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05 September 2017 / 24 Comments

3 things to do in Marseille, France

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What to see and do in Marseille, France? Marseille is the second largest city in France and is beautifully situated on the coast. Here you'll find the charming old harbour of Vieux Port and the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, which offers great views of the city and the sea beyond. We offer our top tips for your visit to Marseille.

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Marseille in France

People have been living in and around Marseille for around 30,000 years, which is staggering to imagine. Underwater caves outside Marseille have revealed cave paintings between 21 000 and 29 000 years old, and excavations under the railway station have revealed settlements from around 6 000 BC.

Marseille Gamla hamnen

What can you do in Marseille?

Marseille is France's second largest city and has struggled with serious image problems in the past. Now, it is said that there is a new optimism and describes the French port city as a dynamic, lively and multicultural city with a long history. Here are three tips on things to do in Marseille!

Marseille Frankrike
Love this mirrored roof down by the old harbour!

1. Stroll around the Vieux Port - the Old Harbour

As a tourist, the Vieux Port, the old harbour, is a must. This is the heart of Marseille, where traditional fishing boats rub shoulders with modern luxury yachts. Here you can also buy fresh fish or book sightseeing tours by boat.

Marseille fiskmarknad
From Monday to Saturday you can buy fresh fish in the harbour.
Häng i gamla hamnen i Marseilles
Young people hang out in the old harbour in Marseille, France.

There are also plenty of restaurants and cafés in the cosy surrounding neighbourhoods. Once you've had your fill of harbour life, you can, if you wish, stroll up La Canebière, the historic street sometimes referred to as 'Marseille's Champs-Élysées'.

Marseille France
The old harbour of Marseilles, France, with the city's Ferris wheel in the background.

2. Visit Notre Dame de la Garde

Another attraction worth visiting is the Church of Notre Dame de la Garde, or Basilisque Notre Dame de la Garde as it is called in French. The church is located on a hill with a great view of Marseille. We walked here from the old harbour. It was not very far to walk, but on the other hand it was uphill all the way ...

Notre Dame de la Garde
Our Lady of the Guard

If you don't want to walk, there are several options, such as bus tours and the "little train". Once there, you can both enjoy the view and enter the church, which is quite small, but really nice with paintings and mosaics. You can also visit the church's crypt.

Notre Dame Marseille
Great views of the city!

3. eat local food

Perhaps the most classic dish to order in Marseille is bouillabaisse, a seafood stew served with a dollop of garlic mayonnaise. Although we love fish stews, that's not what we ordered this time.

When it was time for lunch, it was another French classic: Moules frites! Right by the harbour a portion cost 17 euros, but when we sneaked into a back street we found the same dish for 10,50 euros. Here we sat on a cosy outdoor terrace together with lots of French people and munched on a large pot of mussels.

Moules frites
I took "regular" mussels and Peter chose mussels with Roquefort cheese.

More to do in Marseille

We are far from having covered everything there is to see and do in Marseille. Here are a few more tips for more places to explore that we didn't get to this time:

  • The Basket is the oldest neighbourhood in Marseille, France. The ancient city of Massalia was founded here as early as 600 BC, making it France's oldest urban centre. Today it is a neighbourhood with steep, winding alleys.
  • Cours Julien is considered Marseille's most bohemian and vibrant artistic neighbourhood. Here you can see a lot of street art and colourful paintings.
  • The Corniche is a picturesque promenade that runs along the coast for five kilometres. You can get here by bus from the old harbour.
  • Chateau d'If is a former prison, located on one of the small islands off Marseille. During the 17th century, the castle was used as a prison and it was here that Alexandre Dumas imprisoned his character the Count of Monte Cristo. If you're tired of the sun and heat, why not visit the dark prison cells?
Marseille

See more in France

If you're travelling around by car or motorhome, or if you have the time to make excursions, there's much more to see and experience around the south of France. Here are some tips for great destinations nearby:

  • Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is an hour's drive to the northeast, and this small, cosy town is home to the tomb of Mary Magdalene.
  • Arles is an hour's drive away to the northwest, and includes an impressive amphitheatre.
  • Baux-de-Provence is located near Arles. There are huge limestone caves where fascinating light shows are performed.
  • Giens Peninsula is an hour and 20 minutes to the east. It offers stunning scenery and great surfing beaches. From here you can also reach the beautiful island Porquerolles.
  • Le Lavandou is another half hour to the east, offering a holiday atmosphere and beautiful beaches. From here you can reach the naturist island Ile du Levant and the island Port-Cros, which is a national park.
  • Palavas les Flots is two hours away to the east, and is a really charming little town with canals and fish restaurants.
Ön Port-Cros i Frankrike
The island of Port-Cros in France has an almost Caribbean feel.

