Best Things To Do in Marseille

The capital of Provence, Marseille is one of the oldest cities in France. With an interesting historical and cultural heritage and a stunning natural environment, Marseille is a wonderful getaway for any time of the year - check out these 10 things to do and see in Marseille on your holiday!

1. Take a cruise to Les Calanques National Park

Les Calanques National Park| ©Hugo Vidal

Speaking of excursions, Provence is the perfect region for explorers. If you're looking for dreamy landscapes , one of the must-visits in Marseille is the National Park of Les Calanques, located just a few kilometres from the city.

Here you'll find small coves with turquoise waters hidden between white cliffs that dot the coastline and will leave you speechless.

Thanks to the beauty of its landscapes and seabed, Les Calanques has become one of the major tourist attractions in the south of France. There are several ways to discover this natural park:

If you are a hiking enthusiast , you can walk the GR-98 route from Marseille to Cassis. It's a long and arduous walk, but the views you'll see along the way are worth the effort.
My favourite option: you can also get to know Les Calanques from the water by taking a trip on a pleasure boat. In my opinion, this is the best way to spend a relaxing day in Marseille while being in touch with nature and enjoying the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. In my article Visit the Calanques National Park from Marseille I tell you all the options for a cruise in the Calanques. Don't miss it!

2. Stroll around Marseille's Old Port

The heart of the city is the Old Port, one of the most important in the Mediterranean since the Greeks founded Marseille 2,600 years ago. I find it fascinating to walk around this place as there are not many harbours in Europe with such longevity that are still in operation.

Today, it serves as a marina and is surrounded by some of the most interesting tourist attractions such as Fort Saint Jean, Fort Saint Nicolas, the MuCem or the Palais du Pharo, among others.

The old warehouses that once held the goods traded in the port have given way to restaurants and cafés with terraces overlooking the sunset over the sea.

How about sitting at one of them for the best bouillabaisse in France or a glass of pastis, the local drink made from aniseed? It's a great place to relax, watch the scenery and the locals stroll along or bring the day's catch to the quayside.

Although the New Port has taken over from the Old Port in terms of port trade in Marseille, fishing is still a way of life for many Marseillais and it is still possible to see boats arriving here after a long day at sea.

In short, the city's Old Port is a living piece of its history and any of the best tours of Marseille will take you to discover it.

3. Visit the forts of Saint Jean and Saint Nicolas

Marseille's Old Port is defended by two imposing fortresses that look like twins but are not, as they were built for different purposes. Nevertheless, both have been part of the city's landscape for centuries and are now two major tourist attractions.

Fort Saint Jean

Saint Jean is the oldest fort and was built by the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in the 12th century during the Crusades.

It was originally used as a starting point for troops to reach the Holy Land, but throughout history it was also used as a prison during the French Revolution and as an ammunition depot during World War II.

Today it is one of the most visited monuments in Marseille and is connected to the MuCem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) by a footbridge. The views of the port of Marseille from here are a real marvel.

Fort Saint Nicolas

Opposite is the Fort Saint Nicolas, another fortress that King Louis XIV ordered to be built to defend Marseille from invaders and local revolts.

During the French Revolution, the fort began to be dismantled but was later rebuilt to retain a structure for the defence of the city.

If you want to enjoy an extraordinary view of Marseille and its bay during your trip, don't hesitate and climb the ramparts of the fort for some postcard-perfect photos!

4. Visit MuCem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations)

Without leaving the Old Port, after visiting the forts of Marseille and by the sea, you will find one of the most interesting museums to see in Marseille, the MuCem, a place that was born as a tribute to the Mediterranean Sea and the civilisations that arose around it.

As the only museum dedicated to the prolific Mediterranean cultures of both shores, it is well worth a visit. If you're passionate about archaeology and history, you're in for a treat. There are several reasons why I recommend a visit to the MuCem:

Firstly, for its collections and the very nature of the institution. Its rooms house a million works, documents and objects on archaeology, anthropology, history and art history that make for a most curious journey through time. You'll need at least half a day to see it properly.
Secondly, for the contemporary architecture of the building designed by Rudy Ricciotti which contrasts sharply with the traditional architecture of the area and has transformed the landscape.
Thirdly, for the breathtaking views of the Old Port of Marseille and the Mediterranean Sea from the museum's elevated walkways. Also for its beautiful gardens, which I recommend you take a pleasant stroll through.
Finally, because the MuCem is a very interesting space for the exchange of ideas, for the dissemination of knowledge and for the recognition of different cultures.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

If you just want to enjoy the views of the MuCem and its gardens, admission is free any day. And on the first Sunday of every month you don't have to pay anything either.

