I’m not usually a huge fan of France, but Marseille caught my eye when I was looking for a sunny city trip. This port city in the south of France, right by the Mediterranean Sea, seemed pretty awesome. I had a great time in Nice, so maybe the Côte d’Azur is my vibe. After a quick search online, I was sold on the charm of this place. It has an old historic center, tons of museums, and an amazing nature reserve just around the corner. Let’s go! In this blog post, I’ll share 8 great things to do in Marseille, France.
Isn’t Marseille quite dangerous?
Marseille does indeed have a violent past, with the Corsican mafia using the city for heroin trafficking in the 1960s. In recent years, the city has also struggled with drug-related violence caused by rival gangs. However, most of this takes place in the suburbs, far from typical tourist areas. In other words, if you stick to tourist stuff and stay in well-lit areas, there’s not much to worry about. Now, let’s dive into the Marseille things to do.
1. Start and end the day in Vieux Port
Our rental apartment was located near the most iconic spot in Marseille, the Vieux Port – the old harbor. I would recommend everyone to stay in this area because from the Vieux Port, you can easily walk to the museums or places in the old town. The old harbor is truly the heart of the city, with something to see at any time of day. In the morning, the daily catch is sold at the fish market near Norman Foster’s remarkable mirrored canopy. In the afternoon, you can choose from countless terraces or play a game of pétanque. After sundown, the wide harbor promenade is the perfect place to stroll, watch street performers, and admire the illuminated city.
2. Capture the city panorama from Fort Saint Jean
The imposing Fort Saint Jean guards Marseille. Located at the harbor entrance, it once provided a strategic view of incoming ships. The complex includes a chapel, a church, an old hospital, and a palace. I especially loved the panoramic views from the fortress walls. You can visit the fort for free. Only if you want to see the exhibitions inside do you need to buy a ticket. The fort is connected by two pedestrian bridges to Le Panier district and the modern MUCEM museum.
3. MUCEM: intriguing yet confusing
From a distance, the modern MUCEM museum forms a stark contrast to Fort Saint Jean. It is a large gray box wrapped in a lace-like pattern inspired by traditional Arab sunshades. The exterior design piqued my curiosity, and the exhibitions inside were quite interesting. Still, I found it somewhat disappointing. Why? The building is a maze. The exhibitions are spread over multiple floors, which you can reach via an outer ring. This should be straightforward, but in reality, I often kept on wandering around trying to find the next level.
Next to MUCEM is another modern museum: Cosquer. It houses a replica of an underwater cave with prehistoric drawings. I didn’t visit it myself, but it seems something worth checking out.
4. Admire the beautiful Cathédrale de la Major
The Cathédrale de la Major (called “La Major” by locals) is, like Fort Saint Jean, an imposing presence on the harbor front. Built in the 19th century, when Marseille was flourishing economically due to maritime trade and a growing population, the city needed a church that would impress incoming ships. Well, mission accomplished!
5. Le Panier – the most charming place in Marseille
Are you a fan of winding cobblestone streets? Put Le Panier on your list. This is the oldest district of the city, with a history dating back to 600 BC. Yes, that’s right – Marseille is incredibly old. It’s the oldest city in France. The Greeks first established settlements here, which were later taken over by the Romans and named Massalia – the forerunner to modern Marseille. The neighborhood is a wonderful place to wander, spot street art, and grab a bite to eat (the terrace at Hododa is lovely!). Some streets are a bit rougher with lots of graffiti, but there are also plenty of charming spots to discover.
6. Marvel at the gold in Notre Dame de la Garde
You may already notice in Le Panier that Marseille can be quite hilly, but you’ll really feel it when visiting Notre Dame de la Garde. This church stands on a prominent hill and is visible from almost everywhere in the city. There is a tourist train that takes you there, but personally, I would never voluntarily ride it – so I walked up, and it was manageable. The interior of the church is definitely worth a visit, although it can be very crowded. You’ll shuffle through in a small line, make a quick loop, and exit again. The view from the terrace, however, is absolutely stunning.
7. Check out the graffiti in Cours Julien
Cours Julien is the second hotspot in Marseille for street art enthusiasts. I would say, add it to your list if you have the time. Personally, I found the quality a bit disappointing. There were a few interesting pieces, but much of it was just graffiti, which isn’t really my thing. Perhaps the time of day also played a role – Cours Julien is a nightlife district, and in the early morning, it was a bit bleak.
8. Day trip: Cassis & the calanques
One of the best things about Marseille is that you can easily combine the city with nature. Between Marseille and the town of Cassis lies the Parc National des Calanques. A calanque is a hidden inlet in limestone cliffs, often with a beach and crystal-clear water. The park has 26 of these beauties!
The cheapest way to get here: take Metro Line 1 to Castellane, walk to Avenue du Toulon, and catch bus L078 (also called Ligne 78) to Cassis. A bus ticket costs €3.50 – check the departure times here. From Cassis, you can hike to three calanques: Port Miou, Port Pin, and Port d’en Vau. The round trip takes about four hours. The stretch between the last two calanques is challenging, with slippery stones and a steep cliff descent at the end. I will not lie. It was rough, but Port d’en Vau is the most beautiful of the three. Bring plenty of water and snacks, and don’t forget water shoes. Otherwise, swimming will be a painful experience for your feet.
To catch the bus back to Marseille, I recommend walking to bus stop “Gendarmerie” (the first stop of the line). Be prepared for crowds, especially on weekends – we visited on a Saturday and had to wait for several buses before we could board. Standing in the bus is not allowed; everyone must have a seat. Another and more expensive option to visit the calanques would be booking a boat tour from Marseille.
where to eat and sleep in Marseille?
These restaurants/cafes were my favorites and are also great for vegetarians and vegans: Hododa, My Little Warung, Mariposas and Deïa Coffee & Kitchen. As for hotels, I recommend staying near the Vieux Port. Consider the charming Maisons du Monde Hotel & Suites, or enjoy the rooftop terrace with a harbor view at Hotel Hermes. Check out more hotels in Marseille here.
How to get around in Marseille
Marseille is a very walkable city with an occasional hill here and there. There are two metro lines (M1 and M2) that are useful for getting to the train station or Cassis. A single ticket costs €1.70 (“ticket solo”), which you can purchase at ticket machines or by using your credit card at the gate. To get from the airport to the city, take the Airport Shuttle bus to Saint Charles train station (price: €10, departs every 10 minutes during the day). From there, you can hop on metro lines 1 or 2.
And there you have it, 8 great things to do in Marseille. Would you want to visit this city?
All prices mentioned in the blog post are subject to change. This blog post contains affiliate links. If you book something through these links, I earn a small commission without you paying extra for it. You can read more about it in my disclaimer.
