The Top 47 Things to Do and See in Marseille, France
Marseille is famously the gateway to the French Riviera. Explore the charming Vieux Port, marvel at the Notre Dame de la Garde and jet off on a boat towards the Parc National des Calanques. We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Marseille.
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Admire the spectacular Notre Dame de la Garde
Church
Take a boat ride to Les Calanques
Natural Feature
Wander around the Vieux Port
Historical Landmark
Swot up the city's Mediterranean history at MuCEM
Museum
Appreciate Cathédrale de la Major's beautiful domed towers
Cathedral
Take a trip to Marseille's Old Town, Le Panier
Historical Landmark
Discover Marseille's oldest museum, Palais Longchamp
Museum, Park
Explore the 16th-century castle, Château d’If
Natural Feature, Historical Landmark
Sample a traditional tipple of 'pastis'
Bar, Restaurant, French
Whilst France in general might be known for its elegant and sophisticated cuisine and drinking scene, Marseille is particularly well-known for its pastis – an anise-flavored apéritif. Also known as ‘pastage’ by Marseille’s residents, there are plenty of spots across the city to sample this traditional tipple. Typically the apéritif is served with a jug of water, so drinkers can dilute the beverage to make it as strong or weak as they like. For an extensive selection, head to Pastis and Olives, where you can choose from 16 variations, or join a foodie tour of the city to discover the finest pastis in town.
Wander through the city's biggest avenue, La Canebière
Historical Landmark
Eat Bouillabaisse, the Local Soup Delicacy
Restaurant, Market, French, European
Bouillabaisse is a fish soup that comes specifically from Marseille and the surrounding coastline. Fishermen used to make soup with the rockfish they caught that they couldn’t sell in the market. They added Provençal herbs and simmered it over a period of a few hours. Nowadays, it’s a cultural delicacy – order it in advance (sometimes 48 hours) at the best restaurants, expect to pay at least €40 per head and most restaurants only take orders for more than 2 people. Read our guide on where to eat the best bouillabaisse, or book the Beyond Bouillabaisse experience to dedicate a day to this iconic delicacy.
Natural History Museum
Art Gallery, Museum
Corniche Kennedy
Natural Feature
Cours Julien
Market, Theatre, Bookstore, Store
Parc Borely
Park
Parc Valmer
Park
Fort St Jean
Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark
The old Fort has had a facelift and now looks resplendent. It’s linked to the new MUCEM via a walkway that will take your breath away. It’s a great place for kids to run around the different tunnels and in and out of the old rooms.
Corbusier's Unité D'Habitation
Architectural Landmark
Friches Belle de Mai
Bookstore, Building, Theater
Noailles market
Architectural Landmark
Noailles market (also known as the Capucins Market) is an explosion of vibrant colours and aromas, with market stalls packed with fruits, spices and North African delicacies.
Picnic outside the Hotel Dieu
Chain Hotel, Hotel
Experience the ‘blue hour’
Many people come to the South of France to paint, thanks to the luminous quality of the light. It’s caused by the mixture of dry climate, high temperatures and the crazy Mistral wind. For about an hour most days, at dawn and at dusk, the sky takes on an ethereal, blue quality, which is beautiful to witness and great to photograph or paint.
Play empress at the Jardin du Pharo
Natural Feature
Have an authentic hammam experience
Architectural Landmark, Health Spa
Marseille has a huge Northern African influence, of which massages and hammams are an institution. People love the Bastide des Bains, near the Old Port area. It’s respectable and upmarket but great value. Have a massage in a private cabin and then head to the communal hammam to relax and unwind.
Experience African-French cuisine
Train Station
Provence is loved for its Mediterranean cuisine but Marseille also offers some wonderful North African cuisine with a French twist. Head to the couscous restaurants by Noailles metro station or by the main St Charles train station. The food here is quick and cheap at many of the sit-down restaurants. For something a little more upmarket, head to the Cours Julien area, where you’ll find some interesting and varied types of African restaurants. The area is edgy but lively and fun.
