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City in southern France
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
With 1.6 million people in its urban area (2019), Marseille (Provençal: Marselha) is the second most populated city of France (and third urban area) the biggest Mediterranean port and the economic center of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. In 2013 the city (with its region) was the European Capital of Culture, a large series of cultural events took place, and several new infrastructures were inaugurated.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
old harbour
Watching fishermen selling their stock by auction is a must. Arriving into Marseille in the Vieux-Port on a summer evening is something you will never forget. You can watch this show by going to Frioul islands or Chateau d'If and going back late in the afternoon. There is also a nice view of the harbour from the Palais du Pharo (Pharo Palace). The famous Canebière avenue goes straight down the harbour. However the Canebière is not that interesting despite its reputation.
The big church which overlooks the city. Old fishermen used to have their boats blessed in this church. You can still see many boat models hanging around in the church. From there it is one of the nicest view of the city. You can use the tourist train from the Vieux Port to reach the church - you can get off the train, look around and board a later train back to the port.
Marseille City Hall
Marseille’s old town
Le Panier (which means basket in French) is the historical centre of the city. This district is characterized by many narrow and steep streets. The tourist office organises a guided tour in English of the Old town every Saturday at 14:00. You can begin your tour from the Vieux-Port and finish at the Mucem or vice versa. A recommended trail of this district is also proposed by the tourist office.
Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major
A Byzantine-Roman cathedral at the western side of Le Panier quarter.
is a wonderful old monument, a former charitable housing for poor, now hosting museums and exhibitions.
With a grand fountain/column/sculpture in the center, with excellent cinemas and cafés surrounding. There is another place called La Castellane: it is a poor suburb of Marseille where famous footballer Zinedine Zidane was born.
A hangout area with bookstores, cafés, fountains, and a playground for the small ones. It is a trendy area of Marseille.
La Plaine is the local name for Place Jean Jaurès close to Cours Julien. Every Thursday and Saturday morning the Plaine market is the place to shop. If you are there early enough you can make very good deals, even if what you'll find there is sometimes "tombé du camion" (fallen off the truck) as one says in Marseille.
Lined with Arabic and Indo-Chinese shops some of the streets could be part of a bazzaar in Algeria. A fascinating area.
It houses the city's Musée des Beaux-Arts and Natural History Museum. The surrounding park (the Parc Longchamp) is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France. The Boulevard Longchamp connects it with the city centre.
Fort Saint-Jean is a fortification at the North-Western end of the Old Port, built in 1660 by Louis XIV. The fort also hosts the Museum "Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée", but the fortification itself is accessible to the public free of cost, and worth a visit. You can walk through the old fortifications, stroll through a small park, enjoy the view on the Old Port or on the sea, or walk over the free-hanging bridges to the museum or the Church Saint-Laurent. The Fort also offers a 10-min video show about the history of Marseille and the Fort.
Small and out of time traditional fishing port, just near the city centre.
Borely park
A large and great park containing Château Borély, 300 meters from the sea. After a siesta in the park go have a drink at Escale Borely (a place with numerous restaurants and bars on the beach) to see the sunset.
Mucem
The first French national museum outside of Paris. It has large permanent and temporary exhibitions. Its architecture mixes a very contemporary structure (a dark box) with an old castle, with footbridges linking the two parts of the museum.
The painting collection includes works of the French, Italian, Spanish and Northern (Flanders and Holland) schools.
Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Marseille
Museum focusing on modern art from the late 19th century until the mid-late 20th century.
Musee d'art contemporain
Later works from the Cantini collection. Situated in southern suburbs but easily reached by Metro then bus. Now reopened after a major refurbishment.
Contemporary art in a building designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Part of a national network .
Built to preserve the archeological finds at the former warehouses of the old harbour from Phoenician and Roman times. (closed summer 23 check before going)
Musée d'Archéologie méditerranéenne
Displays of Egyptian antiquities and classical antiquities.
Musée d'Histoire de Marseille - (MHM)
Discover 26 centuries of history in archaeology, fine arts, everyday objects & architecture. There is a mobile app.
Mémorial des déportations
Memorial & museum relating to repression & persecution during World War II. Run by the Marseille History Museum (MHM).
Musée des Arts décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode
Château Borély and its grounds are pretty impressive before you start with the museum. Often the exhibits are scattered amongst the furniture in the house.
