
  
  
• welness sports and welness center: outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub, fitness center
  
  
• On-site restaurant and bar so you don't have to go out after a day in the Calanques
  
  
• Private parking lot for easy access to your vehicle before each outing
  
  

FAQ

How long does it take to get to Les Goudes from Villa M?
From the hotel, it takes about 15 minutes by car to reach the village of Les Goudes, depending on traffic and the season

Is Villa M really a hotel near the Calanques?
Yes, the hotel is located on the southern coast of Marseille, just a stone’s throw from the beaches and right on the route leading to Les Goudes, Callelongue, and the Calanques National Park. This makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the area.

Can we enjoy the spa after a hike in the Calanques?
Hotel guests have access to the Sport & welness area, which includes a pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna, and fitness center, where they can relax after a day of hiking.

Which room category should you choose for a trip focused on the Calanques?
Rooms with a terrace or ocean view enhance your experience of the southern coast, but all categories offer comfort, high-quality bedding, and well-equipped bathrooms to help you relax after a hike.

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