How many days · Marseille · France
How many days do you need in Marseille?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Marseille, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the MuCEM and Notre-Dame de la Garde. Four days adds a Calanques hike or boat trip, the Château d'If and Frioul, and a day trip to Cassis or Aix-en-Provence.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9 h (Dec) to 15.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Notre-Dame de la Garde, Vieux-Port, MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean and Château d'If |
| 2 days | Good | Château d'If, Le Panier and Vieille Charité |
| 3 days | Good | Calanques National Park, Frioul islands and Vallon des Auffes |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Cassis |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Cassis and Aix-en-Provence |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Marseille add up to roughly 18–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Calanques National Park (Half a day to a full day), Frioul islands (Half a day) and MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Notre-Dame de la Garde | 1–1.5 hours | Vieux-Port |
| Vieux-Port | 1–2 hours | Vieux-Port |
| MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean | 2–3 hours | La Joliette |
| Château d'If | 2–3 hours including the boat | Frioul archipelago |
| Le Panier | 2 hours | Le Panier |
| Vieille Charité | 1–1.5 hours | Le Panier |
| Calanques National Park | Half a day to a full day | Southern Marseille |
| Frioul islands | Half a day | Frioul archipelago |
| Vallon des Auffes | 45 minutes | Endoume and Vallon des Auffes |
| Corniche Kennedy | 1–2 hours | Endoume and Vallon des Auffes |
| Palais Longchamp | 1–2 hours | Longchamp |
| La Major Cathedral | 30–45 minutes | La Joliette |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Notre-Dame de la Garde and Vieux-Port |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Château d'If |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Cassis and Aix-en-Provence |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Marseille with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Marseille?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the MuCEM and Notre-Dame de la Garde. Four days adds a Calanques hike or boat trip, the Château d'If and Frioul, and a day trip to Cassis or Aix-en-Provence.
+Is a week too long in Marseille?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Cassis and Aix-en-Provence.