Pointe Rouge
Natural Feature
All the way east along the coastal road from Marseille’s Old Port (“le vieux port“) you’ll find a little stretch of sand called Pointe Rouge. It’s a cute locals beach, where teenagers hang out with their friends or kids play on the sand, while their parents sip wine at the local restaurant tables. Get the bus to stop Pointe Rouge.
Sentier Pédestre de l'Huveaune
Architectural Landmark
The Sentier Pédestre de l’Huveaune is a riverside passage (along the small river Huveaune) that leads to the Parc Borély and the seafront from the centre of town. It’s great for a walk, a run or even on your bike.
The Crazy Zoo
Amusement Park
Twenty-five years ago, there used to be a real zoo in the grounds of the park next to Palais Longchamp. It was recently brought back as a “crazy zoo” with animal statues locked up inside the old animal cages. It’s a locals park where you’ll find families with small kids taking rides on the real horses around the grounds or couples asleep in self-hung hammocks.
Phare de Sainte-Marie
Architectural Landmark
Built in 1855, the Sainte Marie lighthouse on the esplanade de la Joliette marks the northernmost point of Marseille’s harbor. The cylindrical turret is an impressive 60 feet high and is encased from top-to-bottom in brilliant white local limestone. The lighthouse, which was electrified in 1922, is now inactive but still makes a great photo opportunity as the dazzling white of the limestone contrasts against the azure blue of the cloudless sky and the Mediterranean Sea. Recommended by Laura Broomhead.
Ride the ferry boat
Architectural Landmark
A picturesque little ferry boat sets sail from Marseille’s town hall several times a day, going from one side of the Old Port to the other. The ferry, which was originally steam driven, has now been replaced with a more eco-friendly version equipped with a solar propeller, so you can ride the waves without a heavy conscience. Recommended by Laura Broomhead.
Saint-Ferréol les Augustins
Church
This Roman Catholic church is situated on the Quai des Belges at the eastern end of the Old Port of Marseille. The history of the church goes back to when the site was owned by the Knights Templar in the 12th century. The building has been added to and altered ever since, with the addition of the Italian-style bell tower and the neo-baroque facade. The mish-mash of styles and influences, in fact, works to great effect and this is a stunning addition to the already beautiful Old Port. Recommended by Laura Broomhead.
Saint Victor’s Abbey
Church
This Roman Catholic church, founded in the fifth century by Christian monk and theologian Jean Cassien, is estimated to be one of the oldest places of worship in France. The church has many interesting archeological and architectural elements, but the highlight is probably the view from the towers onto the port below. Recommended by Laura Broomhead.
La Maison Diamantée
Architectural Landmark
Located just behind the town hall, on Rue de la Prison, you will discover La Maison Diamantée, a beautiful 16th-century civilian palace with a facade featuring diamond facets. Redolent of the disappeared ancient city and patrician houses that were dedicated to the sea and trading, this architectural marvel served as the headquarters of the organizing association of Marseille’s Capital of Culture honor in 2013. Since 1925, its stairs and facade have been the subject of a classification as historical monuments, which makes it a veritable must-see in Marseille. Recommended by Andreea Pavaloiu.
La Vieille Charité
Architectural Landmark
Undoubtedly, the crown jewel of Le Panier is the Vieille Charité. Designed by the Marseille-born architect Pierre Paul Puget and built between 1671 and 1749, the building was originally intended to house the poor of the city, but eventually served as prison for the growing number of homeless people and beggars of Marseille in the mid 18th century. Today, Marseille’s architectural gem hosts a cultural centre, research units, museums and art galleries. But its ground floor hosts the most intriguing show yet: Être femme à l’époque grecque – just one of the many touring exhibition that grace the rooms here. Recommended by Andreea Pavaloiu.