5. Walk around the hipster neighbourhood of Le Panier

In addition to the walkway that links the MuCem to the Fort Saint Jean, there is another one that connects it to the district of Le Panier, the oldest in Marseille and which has been nicknamed "the little Montmartre of Marseille".

Cross it and you'll find yourself in a picturesque neighbourhood perched on a hill, which went from being one of the city's most humble neighbourhoods in the 17th century to one of the trendiest in the present thanks to its art galleries, vintage clothing shops, inviting terraces and urban murals.

What will you see in Le Panier?

Venture into the labyrinthine, cobbled streets of Le Panier to get a taste of the hipster, multicultural essence of this quaint Marseille neighbourhood- walk up the slope from the Old Port to the upper area where the Greek agora stood in the 3rd century BC!

Along the way you'll come across charming squares such as Les Molins (where you can see the last standing mill that gives its name to the site), Lenche square (from which there is a magnificent view of the port) or Treize Cantons square (from which you can see the Vieille Charité, the most prominent monument in Le Panier which was once a hospice and is now home to several cultural institutions). I also recommend a bike tour of this area of Marseille.

You'll also see old houses, small churches, craft shops, chocolate shops and bakeries where you'll be tempted to try some of the local sweets. However, there's nothing better to end a tour of Le Panier than sipping wine in one of its lively bars, soaking up the relaxed Mediterranean spirit of Marseille and toasting your trip. (For more on Marseille's gastronomy, visit our article on The best food tours in the city.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

If you're looking for an original souvenir, you can buy authentic Marseille soap at La Grande Savonnerie in Le Panier neighbourhood.

6. Be amazed by the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde

South of the Old Port stands one of the most important monuments to see in Marseille: Notre Dame de la Garde.

Despite its imposing appearance and what many people believe, this temple is not a cathedral but a Romanesque-Byzantine basilica that replaced an ancient medieval chapel from the early 13th century.

You can walk up to it, but if you want to get there faster and save yourself the effort of walking uphill , I suggest you take bus 60 or the tourist train along the coast. It will allow you to see other sights of Marseille and get to the sanctuary in no time at all. Any of the Marseille sightseeing bus routes will take you to Notre Dame.

Why visit this church?

Notre Dame de la Garde seems to me an essential visit to make in the city. On the one hand, because of its artistic beauty where polychrome stones, gilded ornaments and mosaics give shape to a superb monument. On the other hand, because on the hill of La Garde there are spectacular panoramic views of the whole of Marseille, from the sea and the islands to the mountains, with the enormous expanse of the city visible.

If you have the chance, I recommend going to the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde at sunset, when the sunlight tints the walls of the church a beautiful orange colour and the image of the Virgin Mary that tops the bell tower shines brightly, as if it were a spiritual beacon. It is a magical moment.

7. Discover the fearsome prison of the Château d'If

The prison of the Château d'If| ©Guilhem Vellut

If the weather is fine and the sea is calm, you can't miss taking a boat to the island of If, in the bay of Marseille. This is the site of a 16th century fortress which inspired the writer Alexandre Dumas to set the prison in his famous novel "The Count of Monte Cristo".

Although the Château d'If was built by order of King François I to protect the port of Marseille, years later it was also used as a prison as described in the novel. Due to its location, it made escapes difficult and has been compared to the famous Alcatraz prison.

Today you can visit the old dungeons of the Château d'If, hear the stories of the most famous inmates and enjoy the view of the Marseille coastline from the top of its towers and battlements.

This excursion to the enigmatic fortress in the Bay of If is one of the best boat trips in Marseille.

