Located in the heart of the city, La Ciotat’s old port is a fishing and yachting harbor dating back to antiquity. It’s lined with colorful houses and restaurants, making it a great place to stroll and relax, which we really enjoyed.
Here are our tips for planning your visit to La Ciotat’s old port.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
The old port of La Ciotat
To really get a feel for La Ciotat and its atmosphere, take the time to stroll along the old port at different times of the day. Here, the yachts aren’t 3 stories high, so you can discover a rather picturesque place, with the church standing proud. We love the atmosphere of the old port, which is why it’s one of our favorite towns on the Côte d’Azur.
The area has retained its authenticity, with its fishing boats and numerous terraces all around. The old port is home to between 700 and 850 boats. It’s one of La Ciotat’s 4 ports, along with Port de Plaisance, Port des Capucins and Port St Jean.
A tour of the old port is one of the city’s best attractions.
Tour of the old port – what to see
Traditional “pointus” boats
Like many small ports in the region, you’ll see many traditional fishing boats in the old port of La Ciotat. These are low boats with colored stripes. They are called “pointus” because of their shape.
They first appeared in Marseille at the end of the 19th century, in the workshops of a carpenter of Italian origin.
It’s a typical Provençal boat, with its roots firmly planted in the local heritage.
Sailboats
In addition to traditional fishing boats, the port also boasts a number of sailing boats.
For example, Le Serena dates back to 1960. It was designed by architect Bill Luders. Its length is 15.60m.
Equatorial dial
On the port’s western quay (Quai François Mitterand), don’t miss the equatorial sundial. It’s an hourly sundial whose table lies in a plane parallel to that of the earth’s equator.
Here you’ll see a marble block with two tracings (the more visible one above, the north face), and another on the face leaning downwards, the south face).
The town’s elders call it the Barometer Dial. It dates back to 1873.
Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption
In the heart of the town, discover the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church. Impossible to miss as it dominates the port. We really appreciated its sober, elegant Romanesque architecture (built between 1603 and 1625). And once inside, the sobriety is shaken by a series of 3 modern frescoes, a biblical interpretation by a local artist. A quick but surprising visit.
See our article on Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church.
Ciotaden Museum
The town’s other museum is dedicated to the town of La Ciotat. In 13 rooms, you’ll discover different aspects of the town’s history: amphorae found on the seabed, the first pétanque balls, sacred art in the region, the history of the Lumière brothers and, of course, lots of information about shipbuilding.
Read our article on the museum.
Shipbuilding house
What’s most surprising about La Ciotat is that between this picturesque town and these impressive rock formations lies a shipbuilding yard still in operation today! To find out more about 150 years of shipbuilding history, visit the museum. You’ll discover the techniques, tools and materials used, as well as numerous model boats.
See museum news here.
Shipyard
From the part of the quay near the “I Love La Ciotat” sign, you can see directly into the shipyards.
It must be fun to live in this city and watch the giant yachts being built as the weeks go by.
Statue of the fishing court
Above the restaurant La Barque, not far from the church, look up at the facades of the houses. You’ll notice a small statue on one of them, with the words “Tribunal de pêche” above it.
Shuttle service to Île-Verte and the calanques
From the old port, you can take boats to Ile Verte or to the calanques of La Ciotat and Cassis.
In both cases, we really enjoyed the boat ride out from the shore and the view towards Cap de l’Aigle.
The Île-Verte tour can be done in 1 hour, so don’t hesitate to add it to your daily schedule.
See our article on Île-Verte.
Access to the old port of La Ciotat
Access by car and parking
There are two main parking lots to make the most of the old port:
- Parking Vieux-Port, an underground parking lot in the heart of the city
- Parking du Port de Plaisance, an outdoor parking lot near the tourist office
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Visiting difficulties
The tour of the old port is easy.
The road surface is wide, flat and in good condition.
There are just a few steps up to visit the church.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN La Ciotat
- Things to do in La Ciotat
- Best hotels to stay in La Ciotat
- Best restaurants (coming soon)
- La Ciotat’s most beautiful beaches
- Tour de l’Île-Verte (coming soon)
- Calanques de Figuerolles
Practical tips for visiting the Old Port
Schedules and prices
How long
It takes less than 10 minutes to walk around the old port without stopping.
Allow 30min if you want to see the boats and other points of interest.
And plan even longer if you visit the church, the Ciotaden museum and the shipbuilding museum.
Best moment
The place is particularly magical in the morning, with the sun rising and the low-angled light hitting the hulls of the boats.
The place also comes alive on market days (Sundays from 8am to 2pm) and for night markets in summer.
Visiting with children
It’s an easy walk with children.
They should love the different types of boats and the sundial.
Eating out
Along the old port, you’ll find many restaurants. Here are two of our favorites with terraces along the harbor:
- Restaurants le PiaPia
- Restaurant Les 3 Secs
But in the streets behind, there are other options for lunch or dinner. See our selection of the best restaurants in La Ciotat (coming soon).
Hotels
You’re right in the center of La Ciotat. Here are our recommendations:
WHERE TO STAY IN La Ciotat
Option 1: Old port side
Enjoy the charm of the old town, the port and all the restaurants.
We recommend..:
- Best Western Vieux-Port Hotel with rooftop pool – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Beach side
With sea views and direct access to beaches. We recommend..:
- Aparthotel A Deux Pas de L’Eau – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Rose Thé – prices, pictures and availability
