Looking for the best things to do in Marseille?

Marseille is the second most populated city in France, but it’s not nearly as well-known as several other, smaller cities in the country like Nice and Bordeaux.

Having spent a large amount of my childhood in and visited Marseille countless times, I know the ins and outs of the city and feel like it is vastly under-appreciated by tourists.

Marseille is full of beauty, culture, and excellent food, and I’m going to walk you through all the highlights.

Most Marseille guides I’ve found online are incredibly generic, so I’m taking things into my own hands.

Here are the very best things to do in Marseille.

Map of the Best Things to Do in Marseille

I’ve plotted out each of the best things to do in Marseille in the map below.

The map is color-coded: blue for activities in the city center, red for outside the center, and yellow for outside the main city.

Best Things to Do in Marseille- City Center

I’m going to divide the next sections like I divided the map.

First, we’ll discuss the best things to do in the city center of Marseille.

Then, we’ll move to slightly further parts of the city- before finally moving a little outside of the city entirely.

Note: As beautiful as Marseille is, my favorite spots are actually outside the city. While I’ll mention a few of them (14 & 15), my post on the best day trips from Marseille is something I highly recommend you check out for the full rundown!

1. Visit the Vieux Port (Old Port of Marseille)

Whenever most people think of Marseille, they immediately picture the Vieux Port.

The Vieux Port translates to the ‘Old Port’, and it sure is old.

Marseille is the oldest city in France, and the Vieux Port is the oldest part of Marseille- originally founded by the Greeks 2600 years ago.

Today it’s a wonderful place to stroll around, filled with fish markets, live performances, and surrounded by cafés and restaurants.

Insider Tip: You can take a ferry boat ride across the port for €0.50. Click here for more info!

2. Explore Le Panier

Le Panier is the oldest neighborhood in Marseille, and probably the most charming.

It’s a beautiful neighborhood full of narrow, winding streets and cool, local boutique shops. The steepness and winding quality of the streets wasn’t originally for aesthetic- they were purposeful for the defense of the city, preventing enemies from moving around too quickly.

In 1943, the Nazis destroyed large parts of the neighborhoods around the Vieux Port, but parts of Le Panier survived. This is partly why Le Panier is so unique- it gives a taste of the old Marseille.

Insider Tip: Don’t have a destination in mind- get lost in the winding streets and explore.

Note: Walking tours can also be a great option, as you get to explore the area while gaining a greater understanding of the history and culture.

3. Head Up to Notre-Dame de la Garde (Best View in Marseille)

At the highest point of Marseille sits the beautiful Notre-Dame de la Garde.

Sitting atop the city, Notre-Dame de la Garde is the best spot for panoramic views of Marseille.

It’s also worth mentioning that the cathedral itself (both inside and out) is stunning and absolutely worth a visit.

If you want a workout, it’s a steep walk between 30 and 45 minutes from the Vieux Port, depending on your pace. If not, take the number 60 bus- it heads straight up. You can drive if you have a car, but parking may be tough in summer (as is the case everywhere in Marseille).

I would recommend coming at sunset, as the Notre-Dame de la Garde is probably the best sunset spot in the city.

Insider Tip: Walk on the dirt path underneath the cathedral and restaurant- eventually, it will wrap around the cathedral and you can ascend another hill behind the Notre-Dame, which has even better views. Sorry this is a little vague- good luck!

4. Explore Cours Julien & Notre-Dame du Mont

5. Visit the Cathédrale La Major de Marseille

Cathédrale La Major is no doubt one of the most visually striking buildings in Marseille.

The cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in all of France, built in the mid-1800s under Napoleon III to showcase Marseille’s wealth and importance as a port city.

You’ll notice the striped design (green and white), which it shares with the Notre-Dame de la Garde, reflecting Italian and Mediterranean influence.

Insider Tip: Most people stop for a quick photo in the front front and leave. Walk around the sides instead- it’s quieter, and you get a sense of how massive the thing is, especially with the sea right next to it.

6. Check Out the MuCEM Museum (& Fort Saint-Jean)

The MuCEM is a relatively new addition to Marseille, having first opened in 2013 when Marseille was named the European Capital of Culture.

The MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) focuses on the culture and history of the region. If that interests you, go check it out.

Even if you’re not into museums, the structure itself is a draw. It’s fully wrapped in a dark, lattice-like shell, giving it a cool and modern aesthetic.

Insider Tip: Don’t skip the free rooftop and aerial walkway from the MuCEM to Fort Saint-Jean! It’s completely free, and easily the highlight in my opinion. From the top, you get incredible views of the sea and Vieux Port.

7. Visit Marseille’s Local Markets

Marseille has a mixture of both European and North African culture.

In no place can you feel Marseille’s North African roots more than in its outdoor market scene. Marseille is filled with immigrants from North Africa- including two of my grandparents.

There are outdoor markets all over Marseille, you’re never too far from one- I used to go to the nearby market with my grandfather to buy fresh sardines.

My grandma was more of the cook, but Papi was a sardine grilling master.

I would check out the morning fish market at the head of the Vieux Port. If you want to see a market with more than just fish, check out Noailles Market.

8. Buy Some Famous Marseille Soap

Yes- soap.

A block of Savon de Marseille (Marseille soap) is one of the best things to buy in the city, and makes a great souvenir or gift.

You’ll see these blocks of soap everywhere, and it never gets boring to pop into a soap shop to pick up and smell as many as you can.

The options are endless, spanning from lemon and verveine (my personal favorite) to ‘donkey milk’ and ‘grandpa’. Truly something for everyone.

My favorite place to buy Savon de Marseille is at a tiny shop tucked away in Le Panier called Bazaar Caesar Soap. It honestly feels more like a cave than a shop.

Insider Tip: Not all soaps here are created equal! Look for soaps stamped with “72% huile”. That’s a sign you’re getting a more traditional, higher-quality version rather than a mass-produced one.

Best Things To Do in Marseille- Slightly Outside City Center

Now that we’ve covered the essentials at the Vieux Port and surroundings, it’s time to venture a little outside of the city center.

Don’t skip these. They will give you a whole other taste of Marseille.

9. Drive or Walk Along the Scenic Corniche

The Corniche (or Corniche Kennedy) isn’t really a prime attraction in Marseille, but that’s kind of the point.

Stretching along the coast, the Corniche is a scenic road with nonstop views of the sea, rocky shoreline, and small hidden coves.

It’s a nice break from the busier parts of the city, and feels way more open and relaxed than the Old Port. You’ll pass locals sitting on the rocks, swimming in the summer, or just hanging out watching the water.

You can either walk or drive- it’s easy enough to walk from the Vieux Port (about 25 minutes to the start), but in order to reach the best walking area I would take the bus (number 83 from the Vieux Port). Literally get off where it starts looking nice to you- it’s not a perfect science.

10. Stop by the Port du Vallon des Auffes

Vallon des Auffes is one of the most photogenic- and easy to miss- spots in Marseille.

The Port du Vallon des Auffes is a small marina tucked off the Corniche that feels completely separate from the city, with colorful boats, stone cottages, and a small inlet framed by a big arched bridge above.

It’s a great place to stroll around for a little while, particularly earlier in the morning or around sunset.

Vallon des Auffes is also home to some of the most renowned restaurants in the entire city, including Chez Fonfon & l’Epuisette. More on those later.

Insider Tip: If you want to have the most authentic Marseille meal, this is the place to do it. Make sure to check out the food section later in this post before you go.

11. Explore the Palais Longchamp

Palais Longchamp is one of the more impressive spots in Marseille.

Built in the mid-1800s to celebrate the arrival of water to the city after a cholera epidemic, it’s one of the few places in Marseille that scream ‘European’ in style.

The centerpiece is a massive fountain with statues, and a grand colonnade stretching out on either side. Definitely feels like you’ve stepped out of Marseille.

Insider tip: Most people stop at the main fountain, but walk around to the back of the monument where there’s a quieter park and a different view.

12. Experience an Olympique de Marseille Football Match at the Vélodrome

If you’ve got time- and are lucky with the timing of your trip- head to a Marseille football (soccer) match.

Let me warn you- the people of Marseille are absolutely nuts about their team. If you’re used to American sports, these matches have a different level of energy.

To give an example of the passion: just the other week, some Marseille fans launched flares at their own star player after he performed poorly in a match.

