Comparison · Bordeaux vs Marseille · France
Bordeaux vs Marseille
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mariette, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse; choose Marseille for Vieux-Port, Calanques and beaches. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 505 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 505 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Bordeaux
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Marseille
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bordeaux | Marseille | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | France |
| Known for | Wine, Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Vieux-Port, Calanques and Bouillabaisse |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$280 | $160–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 27°C (81°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Plages du Prado |
| Airports | BOD | MRS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bordeaux for…
Wine and Place de la Bourse. Bordeaux curves along a crescent bend of the Garonne known as the Port of the Moon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 lined with pale 18th-century limestone façades. The compact centre runs from Place de la Bourse and its Miroir d'Eau to the Grand…
Choose Marseille for…
Vieux-Port, Calanques and beaches. Founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC, Marseille is France's oldest city and its second largest, a working Mediterranean port wrapped around the Vieux-Port harbour. The golden statue of Notre-Dame de la Garde watches over the old Panier quarter, the MuCEM…
Top sights compared
| # | Bordeaux | Marseille |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Notre-Dame de la Garde |
| 2 | La Cité du Vin | Vieux-Port |
| 3 | Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean |
| 4 | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux | Le Panier |
| 5 | Esplanade des Quinconces | Vieille Charité |
Food compared
| Bordeaux | Marseille |
|---|---|
| Canelé | Bouillabaisse |
| Entrecôte à la bordelaise | Panisse |
| Arcachon oysters | Chichi frégi |
| Lamprey Bordeaux-style | Navettes |
Which is cheaper?
Bordeaux and Marseille cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $170–$280 in Bordeaux and $160–$260 in Marseille (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Marseille on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bordeaux and Marseille are about 505 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Bordeaux and 4 in Marseille.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bordeaux or Marseille cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $170–$280 in Bordeaux and $160–$260 in Marseille (estimates).
+Is Bordeaux or Marseille better for a first trip?
Pick Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse, or Marseille for Vieux-Port, Calanques and beaches.
+How far is Bordeaux from Marseille?
About 505 km in a straight line.