Marseille, France, is beautiful, with rolling hills overlooking one of the 7th largest ports in France with yachts and fishing boats lined up in the Mediterranean Sea.
Today Marseille is France’s second most populous city, with a population of 870,3210 since the 2020 census. Vieux-Port is the heart of Marseille, where Fisherman lines up against the quay selling their fresh fish catch of the day. Flower growers also line up to sell a variety of fresh flowers from their gardens.
The weather year-round from January through April, November, and December its 54 to 65 degrees. From May through October, it’s 73 to 80 degrees.
Notre-Dame de la Garde is the la Bonne Mere Catholic Basilica that sits on a mountain overlooking Marseille, France, and symbolizes the city.
In addition, the city has modern landmarks, such as the Romanesque-Byzantine church, Le Corbusier’s influential Cité Radieuse complex, and Zaha Hadid’s CMA CGM Tower.
Marseille is a walkable city through neighborhoods, Vieux- Port and Le Panier. Two to three days are enough to explore the city, its neighborhood nightlife, street musicians, and various delicious food restaurants.
If you stay longer, day trips are available to see ancient sites, modern museums, and the Provencal countryside or the coast of the Mediterranean.
The Grand Hotel Beauvau Marseille Vieux- Port is a beautiful place to stay. It overlooks Vieux-Port with lovely sunrises and sundowns. Restaurants and hotels surround the port. You can take several boat tours to see Marseille’s surrounding islands.
The top things to do in Marseille
1. Vieux-Port is surrounded by historic buildings and lively energy of people, entertainment, and street musicians.
2. Le Panier is the oldest district in Marseille that is colorful with shops and restaurants.
3. Fort Saint-Jean, which is front and center of the old town, is one of the most visited monuments in Marseille. Fort Saint-Jean was a watchtower built by shipowners in the Middle Ages to secure Marseille from foreign invaders.
4. MuCEM – Museum Of Civilizations Of Europe and The Mediterranean was built in one of Europe’s oldest cities. In 2013, Marseille was named a European Capital of Culture. The MuCEM – Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée was opened as part of its inauguration. Its museum is modern architecture stands out from historic buildings lining the waterfront built between the land and sea.
5. Parc National Des Calanques is a great day tour from Marseille’s Calanques National Park. It is the only national park in Europe on land and sea near urban areas. It is near Marseilles en route to Cassis.
6. Calanques National Park is a large 520 square km (201 square miles), resembling the Greek Islands. It was designated a national park in 2012 with excellent hiking trails, kayaking, and exploring the limestone cliffs and quiet coves.
7. Take a boat ride to the stunning coast with hidden fishing villages on hills, or line up on the shore. The Catamaran tour to Calanques National Park is a 5-hour tour along the Mediterranean Sea between La Madrague and the town of Cassis via Les Goudes and Callelongue. It is a beautiful way to explore the coast.
8. Palais Longchamp is a monument built to celebrate the completion of a long Canal de Marseille that supplies the city with water from the Durance River.
It is an ample green space with interconnected parks. It has a Museum of Fine Arts dating back to 1801 and the Natural History Museum. It has two wings, a beautiful large water fountain, and a connected waterfall.
9. History Museum – Musée D’Histoire De Marseille
The Musée d’Histoire de Marseille displays 4000 exhibits and interactive attractions depicting the 26-century history of the city.
10. Marseille Cathedral – Cathédrale De La Major
Cathédrale de la Major is a beautiful monument on the waterfront dating back to the 19th century.
Getting around
The train is one of the easiest ways to get to Marseille daily from Paris. Marseille’s central station is the Gare de Marseille Sainte Charles. The central bus station in Marseille is Gare St Charle bus station.
A Marseille City Pass is an excellent option to avoid walking. You can ride Marseille’s public transport for free. Passes to get around town can purchase for 24, 48, or 72 hours, giving you free access to Marseille’s museums, the Marine Museum, Natural History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Palais Longchamp, and more.
Ride the train to Notre-Dame de la Garde or le Panier, where you can hop a ride from the old town by Vieux-Port. Also, try sampling food and wine with discounts in participating boutiques.