8. Enter the Abbey of Saint-Victor

One of the oldest buildings to see in Marseille and a treasure of Romanesque architecture is the Abbey of Saint Victor. Founded in the 5th century AD on the remains of an ancient Greek necropolis and near the tomb of the martyred saint after whom it is named, it is now an important place of pilgrimage for the French, especially on 2 February, during the religious feast of Candlemas.

If your trip to Marseille coincides with this celebration you will have the opportunity to see the procession to the abbey of Saint Victor, an example of local folklore. If not, don't worry because the history of this place, its architecture and the legends that surround it also make it worth a visit.

On the outside, this monastery looks like a fortified castle, with several towers and a wall, but I would say that the most amazing thing is to be found inside.

Here you can see the catacombs where Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary Magdalene are venerated, the cave of Saint Victor, the crypt and the church. You can also see some ancient sarcophagi, both pagan and Christian. This is the case of the coffin of Saint Cassian, which was discovered in 1965.

Fancy some navettes for a snack?

After your visit to the Abbey of Saint Victor, I recommend you go to the oldest bakery in Marseille, Le Four à Navettes (136 Rue Sainte), located very close to the monastery .

This is where they bake the navettes, a very typical biscuit of the city whose boat shape alludes to the legend of the "Holy Marys" (Mary Salome, Martha, Mary Magdalene) and Saint Lazarus, who came from the Holy Land to the coast of Marseille by boat to evangelise it.

This sweet is closely linked to the Abbey of Saint-Victor, because on Candlemas day, after the procession, the people of Marseille usually buy their navettes here to enjoy them with the family.

It's a very original gift to bring back home. I'm sure your loved ones will love it too!

9. Take a few photos on the Boulevard Longchamp

A stroll along the Boulevard Longchamp is another of the must-do things to do in Marseille during a trip. An avenue lined with nineteenth-century buildings crowned by a beautiful palace that seems designed to set the scene for some of the most beautiful photographs you'll ever take in the city, but in reality, its purpose was quite different.

The origin of the Longchamp palace is related to the drinking water supply problems that Marseille had suffered for centuries. In the mid-19th century, a canal was built to transport water from a nearby river to the city and to celebrate the success of the project, this beautiful palace with its baroque and monumental air was built at the end of the boulevard.

This building now houses the Museum of Natural History (right side) and the Museum of Fine Arts (left side) but the centre of attention is undoubtedly the magnificent baroque fountain located in the middle of the semicircular colonnade that links the two wings of the Longchamp Palace and the surrounding gardens. A true hymn to water, nature and the abundance that comes with the arrival of water.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

If you want to see the inside of the Longchamp Palace, take the Marseille City Pass as entry to both museums is included.

10. See Marseille's impressive cathedral

Lastly, and closing this list of places to see in Marseille is the Marseille Cathedral. The only one of its kind in France, it overlooks the sea and is located at the entrance to the port, just a few steps from the MuCem and Fort Saint Jean.

Built in Byzantine style, it is the only cathedral built in the country during the 19th century, although its foundations date back to the 12th century.

Why visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore?

There are many churches in the city, but this cathedral is an icon for the people of Marseille. The truth is that it is a temple that impresses with its size. In fact, it is one of the largest cathedrals in the world and in this sense, Saint Mary Major is very reminiscent of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

The sight of it towering majestically over the port of Marseille is an unforgettable sight for the traveller. Its domes can be seen from afar and the decoration of its walls, with their characteristic black and green stones, form a pattern of stripes immediately recognisable from any point in the city.

The entrance flanked by two bell towers is spectacular, as is the architecture of the interior which uses Byzantine arcades, Venetian mosaics, Carrara marble and Tunisian onyx. A marvel!

My advice for visiting Marseille Cathedral is to take enough time to enjoy it and observe every detail in silence, admiring the great harmony and devotion to the divine that permeates the atmosphere.

Plan your trip to Marseille

To help you plan your trip to Marseille, here is a list of itineraries with the best things to do in the city depending on the length of your trip:

And if you're still not sure when to travel, we've also put together these guides to the best things to do at different times of the year:

Finally, you may also be interested in knowing the best activities to do with children in Marseille or this other article on How to get from Marseille to Avignon, another highly recommended city in the Côte d'Azur that you may want to visit on your trip to Marseille.