Musée de la Moto
Museum in a former flour mill featuring motorcycles from 1885 to the present day. Four levels of bikes. It may look closed but you need to press the button by the gate to gain admission.
A war cemetery dedicated to World War I and World War II martyrs from the Allies, especially the Indian and Chinese gunners and runners. A very serene place, it is the perfect place to spend sometime thinking about the people who laid down their lives to give us the freedom we enjoy today.
Designed by Le Corbusier, and one of 17 of his buildings to be listed as a World Heritage Site. The building is called "la maison du fada" (the house of the foolish) by locals. The building contains a shopping street, a church, a children's school and housing. You can access the roof and enjoy the breathtaking view of Marseille between hills and sea (10:00-18:00). There is a bar/restaurant/hotel on the 3rd floor too. The Marseille tourist office offers guided tours.
Artplexe Canebière
New multi-screen cinema showing some films in VO combined with exhibition spaces and restaurant.
Art House Cinema with original 1930s facade out of the city centre. Shows some films in VO (the original language)
Cité de la Musique
Music school & concert halls Diverse musical types
Concert venue/theatre in a former grain silo. The performance space is reconfigurable according to the type of show performed. Total capacity 2,050 seats.
This little place has the best food made fresh onsite! Very kind and friendly staff. Fast service, fresh and good products. Very warm welcome and very good homemade meal.
Sampolo is a nice family place. The dishes and desserts are very tasty and homemade. Great place and great atmosphere in the evening.
A very friendly neighborhood brasserie with good traditional dishes and caring, fast and efficient staff. The catering is excellent with a wide variety of daily specials.
The quality is exceptional, the products are fresh, the bread is homemade, the meat is succulent. The homemade sauces are top of the line. Also the staff is very warm and attentive.
Very good pizza and pasta. Hearty toppings, thin crust, tasty ingredients.
A cuisine that makes us rediscover Asian flavors. There is a possibility of having vegetarian spring rolls.
Interesting concept, which is very simple: You create your pizza by choosing all the toppings of your pizza with a lot of choice on an electronic terminal.
A very good Tunisian restaurant with a good welcome and a good meal.
An extraordinary and very pleasant Vietnamese restaurant! Fresh and especially homemade products.
Small Lebanese restaurant. The food is very good, homemade and very fresh. The small terrace is pleasant even if it is on the side of the road.
Super welcoming and the quality of the tacos is exceptionally good.
Very good Indian and Pakanian dishes and fast food. Quiet street with terrace. Best Naan Poulet.
Clean and comfortable establishment, air-conditioned room. Very pleasant staff. Wide variety of choice and very tasty for dishes.
Very tasty, copious and affordable Tunisian restaurant.
Excellent veggie café
Multi coloured buns and no meat.
Fast food place with wide choice of vegan options including Poke bowls.
Small Vietnamese restaurant & tea house. Good choice of veggie dishes.
This bakery is famous for its "Navette" dry biscuit which recipe has been kept secret for almost a century. This is one of Marseille's culinary specialities. Not to miss, through you can get it in other bakeries in Marseille, too.
Despite its name, there is no canned fish in the menu there. A member of Gourméditerrannée association.
This unusual restaurant does excellent Corsican tapas such as figatelli sausage, stuffed artichokes, panchetta in honey and red mullet in tomato sauce. Worth booking to get a spot on the lovely terrace.
Good fish restaurant where you can try "Soupe de poisson à la rouille" and other Marseille's sea food. Sea view.
Popular and highly regarded Vegan restaurant.
Perhaps the best ice cream establishment in the city. Yet another member of Gourméditerrannée association.
For bouillabaisse and other sea food.
Seafood (again bouillabaisse), nice views.
Its amazing location in the very picturesque Vallon des Auffes harbour is an undeniable plus. Seafood specialities and affordable bouillabaisse.
A gastronomical restaurant consistently ranked among the city's best, specialized in seafood and fish dishes.
A 3-star Michelin restaurant on an idyllic location by the sea, facing the islands, held by local celebrity chef Gérald Passédat. It ranks among Southern France's very best restaurants and serves the best bouillabaisse in town at a cost.
Very good classic French cuisine, made from quality products, in the historic building of the Chamber of Commerce. One of the best places near the old port.
Small pub
English pub at La Pointe Rouge, southern Marseille, next to the beach.
Beer Hall
Modern craft beer bar.
