Things to Do in Marseille: Our 16 Top Highlights & Tips

Our Top 3 Hotel Tips for Marseille

Looking for a great hotel in Marseille — or have you already realized that finding a good one isn’t quite as easy as it sounds? We’ve been there.

To save you the hassle, here are our top 3 hotels in Marseille across all price ranges:

The People – Marseille: Stylish, modern hostel right in the Le Panier neighborhood. Our top pick for budget travelers!

Alex Hotel & Spa: Lovely boutique hotel in a great spot between the train station and the city center. Excellent value for money.

Hotel C2: Very chic luxury hotel with a wellness area, indoor pool, and gorgeous rooms. Perfectly located near the Vieux Port.

Want even more hotel recommendations for Marseille? Check out our full guide on where to stay in Marseille.

The Top Sights in Marseille

Marseille has plenty of great things to see and do, both in the city center and beyond. Here are our personal highlights.

All Marseille Attractions on One Map

To give you a better overview of the top attractions in Marseille, we’ve marked them all on the map below.

Vieux Port

The Vieux Port is the heart and soul of Marseille. Alongside the countless boats and ships, you’ll also find a small fish market right on the waterfront.

The western side of the harbor is lined with great restaurants and bars. It’s also where most tour buses depart, along with the Petit Train — Marseille’s sightseeing train.

Another standout at the Vieux Port is L’Ombrière de Norman Foster — a striking structure with a giant mirrored roof held up by a few columns. What do you do there? Exactly — take a photo of yourself in the reflection.

Le Canabière

The main shopping strip Le Canebière is one of the most talked-about points of interest in Marseille. To be honest: it’s a wide boulevard lined with stores — mostly the usual chain retailers.

For something that gets billed as such a must-see in Marseille, we found it pretty underwhelming. It’s not particularly attractive, and there aren’t any especially unique shops or experiences along the way.

That said, strolling down it once is kind of part of the Marseille experience — so go ahead and tick it off the list.

Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde

The Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde is the symbol of Marseille — you simply can’t miss it. It sits majestically on a hilltop near the city center, watching over the whole city.

From up here, you get one of the most beautiful panoramas in Marseille. You can also go inside — admission is free.

You can walk on foot from the city center, but fair warning: it’s a steady uphill climb the whole way, and on a hot sunny day you’ll be dripping by the time you arrive.

We’d recommend taking the bus or visiting as part of a tour like the Hop-on Hop-off bus — much easier.

Get tickets for the Hop-On/Hop-Off Colorbus Marseille

Cathédrale La Major

At first glance, this church reminded us of a smaller version of the cathedral in Florence. Look a little closer and you can tell it’s showing its age — but it’s still a seriously beautiful building.

It’s genuinely one of the most stunning structures in Marseille, and well worth a visit.

Admission to the Cathédrale La Major is free.

Palais Longchamp

The Palais Longchamp sits a little outside the city center, but the trip out there is absolutely worth it.

It houses two museums and is surrounded by a beautiful park — and admission to both the park and the museums is free.

The history behind the palace is pretty fascinating: it was built during a time when Marseille was struggling with a drinking water shortage and a cholera epidemic.

Its construction celebrated the completion of the Canal de Marseille, which finally gave the city a reliable water supply. History and architecture in one — not bad.

MuCEM & Fort Saint-Jean

The MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) is a seriously impressive modern museum. It opened in 2013 when Marseille was named the European Capital of Culture.

Honestly, the real highlight for us wasn’t the exhibitions — it was the buildings themselves.

On one side you have a sleek contemporary structure; right next to it stands the historic Fort Saint-Jean, which is also part of the MuCEM complex. The two are connected by a super striking pedestrian bridge that’s worth seeing in its own right.

Inside, the exhibitions cover all kinds of fascinating ground about Mediterranean civilization — peoples, cultures, and colonial history.

The MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean sit right at the Vieux Port, with lovely waterfront paths behind the buildings. From here you also get a fantastic view of the sunset — one of the best spots in the city for it.

