Marseille is a port city in southern France, famous for its unique multicultural history and beautiful coastal scenery. The second-largest city in France, it is home to many beautiful monuments, museums, and landmarks. Often an overlooked holiday destination, Marseille has plenty of attractions to offer.
Here are some of the most popular…
Le Vieux Port
Marseille’s large rectangular port has been actively trading for over 2,600 years. Today most businesses now use modern docks in, so the boats found in the old port are mainly for recreational use. Around the quayside is a range of cafes, restaurants, and shops all with a lovely view of the water and the mountains on the horizon. This historic spot should definitely be on your list – it’s quintessentially Marseille.
Les Calanques Boat Trip
Calanques is a stunning stretch of coastline between Marseilles and Cassis. The trip by boat will take you past breathtaking views of towering limestone cliffs and hidden beaches. Once you arrive, you’ll find small canoes available to rent so you can paddle about in the crystal clear water. You can also visit the Parc National des Calanques, either by foot or, if you prefer, you can hire a bike and tour faster.
Ile d’If Island
Just a 20 minute trip by ferry from le Vieux Port, Ile d’If is a popular day trip for tourists, especially during the summer. There are plenty of marked paths throughout that make exploring easy, and wonderful little beaches in narrow bays where you can swim, sunbathe, or simply relax. You’ll also find a selection of cafes and restaurants along the harbor. With stunning views across Marseille and beautiful scenery, you’ll be in no rush to return to the mainland.
Chateau d’If fortress
Located on Ile d’If island, the Chateau deserves its own section. Famous for being the setting of Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, the island has a fascinating history as military defense and a prison History goes hand in hand with fiction as the tour explains all about the Chateau’s factual past as well as its fictional fame.
Le Cours Julien
Le Cours Julien is known as Marseille’s ‘trendy’ district, full of hip bars and restaurants as well as streets covered in superb graffiti artwork. The square itself is a beautiful spot that is surrounded by terraced cafes and lush trees that center around a picturesque water feature. An innately artistic place, there is a monthly project where a respected graffiti artist is invited to display their work, highlighting the growing artistic medium as well as the ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ nature of street art. Famous for its lively nightlife and buzzing social circle, Cours Julien has been fondly described as the ‘bourgeois-bohemian’ part of Marseille. Full of artistic merit and a unique culture all of its own, it is definitely worth a visit.
Palais Longchamp
This beautiful palace is another must-see landmark. Found at the center of beautiful, classic gardens filled with fountains and water features, Palais Longchamps is a stunning site of grandeur and 19th-century architecture. Today the palace is home to two museums; the Musée des Beaux Arts and Musée d’Histoire Naturelle. Whether you’re interested in the famous artworks, the grand palace, or the spectacular grounds, you’ll be sure to enjoy visiting this historical landmark.
La Corniche
La Corniche is a street in Marseille’s 7th arrondissement, that runs along the coastline from the city center to Prado. It was dedicated to JFK in 1963 and named ‘Corniche du président – John – Fitzgerald – Kennedy.’ As you walk around you’ll pass by many different monuments and features, such as the open-air theatre, the war memorial, and the Helice Cesar. Famous for its brilliant views of the Mediterranean, La Corniche is a very popular spot, especially in the summer.
Cathedral de la Major
The cathedral, described by visitors as ‘majestic’, is an impressive structure that dates from the 19th century and is also a national monument. It is designed in a Romanesque – Byzantine style, with unique domed towers and an unusual, striking horizontal stripe effect on the façade. The interior is just as grand, with beautiful tiles, large windows, a vault, and of course, the organ. Apparently, some of the locals have taken to calling it ‘pajama cathedral’ because of the strange stripes covering the exterior.
Cité Radieuse Le Corbusier
This one is for anyone with an interest in architecture and modern art. Cite Radieuse Le Corbusier is a colorful example of brutalist architecture, with a rooftop terrace that looks out onto the Mediterranean. You can pre-book a tour of the building, where you’ll learn about the architectural merit and the signature style incorporated by Le Corbusier. There’s also a cafe inside that serves a selection of snacks.
Les Docks Village
Les Docks Village is a shopping center and restaurant complex located in a renovated shipping warehouse near the harbor. Unlike other shopping areas, this one has a focus on architecture and aesthetically pleasing design. With trailing mosaics and hanging lights, the decor alone is worth a visit. The shops you’ll find here are unique and reasonably priced, as are the cafes and restaurants. The upper floors are comprised of different offices, including the British Consulate.
The Beaches
Despite being a port town, Marseille isn’t exactly known as the go-to seaside resort. Although the summers here aren’t as hot as in some regions of France, you can still enjoy the perfect, pristine white beaches such as Plage des Catalans, Plage du Prophète, and Plage de la Point Rouge. Many of the seaside attractions in Marseille were artificially designed, like the Prado seaside park, where the surrounding area was covered with shingle and sand and protected from erosion by breakwaters.
Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde
Another spectacular cathedral is Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. Set atop a rather steep hill (you’ll need comfortable shoes for this one!) the cathedral pays homage to Marseille’s nautical history, with miniature ships hanging from the walls to express gratitude at the safe return of a loved one who had been at sea. The cathedral is definitely worth visiting, not only to check out another famous landmark off the list but also for the panoramic views of the city below. If walking up the hill to get there sounds too much, you can also get a bus from Vieux Port all the way to the top.
La Meridionale
If you want to sightsee beyond Marseille without having to drive for hours, this is the perfect solution. La Meridionale ferry crosses back and forth between Marseille and Corsica, providing beautiful sea views and delicious cuisine. The crossing takes 12 hours, so in that time you can have dinner, explore the ship, visit the onboard movie theatre, or simply relax in your cabin knowing that tomorrow you’ll have arrived in Corsica.
Palais du Pharo
Another photo-worthy place in Palais du Pharo. On one side there are beautiful grounds full of perfectly manicured lawns, and on the other, there are wonderful views of the sea and Marseille’s port. Built-in the 19th century, today the palace is hired out for events such as conferences. Although not always open for a tour of the interior, the exterior and surroundings are enough of an attraction on their own.
Centre de la Vieille Charité
Centre de la Vieille Charite is a beautiful building that dates from the 17th century and was designed in the Baroque style. Originally its purpose was to provide a place that could care for the poor. Today it has been turned into a museum, with exhibitions and artifacts from around the world, including an Egyptian mummy. This is the perfect activity for a rainy day, or if you want a quieter day that involves less walking.
Les Halles de la Major
No trip to France would be complete without visiting a market. Les Halles de la Major is located just below the Cathedral de la Major and has plenty of outdoor seating available. Here you’ll find a mix of cuisines, from stalls selling traditional seafood dishes to typical Asian cuisine to classic pizzas. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you can bet on finding it here.
Provence
Marseille is filled with enough places to see to keep you occupied throughout your entire stay, but if you fancy exploring further afield, it’s also located conveniently close to some of the most beautiful places in the Province region. Pack a picnic and your favorite non-alcoholic beverage and you’ll be all set for a mini road trip. Before you know it you’ll be driving past lavender fields and Mediaeval towns in the heart of Provence.