Maybe passion isn’t the right word, but you get the idea.

Click here for schedules and ticket availability. You can also book a stadium tour with the link below (should you be out of luck for a match).

13. Take a Boat Ride to Château d’If & The Frioul Islands

I debated whether or not to put this one in the next section instead, but the islands are really not far or hard to reach.

Château d’If is quite famous, known best as the prison in the Count of Monte Cristo. Highly recommend you watch the new 2024 remake if you haven’t already, by the way. And you’ll be able to point at the screen and yell that you’ve been there.

Château d’If is a cool stop but quick- the Frioul Islands are where you want to head next.

The Frioul Islands are a small archipelago that feel incredibly wild and remote, despite being so close to the city.

My aunt and uncle from Marseille borrowed their friend’s boat for a day a few years back, and we spent a while exploring around, ducking into small coves and jumping into the water.

If you for whatever reason don’t have access to a friend who has a boat in Marseille, there are other options.

The best option is to take a ferry from the Vieux Port. There is a site to buy tickets online, but it frequently doesn’t work so I would just go to the ticket office at the Vieux Port and buy your tickets there, a day in advance if you can.

Prices depend on how many spots you want to see, you can check them out with the same link above. General tickets range between €10-15.

Another option is to take a tour, which give the advantage of having a smaller, private boat and access to better spots.

I’ve attached some of these below, prices are pretty reasonable if you’re not too tight on budget.

Best Things to Do Outside of Marseille

I mentioned earlier that the best things to do in Marseille were actually slightly out of Marseille. And still haven’t changed my mind.

While I will be covering a couple spots here, I strongly recommend you check out my post on the best day trips from Marseille.

In that post, I go into way more detail for the spots I give below, as well as many more spots I don’t list here but that are unmissable for any trip to the region.

14. Discover the Charming Coastal Towns of Cassis & Bandol

Cassis and Bandol are my two favorite coastal towns within close range of Marseille.

Cassis is located about 30 minutes away, and has a beautiful little town surrounding a marina. You can easily spend multiple hours walking into shops, eating, and exploring.

Bandol is a little further away, and has a beach/boardwalk vibe that is incredible in summer. It also has the only real sandy beach in the area, where I spent endless days as a child.

A car is the easiest way, but both Cassis and Bandol can be reached by taking the TER train heading to Toulon from the Marseille Blancarde Station. Tickets are between €10-15, click here to check them out.

Check times beforehand. The station can easily be reached using the metro. The ride to Cassis takes 15-20 minutes and the ride to Bandol takes 35.

Note: There’s also some great wine in the area- specifically Bandol, which is famous for its rosé. I highly recommend the tours above if they are in the budget!

15. Go Hiking & Swimming in the Beautiful Calanques

These are- without a doubt- the most magnificent pieces of nature in the area.

The Calanques are a stretch of dramatic, narrow coastal inlets found (mostly) between Marseille and Cassis.

There are five main calanques between Marseille and Cassis. There are also countless others in the surrounding area.

The pictures below will give you an idea: notice the changing colors of the water and steep limestone cliffs.

The Calanques are best accessed by car, and generally require a bit of a hike. There are other ways as well, including tours and hiking from Cassis.

Insider Tip: Check out Calanque de l’Éverine, located in the complete other direction from Marseille but equally beautiful. It’s north of Marseille on the map at the top.

Note: For more information on Cassis, Bandol, & the Calanques, check out my post on the best day trips from Marseille.

Best Things to Eat & Drink in Marseille

We’ve now arrived at the all-important food section.

No ‘best things to do’ list would be complete without it, after all.

16. Try Bouillabaisse- The Famous Local Dish

This is a must try in Marseille. Or so I’m told. I can’t eat it because I’m kosher (no seafood), so this is me relaying information.

Bouillabaisse is a fish stew that originated from fishermen taking basically everything they couldn’t sell and throwing it into a pot.

A proper bouillabaisse is made with several types of Mediterranean fish, cooked in a rich broth with saffron, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs. It’s usually served in two parts: first the broth with bread and rouille (a garlicky sauce), then the fish separately.