Enormous selection for such a small place. Confusingly not on the Canebière.
Microbrewery serving locally brewed beers
Craft beer bar a few streets away from the old port.
Lively and good value late bar with outside terrace. Does a wide range of cocktails and one of the cheaper places for beer.
In "Le Panier", a nice terrace with a nice atmosphere
Next to the Old Port, small bar with terrace which offers a huge number of cocktails for €5.
This three room cave-like club, is a great place to go if you like to listen to different types of music. One room or cave, plays hit music, another room plays underground techno and house music (room led by La Dame Noir records), and the last room plays jazzy and 1950-60s music. The drink prices range from €5 for a mixed drink or well beer to €10 for more quality alcohol.
Le Cosy Bar is a club aimed at the younger demographic. This is a multi-roomed club, plays top music in techno, dub step, hip hop, and reggae til 06:00. Le Cosy Bar is known for their extravagant theme nights such as Moscow Beach, where everyone's attire is mixed between winter wear and beach clothes, and Soiree Pyjamas, where everyone dressing in pajamas. The drink prices are €5-10, like most of the other night clubs in the area.
The best electronic music club in Marseille. €5 in advance or €10 with a drink.
Restaurant and club under the Major cathedral, the place hosts live bands from Corsica playing French and international hits. The place is luxurious and beautiful people fit in.
It's in a safe area in the very center of Marseille, the “Vieux Port”. They offer large shared rooms (with lockers) accommodating 6 people for the single price of €20. 24/7 reception & security. multilingual staff, no curfew; Online booking and reservation. Breakfast offered (French baguette, butter & marmalade, fruit, coffee); Linens included. Services: laundry, luggage storage, printer, free city bikes spot; free Wi-fi, computer available in lobby. Sunny balcony, cosy lounge, guest kitchen, large TV with international channels.
From €60. Between the St Charles Train Station and the old port +33 491 508 178. A renovated hostel with free internet, great atmosphere, and friendly staff.
The hostel is in a château north of the city centre, about 15 minutes walk from the Metro station. Beautiful views across the city.
Completely renovated, the residence is in the heart of the Le Prado quarter, 100 metres from the beach, easy to get to via the Avenue du Prado or the Corniche. It lies in a quiet residential area close to a large number of restaurants and the Palais des Congrès. This site can accommodate people with reduced mobility (minor disabilities, elderly people) with an able-bodied escort and families with young children.
Clean basic hotel. Room includes air-conditioner, bathroom and water boiler. Nearest metro station Sainte-Marguerite Dromel is situated 1.2 km from hotel to south.
Newish Eco brand from Accor with a different look & feel inside. Friendly staff. Close to transport connections.
Completely renovated in 2010 in a 1950s style with a tribute to Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier. The hotel offers beautiful views of Marseille from its balconies and three suites on the top floor have terraces overlooking the Old Harbour and the Church. All the rooms are facing the port.
Clean, cosy hotel in a quiet location near Joliette metro/tram station. Good location for the port and Le Panier.
A four-star resort near the Pharo gardens overlooking the Vieux Port with impressive views. The place to stay for most public figures.
One of the city's most upmarket hotels, this villa by the sea boasts the region's only Michelin 3-star restaurant.
By train
5 hours) and from Brussels (5 hours). Slower Intercités trains connects with cities not on the TGV network. All trains within France are run by SNCF or for low-cost TGV by Ouigo.
By bus
FlixBus has many connections all over Europe.
By car
Marseille is very well connected to most French cities through numerous highways. As always in France those highways are expensive but practical, comfortable and fast.
By boat
Marseille has a big harbour.
By bicycle
If traveling by bicycle, you should arrive early in the day to avoid getting lost in this vast metropolis.
By boat
A Ferry Boat crosses the Old Harbour (Vieux Port). It is a tourist attraction in itself known as the shortest commercial boat ride in Europe.
By car
Avoid taking your car if you possibly can. Marseille, at least the centre, has narrow streets, one-way streets, random lane changes and so on which can drive both locals and non-locals crazy.
By taxi
Be careful of rogue taxi drivers. While there aren't many, there are a few and a €20 ride can quickly become a €40 ride.
By bicycle
Marseille has the excellent le vélo cycle hire scheme in place (but a very small number of cycle paths), this makes it possible to get round the city quickly and very reasonably.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône · International · MRS
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