Things to do · Marseille · France
19 best things to do in Marseille
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Marseille are Notre-Dame de la Garde, Vieux-Port and MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean. Of the 19 picks below, 12 are free, 4 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Free sights
- 12
- Good on a rainy day
- MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre-Dame de la Garde | Vieux-Port | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Vieux-Port | Vieux-Port | 1–2 hours | Free |
| MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean | La Joliette | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Château d'If | Frioul archipelago | 2–3 hours including the boat | Mid-priced |
| Le Panier | Le Panier | 2 hours | Free |
| Vieille Charité | Le Panier | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Calanques National Park | Southern Marseille | Half a day to a full day | Free |
| Frioul islands | Frioul archipelago | Half a day | Low cost |
| Vallon des Auffes | Endoume and Vallon des Auffes | 45 minutes | Free |
| Corniche Kennedy | Endoume and Vallon des Auffes | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Palais Longchamp | Longchamp | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| La Major Cathedral | La Joliette | 30–45 minutes | Free |
| Abbaye Saint-Victor | Vieux-Port | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Cité Radieuse | Prado and the beaches | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Plages du Prado and Parc Borély | Prado and the beaches | Half a day | Free |
| Noailles and the Marché des Capucins | Cours Julien and Noailles | 1 hour | Free |
| Cours Julien | Cours Julien and Noailles | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Les Goudes and Callelongue | Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes | Half a day | Free |
| Malmousque | Endoume and Vallon des Auffes | 1–2 hours | Free |
The 19 best things to do
Religious site · Vieux-Port
1.Notre-Dame de la Garde
The neo-Byzantine basilica on a 149-metre limestone hill is crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin and Child, known to locals as la Bonne Mère. 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.
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
Marseille's harbour has been in use for more than two and a half millennia. 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.
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
Museum · La Joliette
3.MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean
The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations opened in 2013 in Rudy Ricciotti's cube wrapped in a lace-like concrete lattice. 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.
Even without a museum ticket, cross the footbridge to the fort for sunset views; the rooftop terrace has a café.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
- History
Castle · Frioul archipelago
4.Château d'If
Built in the 1520s on a tiny island off the harbour, this fortress later became a state prison and was made famous by Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo. 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.
Boats do not sail in strong mistral winds; check the forecast and keep a flexible day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the boat
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
- Iconic
_-_02.jpg){kind=link}
Neighbourhood · Le Panier
5.Le Panier
The oldest quarter of Marseille climbs from the harbour on the site of the Greek city. 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.
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
Historic site · Le Panier
6.Vieille Charité
A 17th- and 18th-century almshouse designed by the Marseille architect Pierre Puget, with three tiers of arcaded galleries around a courtyard and a chapel with an oval dome. It now houses the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and a museum of African, Oceanic and Amerindian art.
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
Nature · Southern Marseille
7.Calanques National Park
Created in 2012, the park protects 20 km of white limestone cliffs and narrow inlets between Marseille and Cassis. Trails from Luminy lead to Sugiton, roads and paths from Mazargues reach Sormiou and Morgiou, and boat tours from the Vieux-Port show the cliffs from the water. There are no shops on most trails and very little shade.
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
- Book ahead
- From June to September access to the massifs depends on daily fire risk, and the path to Sugiton has required a free online reservation in peak summer; check the park website the day before.
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Free
- Photo spot
Island · Frioul archipelago
8.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. The same boats that serve the Château d'If continue here, and a small port has a few restaurants.
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
Waterfront · Endoume and Vallon des Auffes
1.Vallon des Auffes
A tiny fishing harbour tucked under the arches of the Corniche road bridge, with brightly painted pointu boats, fishermen's huts and seafood restaurants on the water. It is one of the most photographed corners of Marseille and a classic place for bouillabaisse.
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
2.Corniche Kennedy
The seafront road runs from the Plage des Catalans to the Prado beaches, with views of the Frioul islands and the Château d'If. A low wall doubles as a long bench, and the triumphal arch of the Monument aux Morts de l'Armée d'Orient frames the sea midway along.
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
.jpg){kind=link}
Architecture · Longchamp
3.Palais Longchamp
A monumental 1860s colonnade and fountain built to celebrate the arrival of drinking water from the Durance river via the Canal de Marseille. Its two wings hold the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the natural history museum, and the park behind has shaded lawns and a playground.
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
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · La Joliette
4.La Major Cathedral
The Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure, completed in the 1890s, is one of the largest churches in France, built in bands of green Florentine marble and white stone in a Byzantine-Romanesque style. It stands on the waterfront between the MuCEM and La Joliette, and its domes are best seen from the Fort Saint-Jean.
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
Religious site · Vieux-Port
5.Abbaye Saint-Victor
One of the oldest places of worship in France, this fortress-like abbey above the south side of the port was founded in the 5th century. 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.
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
6.Cité Radieuse
Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation, completed in 1952 on Boulevard Michelet, is a concrete 'vertical village' of apartments with an internal shopping street, a hotel and a rooftop terrace with a paddling pool and views to the sea and hills. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing of Le Corbusier's works.
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
Beach · Prado and the beaches
7.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. Next door, Parc Borély has a lake, a botanical garden, and the 18th-century Château Borély, home to the museum of decorative arts and fashion.
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
8.Noailles and the Marché des Capucins
Marseille's most cosmopolitan market district fills the streets around Place des Capucins and Rue Longue des Capucins with fruit and vegetable stalls, spice merchants, North African bakeries, butchers and kitchenware shops. It is the place to buy harissa, olives, dates and mint tea glasses.
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
9.Cours Julien
A raised, tree-lined square with fountains and a children's play area, surrounded by streets where almost every wall, staircase and shutter is painted with murals. Bars, vintage shops, record stores and inexpensive restaurants make it the centre of the city's alternative scene.
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
10.Les Goudes and Callelongue
At the southern end of the coast road, these fishing villages feel far removed from the city, with small ports, seafood restaurants and rocky bays. Callelongue, where the road ends, is the trailhead for the coastal path into the Calanques towards Marseilleveyre.
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
11.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. The Anse de la Fausse Monnaie, with a small bridge over the inlet, is the best-known spot.
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
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, Le Panier, Vieille Charité and Palais Longchamp |
| History | MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, Le Panier, Vieille Charité and Château d'If |
| Views | Notre-Dame de la Garde, MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, Calanques National Park and Château d'If |
| Outdoors and nature | Calanques National Park, Frioul islands, Corniche Kennedy and Plages du Prado and Parc Borély |
| Food and markets | Vieux-Port, Vallon des Auffes, Noailles and the Marché des Capucins and Cours Julien |
| After dark | Vieux-Port and Cours Julien |
| With children | Notre-Dame de la Garde, Château d'If, Frioul islands and Palais Longchamp |
| On a rainy day | MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, Vieille Charité, Palais Longchamp and Abbaye Saint-Victor |
What to book ahead
- Calanques National Park: From June to September access to the massifs depends on daily fire risk, and the path to Sugiton has required a free online reservation in peak summer; check the park website the day before.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Marseille?
Notre-Dame de la Garde. The neo-Byzantine basilica on a 149-metre limestone hill is crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin and Child, known to locals as la Bonne Mère.
+What can you do for free in Marseille?
Notre-Dame de la Garde, Vieux-Port, Le Panier, Calanques National Park and Vallon des Auffes. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Marseille when it rains?
Head indoors to MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, Vieille Charité, Palais Longchamp and Abbaye Saint-Victor.
+What is there to do in Marseille at night?
Vieux-Port and Cours Julien are best after dark.