Free things to do · Marseille · France
12 free things to do in Marseille
Marseille without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Marseille without paying an entry fee: Notre-Dame de la Garde, Vieux-Port, Le Panier and Calanques National Park are all free. Many sights are free: Notre-Dame de la Garde, La Major, the Fort Saint-Jean gardens, the Calanques trails and the Vieux-Port ferry views.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 12
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Vieux-Port
1.Notre-Dame de la Garde
Take bus 60 or the tourist train up from the Vieux-Port, then walk down through the quiet streets towards the Abbaye Saint-Victor.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Vieux-Port
2.Vieux-Port
Come before about 10am to see the fish market at its liveliest, then ride the cross-harbour ferry for a few euros.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- After dark
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Neighbourhood · Le Panier
3.Le Panier
Start at the Vieux-Port, climb the Montée des Accoules, and finish at the Vieille Charité and La Major so you walk downhill at the end.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Shopping
- Art
Nature · Southern Marseille
4.Calanques National Park
Start hikes early, carry at least two litres of water per person and wear proper shoes; the limestone paths are steep and slippery.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Free
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
5.Vallon des Auffes
Walk down the steps from the Corniche at sunset, then continue to the rocks at Malmousque for a swim in summer.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Food
Street · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
6.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
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Religious site · La Joliette
7.La Major Cathedral
Visit after the MuCEM; the vaults below the cathedral esplanade hold cafés and shops.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Beach · Prado and the beaches
8.Plages du Prado and Parc Borély
Go on a weekday morning in summer; weekend afternoons are very crowded and parking is difficult.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Market · Cours Julien and Noailles
9.Noailles and the Marché des Capucins
Go in the morning, carry small change and keep your bag in front of you in the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
Street · Cours Julien and Noailles
10.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Food
Neighbourhood · Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes
11.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
12.Malmousque
Bring water shoes; entry is from rocks rather than sand, and there are no facilities.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vieux-Port | Notre-Dame de la Garde and Vieux-Port | 1–1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Le Panier | Le Panier | 2 hours |
| Southern Marseille | Calanques National Park | Half a day to a full day |
| Endoume and Vallon des Auffes | Vallon des Auffes, Corniche Kennedy and Malmousque | 45 minutes + 1–2 hours + 1–2 hours |
| La Joliette | La Major Cathedral | 30–45 minutes |
| Prado and the beaches | Plages du Prado and Parc Borély | Half a day |
| Cours Julien and Noailles | Noailles and the Marché des Capucins and Cours Julien | 1 hour + 1–2 hours |
| Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes | Les Goudes and Callelongue | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Le Panier
Vieille Charité
The courtyard and chapel are free to see; buy a museum ticket only if the archaeology collections interest you.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Island · Frioul archipelago
Frioul islands
Bring water, sun protection and snorkelling gear; there is almost no shade, and the coves on Ratonneau are calmer than the open coast.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
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Architecture · Longchamp
Palais Longchamp
The fountain and gardens are free; the natural history museum is a good rainy-day stop with children.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Religious site · Vieux-Port
Abbaye Saint-Victor
Buy navettes at the historic bakery a few steps away, which has been baking them since the late 18th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Architecture · Prado and the beaches
Cité Radieuse
Guided tours through the tourist office let you see an apartment; otherwise you can visit the hotel floor and its restaurant.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Many sights are free: Notre-Dame de la Garde, La Major, the Fort Saint-Jean gardens, the Calanques trails and the Vieux-Port ferry views.
- Fish soup with rouille gives the bouillabaisse flavours for a fraction of the price.
- Eat in Noailles and around Cours Julien for the best-value meals in the centre.
- Hike to the Calanques instead of taking a boat tour; the trails cost nothing.
- An RTM day pass pays for itself quickly if you are heading to the beaches, Notre-Dame and Les Goudes on the same day.
- Hotel prices drop sharply outside June to September.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Marseille expensive to visit?
Marseille is moderately priced for most visitors, but 12 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Marseille?
Notre-Dame de la Garde: Take bus 60 or the tourist train up from the Vieux-Port, then walk down through the quiet streets towards the Abbaye Saint-Victor.