Get skip-the-line tickets for the MuCEM

Le Panier

Le Panier is Marseille’s historic quarter. Located west of the Vieux Port, it’s full of charming alleyways, small squares, and independent boutiques.

It’s a great place to wander, stop at a cozy café, and photograph the beautiful narrow buildings.

Life in Le Panier feels noticeably more relaxed than in the rest of Marseille — almost like a smaller French city. It has a vibe reminiscent of nearby Nice.

Cours Julien

Cours Julien is Marseille’s alternative, artsy neighborhood. You’ll find countless restaurants and bars, plus street art and graffiti around every corner.

Most of the venues don’t open until late afternoon, and the area really comes alive in the evening — street musicians roll in, the outdoor seating fills up, and the whole place buzzes.

Since Cours Julien isn’t a typical tourist spot, it’s still largely a local hangout. It’s one of our favorite under-the-radar picks in Marseille for getting a feel for the real city.

Parc du Pharo

Parc du Pharo flies under the radar in most travel guides — but it’s only about a 20-minute walk from the Vieux Port and offers a beautiful park with a stunning vantage point.

It’s one of our favorite spots to watch the sunset. There are plenty of benches overlooking the sea where you can wind down the evening in peace.

You’ll also get a great panoramic view of Marseille from here — the Vieux Port and the Cathédrale La Major look especially striking from this angle.

Parc des Calanques

The Parc des Calanques is a breathtaking national park right on Marseille’s doorstep — and one of the most impressive natural highlights in France. It’s hard to believe you’re just a few kilometers from a major city.

In case you’re wondering — calanques are limestone inlets, similar to fjords. We didn’t know that either before our visit.

The park offers a rugged mountain landscape with stunning coves and turquoise-blue water, plus plenty of varied hiking trails leading up to beautiful summits.

For a great view without too much effort, head to the Belvédère de Sugiton viewpoint. From there it’s also not far to the gorgeous Calanque de Sugiton, where you can take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear sea.

Heads up! There is very little shade in the Parc des Calanques, and hardly anywhere to buy water. Since Marseille can get extremely hot, especially in summer, be sure to bring plenty to drink and some snacks. Parts of the park can even be closed entirely between June and September due to fire risk.

Frioul Islands

About four kilometers off the coast of Marseille lie the Frioul Islands — known for their calanques, untouched nature, and crystal-clear water. The archipelago is a genuine attraction in its own right.

On the small Île d’If, which sits a little apart from the other islands, stands the island fortress Chateau d’If. It served as the setting for The Count of Monte Cristo and was once a real prison.

Book a boat trip to the Frioul Islands

The Most Beautiful Beaches in Marseille

The beaches around Marseille offer a genuinely contrasting experience: in the Parc des Calanques you’ll find small, rocky coves with crystal-clear water and jaw-dropping scenery.

The city beaches of Marseille, on the other hand, are easy to reach and super family-friendly.

Calanque de Sugiton

One of the most beautiful beaches on the Côte d’Azur is tucked inside the cove of Calanque de Sugiton in the Calanques National Park. The cove is made up of several small rocky inlets with short, gorgeous stretches of beach in between.

Since it’s in the middle of the national park, you’ll need to do a short hike to get there — and you must register here in advance. Registration is free.

It’s totally worth it, though — the water is turquoise-blue and the scenery is simply fantastic. The beaches are usually small and rocky, so water shoes are a good idea.

Anse de la Maronaise

This small beach is located in the little fishing village of Les Goudes, easily reachable by bus or boat. It sits right between Marseille and the Parc des Calanques.

The cove is tiny, but also rarely overcrowded. The water is very clean and the beach slopes gently into the sea — great for a relaxed swim.

Plages du Prado

The Plages du Prado are three beautiful pebble beaches that essentially flow into one another. They’re right in Marseille and easy to reach from the city center by bus.

Compared to the other beaches, they’re nice and wide — perfect for a lazy afternoon after a full day of exploring.

The surrounding area has a skate park, bars, and restaurants to keep things lively.

