Season guide · Marseille · France
Marseille in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Warm sea in September, good walking weather in October and occasional heavy storms; prices fall by November. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 16 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 16
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 26°C (79°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 4 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 21°C (70°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 6 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| November | 15°C (59°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 6 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 16 of the year's roughly 53 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: European Heritage Days — free entry to normally closed buildings (usually third weekend)
- October: Marseille–Cassis — 20 km road race over the Col de la Gineste (usually late October)
- November: Foire aux santons — fair of Provençal Christmas crib figures (usually opens late November)
Make the most of the weather
Island · Frioul archipelago
Frioul islands
Ratonneau and Pomègues, joined by a breakwater, are car-free limestone islands with small coves for swimming, coastal paths and the ruins of the 19th-century Hôpital Caroline quarantine hospital.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Street · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
Corniche Kennedy
Walk or cycle it from Catalans towards the Prado in the late afternoon, stopping at the Vallon des Auffes and Malmousque.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
Beach · Prado and the beaches
Plages du Prado and Parc Borély
The Prado beaches are a chain of pebble-and-sand beaches with lawns, beach volleyball and lifeguards in summer, marked by a large replica of Michelangelo's David at the end of Avenue du Prado.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes
Les Goudes and Callelongue
Take bus 19 to La Madrague de Montredon and change to bus 20, or catch the summer boat shuttle to Les Goudes from the Vieux-Port.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Food
- Views
Waterfront · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
Malmousque
A rocky headland of tiny coves and flat rocks below a residential neighbourhood, where locals swim, sunbathe and jump into clear water in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Day trips in autumn
- Avignon (About 35 minutes by TGV) — Avignon was the seat of the popes in the 14th century, and the vast Gothic Palais des Papes and the half-ruined Pont Saint-Bénezet still dominate the walled city.
- Arles (About 1 hour by train) — Arles has a Roman amphitheatre and theatre, Romanesque cloisters at Saint-Trophime and the places Van Gogh painted during his stay.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Marseille?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm sea in September, good walking weather in October and occasional heavy storms; prices fall by November.
+What is the weather like in Marseille in autumn?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 16 rainy days over the season.