Comparison · Lyon vs Marseille · France
Lyon 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: Aldg692VX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Lyon for Gastronomy and Bouchons; choose Marseille for Vieux-Port, Calanques and beaches. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 278 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 278 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Lyon
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Marseille
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Lyon | Marseille | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | France |
| Known for | Gastronomy, Bouchons and Vieux Lyon | Vieux-Port, Calanques and Bouillabaisse |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$250 | $160–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 28°C (82°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°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 | LYS | MRS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Lyon for…
Gastronomy and Bouchons. Lyon sits where the Saône meets the Rhône, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre that runs from the Roman theatres on Fourvière hill through the Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon to the silk-weavers' slopes of the Croix-Rousse. It is best known for food…
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
| # | Lyon | Marseille |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière | Notre-Dame de la Garde |
| 2 | Vieux Lyon and the traboules | Vieux-Port |
| 3 | Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum | MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean |
| 4 | Saint-Jean Cathedral | Le Panier |
| 5 | Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse | Vieille Charité |
Food compared
| Lyon | Marseille |
|---|---|
| Pike quenelles | Bouillabaisse |
| Sausage in brioche | Panisse |
| Lyonnaise salad | Chichi frégi |
| Silk worker's brain | Navettes |
Which is cheaper?
Lyon and Marseille cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$250 in Lyon and $160–$260 in Marseille (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lyon on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Lyon and Marseille are about 278 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Lyon and 4 in Marseille.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Lyon or Marseille cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$250 in Lyon and $160–$260 in Marseille (estimates).
+Is Lyon or Marseille better for a first trip?
Pick Lyon for Gastronomy and Bouchons, or Marseille for Vieux-Port, Calanques and beaches.
+How far is Lyon from Marseille?
About 278 km in a straight line.