Info and facts about Marseille

  • What country? France
  • Language? French (some also speak English)
  • Residents? 1.06 million in Marseille (2015)
  • Currency? Euro
  • Price point? As in Sweden
  • Time difference? None
  • Emergency number? 112
  • El? Like Sweden
  • Water? Drinkable
  • Religion? Christianity (mainly Catholicism)

Travelling to Marseille

  • Flight: Several airlines fly from Stockholm to Marseille in France, but usually with a stopover, for example in Paris, Munich or Frankfurt.
  • Car: Driving from Stockholm to Marseille in France takes about 25 hours, counting pure driving time. The distance is 246 kilometres.
  • Cruise ships: Some cruise ships dock in Marseille, providing an opportunity to explore the city during the day.

Accommodation in Marseille

  • Hotel: There are plenty of hotels and other accommodations in Marseille, in different price ranges. New Hotel Viex Port is a three-star hotel located in the old harbour.
  • Camping: There are some campsites just outside Marseille. For example, search for campsites on camping.info.

You might also like:

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05 September 2017 6:00
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21 Comments

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  1. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    I read your posts with great interest to see if a cruise is something for us. Yesterday's post was quite "scary"... Today's about strolling around Marseille, however, much more sympathetic. We also take every opportunity to eat Moules Frites!!!!

    05 September 2017 - 6:24

    Reply

  2. snort says:

    It has been a long time since I was in Marseille, but then the city did not have a very good reputation unfortunately. But as a young train traveller we took it with a pinch of salt!

    05 September 2017 - 8:31

    Reply

  3. Across the board says:

    Oh la la! Of course you should eat moule frites! Bon voyage!

    05 September 2017 - 8:53

    Reply

  4. Mr Steve says:

    In my youth, Marseille had a somewhat tarnished reputation, but they have obviously worked on that.
    There is no need for you to worry. By now you've probably forgotten the tough start to the journey.

    05 September 2017 - 9:37

    Reply

  5. Mr Frank Olsen says:

    This looked beautiful, fantastic views from the church. It is good that there are still great places we can visit? Thanks for the tip!

    05 September 2017 - 12:57

    Reply

  6. Monet says:

    You can complement your mussels with the classic Marseille meal: bouillabaisse. This is where it comes from and is best eaten in the old harbour. Another absolute must is Les Calanques - the high cliffs. You'll have to Google it and take it next time! And that old bad reputation, it has been gone for many years. But Marseille is a big city and segregated, not criminal!

    05 September 2017 - 13:21

    Reply

  7. Ama de casa says:

    Moules frites are never wrong! 🙂 Marseille is not wrong either, I like France with all the nice things that are there, and the good food 🙂.

    05 September 2017 - 15:07

    Reply

  8. Goatfish says:

    Sounds like a great destination, both for the city and the food.
    Keep enjoying!
    Hugs ;D

    05 September 2017 - 16:26

    Reply

  9. Marina says:

    Mmm...moule frites!!! In early October, it's time for a trip to Cannes and then there will probably be a number of such portions 😉.
    Since I have obviously taken a long summer break, I have some reading to catch up with you. Will take and "browse through" the cruise posts to begin with. Is a little curious about that phenomenon ...

    05 September 2017 - 19:06

    Reply

  10. BP says:

    So glad you visited the old harbour!!! Saw in the picture that "my" restaurant and the hotel where I stayed are still there :-)
    Moules frites are of course also a must. Glad you found a "real" French restaurant and not a tourist trap.

    05 September 2017 - 19:21

    Reply

  11. Lena - good for the soul says:

    But what a nice trip you are on! So, those mussels! Love it!

    Hug Lena

    06 September 2017 - 21:33

    Reply

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