Getting around · Marseille · France
Getting around Marseille
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The centre around the Vieux-Port, Le Panier and the MuCEM is walkable, but Marseille is large and hilly. The RTM network runs two metro lines, three tram lines, buses and boats; the beaches and the Calanques are reached by bus. Not for the city, where traffic and parking are difficult.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- MRS
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- RTM 24-hour and 72-hour passes
Ways to get around
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.
Gare Saint-Charles is the interchange for both lines and for the airport shuttle.
Tram
Trams T2 and T3 run along Rue de la République between the Vieux-Port area and La Joliette and Arenc, convenient for the MuCEM and the Terrasses du Port.
Bus
Buses reach most places the metro does not: line 60 to Notre-Dame de la Garde, Corniche routes to the Vallon des Auffes and the Prado beaches, and lines 19 and 20 towards Les Goudes and Callelongue.
Buses along the Corniche fill up on summer weekends; leave early for the beaches.
Ferry
A small ferry crosses the Vieux-Port between the two quays, and summer RTM boat shuttles link the Vieux-Port with L'Estaque and Pointe Rouge. Separate boats run to the Château d'If and Frioul.
Walking
The Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the MuCEM, La Major and Noailles are all within about 20 minutes of each other on foot, though Le Panier and Notre-Dame de la Garde involve steep climbs.
Taxi
Licensed taxis use ranks at the station, the Vieux-Port and the airport; ride-hailing apps also operate.
Avoid unofficial drivers soliciting fares inside Gare Saint-Charles.
Tickets and passes
RTM 24-hour and 72-hour passes
Unlimited travel on metro, tram, buses and the RTM boat shuttles; worthwhile if you make three or more journeys a day.
Marseille City Pass
Sold by the tourist office for 24, 48 or 72 hours, it bundles RTM transport with entry to many museums and some tours; check which boat trips are included before buying.
From the airport
Marseille Provence Airport is in Marignane, about 27 km north-west of the centre. Shuttle buses run to Gare Saint-Charles in about 25–30 minutes, and a free shuttle links the terminal with Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence station for regional trains. A taxi takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city, where traffic and parking are difficult. A car helps for Provence villages, the Luberon and the Côte Bleue, but Cassis, Aix, Arles and Avignon are all reachable by train or coach.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cassis | About 30 minutes by train or bus | TER to Cassis station, then a local shuttle bus to the port; or coach |
| Aix-en-Provence | About 35 minutes by express coach | Express coach from the bus station next to Gare Saint-Charles |
| Avignon | About 35 minutes by TGV | TGV to Avignon TGV then shuttle, or TER to Avignon Centre |
| Arles | About 1 hour by train | TER from Gare Saint-Charles to Arles |
| La Ciotat | About 35 minutes by train | TER from Gare Saint-Charles to La Ciotat, then local bus |
| Côte Bleue | About 30–40 minutes by train | TER coastal line from Gare Saint-Charles to Carry-le-Rouet |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Marseille?
Not for the city, where traffic and parking are difficult. A car helps for Provence villages, the Luberon and the Côte Bleue, but Cassis, Aix, Arles and Avignon are all reachable by train or coach.
+How do you get from the airport to Marseille?
Marseille Provence Airport is in Marignane, about 27 km north-west of the centre. Shuttle buses run to Gare Saint-Charles in about 25–30 minutes, and a free shuttle links the terminal with Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence station for regional trains. A taxi takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Marseille?
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.