We’ve already discussed two of the best places to try it: Chez Fonfon & l’Epuisette, in Port de Vallon des Auffes. These are a bit expensive, but if you want an authentic bouillabaisse it’s going to be a bit pricey.

Don’t get it from the touristy restaurants along the Vieux Port- their bouillabaisse is practically unrecognizable from the authentic kind.

17. Take a Food Tour to Try Marseillaise Treats

Taking a food tour is always a good way to experience the main tastes of a city without getting too full.

Food tours in Marseille will give you a full range of the city’s famous bites, including cheeses, tapas, fish, wine, pastis (a famous liqueur from Marseille), local desserts & more.

They also double as a walking tour, so you can kill two birds with one stone.

I would recommend this tour or this tour.

18. Try Some Local Wines

Marseille may have its own vibe- but you are still in France.

Marseille is the capital of the Provence region, and the area is known for producing the world’s most renowned rosés.

There are many complex reasons because of geography and typography that I won’t pretend to understand- you can click here to read about it or, better yet, book one of the tours below where they’ll surely explain it all to you.

How Many Days Do You Need in Marseille?

After reading this list, I hope I’ve been convincing enough to make you want to do everything I’ve laid out.

If you want to do most of what’s on this list, you’re going to need a good amount of time in Marseille.

1 Day	City center highlights
2 Days	Venture outside city center
3 Days	Take day trip outside Marseille
4+ Days	Potential for multiple day trips

A day or two will allow you to get a good grasp of the city, but I highly recommend staying at least three days to allow yourself time to venture out into the surrounding area.

I feel like a broken record, but it’s absolutely beautiful and shouldn’t be skipped.

Where to Stay in Marseille

Ideally, you’re going to want to stay near the city center.

That can mean right by the Vieux Port, or in one of the surrounding neighborhoods- it doesn’t matter much.

If there isn’t availability near the Vieux Port, it’s not that big of a deal. Marseille is pretty well-connected by metros, buses & trams (more on that in a sec), so as long as you find something by one of the transit lines, you can stay a little away from the center.

Or if you let me know early enough, I can arrange to have you stay with my grandfather.

Use the link below to check out options on Booking.com- they usually have the best prices. I have it set to the Vieux Port, which again is the best location.

How to Get Around Marseille

Getting around Marseille is pretty straightforward.

If you’re staying in the city center, you can get to most places just by walking.

For the few spots on this list that are a bit further (for instance, Palais Longchamp or the Football Stadium), your best friends are the metro, tram and bus.

I won’t go into much more detail because you don’t really need an in depth knowledge of the transit system. Google Maps works perfectly in Marseille, simply plug in the destination from wherever you are and it’ll tell you what to do.

Best Time to Visit Marseille

Marseille is one of the sunniest cities in Europe, with hot summers and generally mild winters.

The best time to visit is during the summer or shoulder season (May-October). I generally recommend September as the sweet spot, when the crowds are smaller and the sea is still warm for swimming.

However, other months have their pros too. I would avoid Marseille in the dead of winter, but the fall and spring months give rise to more mild temperatures that are great for- for instance- hiking in the calanques.

Is Marseille Safe?

Marseille gets a bad rap. In the mid-1900s, it started to gain the undesirable reputation of being dirty and hosting a major heroin smuggling network that came to be known as ‘The French Connection’- for any of you that may have seen the film.

Whatever it’s past, Marseille is perfectly safe for tourists today.

Like any city, there are parts to avoid. But none of the things I’ve suggested for you to do go near anywhere remotely in that category.

The main thing to watch out for are pickpockets. This is a problem everywhere in France, but as long as you’re vigilant and aware of your belongings you’ll be fine.

Final Thoughts

I’m happy you’ve decided to or are planning on coming to Marseille, because it’s a vastly underrated city that offers a unique blend of culture and history that you won’t find anywhere else in France.

It doesn’t have the perfect, polished look of Paris (if that’s next on your itinerary, good. Click here!) or postcard-perfect colorful gleam of the French Riviera, but that’s the point- Marseille feels raw and real, and more interesting because of it.

I’ve supplied you with the best things to do in Marseille, and the more of them you’re able to see, the better taste of the city you’re going to get.

Get to work, and- as the French say- bon chance!