The Coolest Activities in Marseille

Wondering what to do in Marseille beyond the main attractions? Here are the excursions and activities we think you really shouldn’t miss.

Day Trip to Aix-en-Provence

The beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence is only about 40 minutes away by train and offers a total contrast to Marseille: it’s more refined, elegant, and noticeably cleaner.

The town has a gorgeous historic center and delicious regional specialties. It makes a great day trip if you’re staying in Marseille for more than a couple of days. Aix-en-Provence is also one of our top picks for a September vacation.

Book the tour from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence

Sunset Boat Trip

When a city already has such a beautiful harbor, a boat trip is pretty much non-negotiable. From the Vieux Port you can head off to a range of different destinations.

We really recommend booking an evening tour. The sunsets in Marseille are seriously breathtaking, and watching one from the water takes the whole experience to another level.

Sunset cruise with dinner

The Marseille City Pass

If you’re planning to visit a lot of attractions, the Marseille City Pass can quickly pay for itself.

It’s time-based — you buy a pass in advance that gives you free or discounted entry to a whole range of Marseille’s highlights over a set period.

Here’s a quick overview of the options and prices:

These attractions and services are included in the Marseille City Pass:

• Public transportation (bus, metro, and tram)
• Cycling with the “Velo” — one hour free
• MuCEM
• Regards de Provence Museum
• Boat tour to the Frioul Islands or Île d’If and admission to the Chateau d’If, or Hop-on Hop-off tour
• One ride on the Petit Train to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde (sightseeing train)
• Discounts for activities, shops, and products
• Discounts for temporary exhibitions at Marseille city museums
• One guided tour at the Metropolitan Tourist Office (valued at up to €10). Free with the 72h CityPass and 30% off with the 24h and 48h CityPass

You can pick up your pass at the Metropolitan Tourist Office or the Convention Office of Marseille.

After purchasing, you can use the City Pass within a 12-month period — so you can buy it before your trip and activate it whenever you’re ready.

Get the Marseille City Pass for 24, 48, or 72 hours

Before you buy, check which places in Marseille you actually want to visit, then decide whether the City Pass is worth it for your trip and which duration makes the most sense.

Here’s an example of how the 48-hour City Pass pays off — two days gives you more than enough time to make the most of it.

General Tips for Marseille

To wrap things up, here are a few practical tips to help you prepare for your trip and know what to expect.

Public Transportation in Marseille

Marseille has just two metro lines: the red Line 1 and the blue Line 2. Both cover the most important parts of the city without any trouble. For the beach or the Parc des Calanques, the bus is your best bet.

A single ticket costs €1.70 (+ €0.10 for the card). A 10-ride ticket costs €15.00 (+ €0.10 for the card). A 7-day ticket costs €15.50.

A single fare is valid for one hour and lets you transfer between metro and bus — or vice versa.

From Marseille Airport, which is a bit outside the city, there’s a direct bus to the main train station Saint-Charles. From there, you can easily get anywhere in the city.

Safety and Cleanliness in Marseille

As much as we love Marseille, the city does have its share of issues. It’s generally quite dirty — air conditioning units drip water onto the sidewalks everywhere, and there’s a lot of dog waste on the ground.

There are also some areas where we felt a little uneasy, especially in the evenings. Be aware that there are quite a few unpredictable characters around Marseille who may randomly start shouting or acting erratically.

If you wander away from the main attractions and into less touristy side streets, you may find people approaching you in an unwelcome way. Just keep walking and don’t engage — most of the time nothing actually happens.

One area worth avoiding is Noailles. The neighborhood sits between Le Canebière and Cours Julien and has the feel of a run-down, impoverished area.

Food and Drink in Marseille

Now for the good stuff. The most traditional dish in Marseille is bouillabaisse — a rich seafood stew packed with garlic. You have to try it at least once.

A very typical local drink is pastis. The spirit has a licorice and anise flavor and is served diluted with water and ice — refreshing on a hot day.

For a great meal near the harbor, we loved Quartier Libre, which serves delicious French cuisine. The tapas at L’escalié on Cours Julien were also a highlight for us.