The oldest city in France, founded 2,600 years ago, it is an exciting and fascinating place. It has it all from Roman remains and medieval churches to palaces and great avant-garde architecture. This bustling industrial city is a working city, it takes enormous pride in its own identity, so it is not predominantly a tourist hub. Many people make Marseille part of an itinerary along the Mediterranean coast. It is worth spending several days here.
Marseille Overview
- The second most populous city in France with more than 840,000 inhabitants.
- Located in Bouches-du-Rhone in Provence, on the Mediterranean coast.
- France’s main cruise port with more than 705,000 passengers visiting annually
- 4 million tourists annually
- More than 300 days of sunshine a year.
- 57 kilometers of coastline
- European Capital of Culture 2013
Marseille – How to get there
- By Plane: You can fly to Marseille-Provence Airport from the USA with a European stopover.
Airport transportation information
Marseille Airport is 30 kilometers (15.5 miles) northwest of Marseille.
From the airport to the center of Marseille
- By coach: La Navette coaches leave regularly for St-Charles train station and take about 25 minutes.
- By taxi: Taxis cost more at night.
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 4 42 88 11 44. - By train
The main train station is Gare St-Charles. There are frequent high-speed TGV trains from Paris without stopping that take just over 3 hours. Learn more about getting a rail pass.
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 8 10 87 94 79). - By car
The distance from Paris is 769 kilometers, from Lyon 314 kilometers and Nice 189 kilometers. It is easily accessible as three motorways linking Spain, Italy and northern Europe intersect in Marseille.
Learn more about leasing and car rental buyback deals.
For detailed information on how to get from Paris to Marseille, see this link. You can travel from London to Marseille without changing trains on a Eurostar express train that also stops in Lyon and Avignon.
Marseille –- How to get around
There is a comprehensive network of bus routes, two metro lines and two tram lines operated by RTM that make navigating Marseill easy and inexpensive.
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 4 91 91 92 19.
Information from the RTM website (only in French).
The same tickets can be used on all three forms of transport in Marseille; buy them at metro stations and on the bus (for singles only), at tabacs and kiosks with the RTM sign. A single ticket can be used for one hour. There are also several transport passes, which are worth buying if you plan to use public transport (12 euros for 7 days).
Marseille Weather
Marseille has a glorious climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Average monthly temperatures range from 37 degrees F to 51 degrees F in January and highs from 66 degrees F to 84 degrees F in July, the hottest month. The wettest months are from September to December. It can be very hot and oppressive during the summer months and you may want to escape to the surrounding coastline.
Look at the weather in Marseille today.
Look at the weather all over France
Marseille hotels
Marseille is not primarily a tourist city, so you will be able to find a room in July and August, as well as December and January. Hotels range from the recently renovated and elegant Hotel Residence du Vieux Port (18 que du Port) to the iconic Hotel Le Corbusier (La Corniche, Michelet 280 bd).
You can get more information about Marseille hotels at the Tourist Office.
Marseille Restaurants
Marseille residents know a thing or two when it comes to eating. Fish and seafood are famous here, the main star being bouillabaisse , invented in Marseille. It is a traditional Provencal fish stew made with cooked fish and shellfish and flavored with garlic and saffron, as well as basil, bay leaf, and fennel. You can also try the lamb or lamb stew and trotters, although it may be an acquired taste.
There are several districts full of restaurants. Try the cours Julien or place Jean-Jaures for international restaurants, and the Vieux Port quays and the pedestrian zone behind the southern part of the port, or Le Panier for old-fashioned bistros. Sunday is not a good day for restaurants, as many are closed, and restaurateurs often take vacations in the summer (July and August).
- Look at my guide to restaurants in Marseille
Marseille – Some of the main attractions
- Around the port of Vieux . In the heart of Marseille life, the old port is a great place to stroll with its bars and restaurants, shops, boat providers, luxury mega yachts and fishing boats. At the Belges quay on the east side, fishing boats deliver their daily catch, while ferries fill up with passengers to Chateau d’If and the Calanques.
- Abbaye de St-Victor, the oldest church in Marseille. It looks more like a fortress than a church (it was built in a particularly vital strategic position), its scale and ancient crypt are worth entering.
- Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. You can’t miss the huge golden statue of the Virgin Mary and Child on top of the 19th century basilica, the emblem of Marseille. Step inside to enjoy a remarkable ornate, Byzantine-style interior.
- Jardin des Vestiges / Musée d’Histoire de Marseille. The remains of the original Greek walls of Marseille and a corner of the Roman port are preserved here in the garden. The adjoining museum offers a wonderfully eclectic collection of objects that make up the history of Marseille.
- In a charming 17th-century mansion, the Cantini Museum displays a remarkable collection of Fauve and Surrealist art.
- MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) was inaugurated in 2013 in a splendid modern building. At the entrance to the Old Port and facing the sea, a vast subject is needed, looking at the culture of a varied and diverse culture.
- Chateau d’If. Take the boat trip to the famous Chateau d’If, where Edmond Dantes was unjustly imprisoned in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Today is a good place to get away from the crowds of Marseille. Combine it with a visit to the Frioul Islands.
Read about the top attractions in Marseille
Tourist Office
4 La Canebiere
Official tourism website.
