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Before you go
Your trip to Marselha.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Marselha – Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Destination Provença Capital
How to get there
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Aéroport Marseille Provence (MRS) Marignane · 27 km
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Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Aéroport Marseille Provence is in Marignane, about 27 km away; a direct bus links the airport to Gare Saint-Charles. Confirm before buying. From Paris, the TGV reaches Gare Saint-Charles in about 3 hours. There are also trains to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and Lyon.
How many days
Two days are enough for the historic center, Notre-Dame de la Garde, the MuCEM and a boat trip to Château d'If and Frioul. With three or four days you'll have time for a calanque, Cassis and the Corniche Kennedy. Marselha also serves as a base for visiting Aix-en-Provence, about half an hour by train or bus.
When to go
The climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers from June to August and mild winters from December to February. The mistral, a strong north wind, blows mainly in winter and spring. April to June and September to October are good for walking in the calanques. From June 1 to September 30 access to the massifs is regulated due to fire risk.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not in the center. Marselha has two metro lines, three tram lines, buses and boats that depart from the Vieux-Port. For the calanques there are buses to the trailheads, and Cassis has buses and regional trains. A car only helps for the Route des Crêtes and more remote spots, but traffic is heavy and parking is difficult in summer.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Marselha
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Morning
Vieux-Port, Panier and Vieille Charité
Start at the Vieux-Port, with the fish market on the quay and the Ombrière. Walk up the Montée des Accoules to the Panier and wander the narrow streets to the Vieille Charité.
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Afternoon
Major, MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean
Walk down to the Cathédrale de la Major, have lunch nearby (between 12:00 and 14:00) and cross the footbridge from the church of Saint-Laurent to Fort Saint-Jean and the MuCEM. Note that the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
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Late afternoon
Notre-Dame de la Garde
Pass by the Abbaye Saint-Victor and take bus 60 up to Notre-Dame de la Garde for views of the city, the port and the islands in the late-afternoon light.
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Evening
Bouillabaisse at the Vallon des Auffes
Walk down to the Corniche Kennedy and have fish or bouillabaisse at a restaurant in the Vallon des Auffes. Book ahead; dinner service usually starts around 19:30.
2 days in Marselha
Day 1
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Morning
Vieux-Port and Panier
Vieux-Port with the fish market and the Ombrière, walk up to the Panier and visit the Vieille Charité.
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Afternoon
Major, MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean
Cathédrale de la Major, lunch, then the MuCEM with its terrace and the footbridge to Fort Saint-Jean (closed on Tuesdays).
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Late afternoon
Saint-Victor and Notre-Dame de la Garde
Abbaye Saint-Victor and the climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for the sunset view.
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Evening
Vieux-Port at night
Have dinner around the Vieux-Port or the Cours Julien and stroll along the illuminated quays.
Day 2
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Morning
Château d'If and Frioul
Boat from the Quai de la Fraternité to Château d'If and then to the Îles du Frioul, for walking or swimming. Check that sea conditions allow departures.
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Afternoon
Calanques or Cassis
Return to the mainland and choose: hike to a calanque (Sormiou or Sugiton) or take the bus to Cassis and a boat to En-Vau. In summer, check the day before whether the massifs are open.
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Late afternoon
Corniche Kennedy
On the way back, travel the Corniche Kennedy by bus 83 or on foot and descend to the Vallon des Auffes to watch the sun set over the islands.
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Evening
Fish dinner
Have fish or bouillabaisse at the Vallon des Auffes or on the Corniche. Reserve in advance in high season.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Paris to Marselha?
The most convenient way is the TGV, which connects Paris to Gare Saint-Charles in about 3 hours. There are also domestic flights to Marignane airport.
What is a calanque and how to visit one?
A calanque is a narrow, deep cove between limestone cliffs. There are dozens between Marselha and Cassis, in the Parc national des Calanques. You reach them by trail or by boat. From June 1 to September 30 access is regulated due to fire risk, and Sugiton requires a reservation for part of the summer. Check before you go.
What is bouillabaisse?
The signature fish soup of Marselha: a broth made from rock fish served with toasts rubbed with garlic and rouille, a garlic-and-saffron sauce, followed by the fish and potatoes. It's an expensive, time-consuming dish; many restaurants require advance ordering.
How to get around Marselha?
Metro (two lines), tram (three lines) and local buses, plus the boats from the Vieux-Port. Gare Saint-Charles has metro stations for both lines.
Can you do a day trip from Marselha to Aix or Cassis?
Yes. Aix-en-Provence is about half an hour by train or bus, and Cassis is roughly 20 km away, served by buses and regional trains.