Le Petit Nice
Restaurant, French
The Best Day Trips to Take From Marseille
Avignon & Pont du Gard
Archaeological site, Building, Monastery, Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
Sénanque Abbey
Building, Monastery
Fontaine de Vaucluse
Architectural Landmark
The town of Fontaine de Vaucluse is a perfect choice if you want to walk around a picturesque Provençal town and maybe do some kayaking. The source of the river Sorgue is a gentle walk along the river upstream of the town and there are some riverside restaurants to watch the kayakers if you don’t want to go in yourself. There are a number of kayak businesses downstream from where you can take a gentle and leisurely ride, stopping for a swim whenever you want. The train to Fontaine de Vaucluse takes just over 1.5 hours.
St Tropez
Architectural Landmark
If you don’t want to stay in St Tropez, a day trip is just enough time to soak up the ambient glamour of this chic little village. Wander the cobbled streets of the old fishing district, La Ponche, try some local cake, the Tarte Tropézienne, and watch the mega yachts from a bar at the port. It’s rather complicated to get to without a car, but it can be done by taking a train to Sainte-Raphael, then a bus to Sainte-Maxime, then a ferry to St Tropez. The journey would probably take about 3.5 hours, compared to 2 hours in the car.
Arles
Natural Feature
Arles is most well known for being home to Van Gogh and you can still see the famous settings and his work in the Van Gogh Foundation. It also has a Roman amphitheatre where you can see concerts and bullfights. Arles is 50 minutes from Marseille on the train and probably an hour by car.
Cassis
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
Cassis is a small fishing village on the coast between Marseille and St Tropez. It’s a good day trip because it has a great beach (with beachside restaurants), upmarket artsy fashion and souvenir shops, and a cute harbour where you can sometimes see water jousting or just have a good meal. The train takes about 30 minutes but you will need to wait for a bus down into the village (which might add another hour onto your trip). Take your bikes on the train if you don’t mind the journey back uphill or catch a taxi. If you drive, parking is always difficult unless you arrive early, so it might be best to use the park-and-ride schemes on the hill overlooking town.
Nice
Architectural Landmark
Nice is a big city so a day trip won’t do it justice, but it will give you an idea of why people love it so much. There’s so much to do here (other than the beaches) but if you only have a day, it’s best to check out the Roman remains of Cimiez, wander the iconic Promenade des Anglais and see some of Matisse’s artwork. He lived in the city for most of his life. Read our checklist of unmissable Nice attractions. Nice is just over 2 hours in the car and there are also fast trains.
Gorges du Verdon and Moustièrs-Saint-Marie
Natural Feature
Éze
Natural Feature
The hilltop village of Éze (featured image) has been the backdrop for lots of films. It’s about 3 hours by car from Marseille so it would probably be best to share the driving with someone else or car share. The road from Nice to Éze winds its way along the coastline in a precarious fashion (so it’s often in movie car chases) before it dips down into Monte Carlo.
Les Goudes
Natural Feature
Goudes is a little fishing village that locals call “the end of the world”. It’s the last place you reach along the coast before you get to the Calanques and a great place to hike, swim (if you can brave the rocks) or just contemplate life.
Iles de Frioul
Natural Feature
If you take the ferry a little further out from Château d’If, you reach the island of Frioul. It doesn’t have many residents, and is mostly a nature reserve and a great place to swim and have lunch. Take proper footwear and lots of water.
Côte Bleu
Architectural Landmark
Everyone heads out of Marseille along the Còte D’Azur to discover the French Riviera or into the Luberon to see inland Provence. But the Côte Bleu is in the other direction (west from Marseille, towards the Camargues) and an absolute gem. Take the train that winds high up around the coastal cliffs and stop at any one of the lovely small seaside villages.
Ensuès-la-Redonne
Architectural Landmark
Just a few minutes outside of Marseille on the Côte Bleu, you’ll find the little port of Ensuès-la-Redonne. There isn’t a big beach but it’s picture perfect (rocky, not sandy) with a waterside restaurant or two. They hold a lot of seafood and fish festivals here that are packed full of locals trying the first catch of the season.