2 days in Marseille

Day by day

1. Day 1: Notre-Dame de la Garde and Vieux-Port

   Notre-Dame de la Garde, Vieux-Port, Abbaye Saint-Victor and MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, then Cours Julien in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Notre-Dame de la Garde

      Inside, the walls are covered with ex-votos, including model ships and planes left by grateful sailors and travellers, and the terrace gives a 360-degree view over the city, the islands and the coast. Entry is free.

   2. Late morning

      Vieux-Port

      Fishermen sell the morning catch from stalls on the Quai de la Fraternité, the mirrored Ombrière canopy reflects the crowds beneath it, and a small ferry crosses the harbour between the two quays. Forts Saint-Jean and Saint-Nicolas guard the entrance.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bouillabaisse

      Seafood restaurants around the Vallon des Auffes, the Corniche and the Vieux-Port; some ask you to order a day ahead.

   4. Afternoon

      Abbaye Saint-Victor

      Its crypts hold ancient sarcophagi and a Black Virgin, and every 2 February it is the focus of the Candlemas procession and the blessing of navette biscuits.

   5. Late afternoon

      MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean

      A footbridge links its rooftop terrace to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean, whose ramparts and Mediterranean gardens are free to walk and look out over the harbour entrance and the sea.

   6. Evening

      Cours Julien

      Explore the side streets such as Rue des Trois Rois and the stairs down to Rue d'Aubagne for the densest street art.

2. Day 2: Château d'If and Frioul islands

   Château d'If, Frioul islands, Le Panier and Vieille Charité, then Cours Julien and La Plaine in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Château d'If

      Visitors can explore the cells, the courtyard and the terrace, with views back to Notre-Dame de la Garde. Boats from the Vieux-Port take about 20 minutes.

   2. Late morning

      Frioul islands

      The same boats that serve the Château d'If continue here, and a small port has a few restaurants.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Panisse

      Kiosks along the seafront at L'Estaque and some bars and restaurants in the centre as a side dish.

   4. Afternoon

      Le Panier

      Stairways such as the Montée des Accoules lead to small squares, workshops selling Marseille soap and santon figurines, and walls covered in street art. Place de Lenche, thought to be near the ancient agora, has café terraces with glimpses of the sea.

   5. Late afternoon

      Vieille Charité

      It now houses the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and a museum of African, Oceanic and Amerindian art.

   6. Evening

      Cours Julien and La Plaine

      Bars, live-music venues and late terraces around Cours Julien and Place Jean-Jaurès, with a young, alternative crowd.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Palais Longchamp (Longchamp): The fountain and gardens are free; the natural history museum is a good rainy-day stop with children.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–20 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. Line M1 runs from Gare Saint-Charles to the Vieux-Port and Castellane, while line M2 runs from La Joliette through Gare Saint-Charles and Noailles to Castellane and Rond-Point du Prado.

More or fewer days

• One day in Marseille
• 3 days in Marseille
• 5 days in Marseille

Questions travellers ask