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Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Marseille

Old Port of Marseille, Marseille
Old Port of Marseille
Château d'If, Marseille
Château d'If

City guide

About Marseille

Marseille sits on a sun-drenched Mediterranean bay in southern France. Founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC, France's oldest city is a proud, multicultural port metropole radiating raw maritime character and independent spirit.

Its heartbeat is the Vieux-Port, where local fishermen sell their morning catch directly from wooden docks and ferries depart for the fortress island of Chateau d'If. High above on a limestone outcrop stands the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, while just south lie the fjord-like limestone inlets and turquoise coves of the Calanques National Park.

Best time to go
May through October provides the best weather: abundant Mediterranean sunshine and temperatures between 22 and 28°C. Spring and autumn are ideal for coastal hiking in the Calanques. July and August are warm and lively, cooled by sea breezes. Winters are mild and bright (around 12°C), though the northern mistral wind can blow briskly.
From the airport
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is located 27 kilometres northwest of the city. The direct L91 shuttle bus leaves every 10 to 15 minutes, reaching Marseille Saint-Charles railway station in roughly 25 to 30 minutes. Official taxis have a daytime flat rate of approximately 50 euros.
Getting around
The historic Vieux-Port and the ancient hillside quarter of Le Panier are easily explored on foot. Public transit (RTM) includes two subway lines, modern trams, and extensive city buses. The tiny municipal Ferry Boat has carried passengers across the harbor for generations on short, inexpensive hops.

What to see in Marseille

  • Vieux-Port and MuCEMThe ancient natural harbor featuring the morning fish market and the futuristic Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, connected by footbridge to 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean.
  • Notre-Dame de la GardeThe 19th-century Neo-Byzantine hilltop basilica known affectionately as 'La Bonne Mere', topped with a gilded Madonna watching over the harbor.
  • Calanques National ParkMonumental white limestone sea cliffs plunging into crystalline turquoise fjords, easily accessible by hiking paths from Luminy or boat cruises from the port.
  • Chateau d'If and the Frioul IslandsThe 16th-century island prison fortress immortalized in Alexandre Dumas's classic novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo', reached by regular shuttle ferries.

Neighbourhoods

  • Le PanierThe historic hillside old town of steep cobbled alleys, pastel facades, traditional olive oil soap workshops, street murals, and artisan cafes.
  • Noailles and Cours JulienNoailles is an aromatic daily market quarter with North African flavors; nearby Cours Julien is a bohemian enclave of street art, live music, and bookshops.
  • Vallon des AuffesA picturesque traditional fishing cove nestled under a stone bridge along the Corniche, home to colorful wooden boats and renowned seafood restaurants.

Food and drink

Order authentic bouillabaisse: the legendary multi-course fisherman's stew served with rockfish, potatoes, and garlic rouille sauce spread on crusty croutons. Enjoy a chilled glass of aniseed pastis diluted with ice water before dinner, and taste sweet orange-blossom navettes cookies shaped like traditional rowboats.

Questions about Marseille

How can you visit the Calanques?

Take boat tours directly from the Vieux-Port, or hike trailheads starting at Luminy or the coastal village of Cassis. In summer, hiking trails are occasionally closed during high fire-risk days.

Is authentic bouillabaisse expensive in Marseille?

Yes, genuine bouillabaisse prepared according to the local culinary charter uses at least four types of fresh wild rockfish and typically costs 60 to 80 euros per person.

Month by month breakdown

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