TOP 10 things to do in Marseille | South of France Travel Guide

When you visit Marseille, there are a few things you just have to see and do! Anja & Aila have put together their own favorite top 10 for you. Expect everything from essentials to some very special ideas…
Marseille, France’s second-largest city, is full of contradictions: You’ll find the most breathtaking places and rather shabby looking areas. You can stumble from the busiest spots in this big industrial city to little squares that will remind you of a provencal village in a matter of minutes. It’s a noisy, smelly, vibrant city - full of life and excitement and voices in every language imaginable…
Maybe you’re not hooked right away, but trust us: this Mediterranean beauty with its very own, very endearing charm is worth your visit!
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MARSEILLE
📍maps.app.goo.gl/99yXXAjFuj9pU...
#1 Notre Dame de la Garde (www.notredamedelagarde.com/)
📍maps.app.goo.gl/FmSnSEJ15Pyze...
#2 MuCEM museum & more
MuCEM (closed on Tuesday)
📍mucem.org/ - maps.app.goo.gl/TVUtJza6bjXNk...
Fort Saint-Jean
📍maps.app.goo.gl/fdhzJomxhPYju...
Cosquer Méditerranée (open daily, 9.30-19.30/7.30 PM, € 16)
📍www.grotte-cosquer.com/ - maps.app.goo.gl/V9qi32UNV2rwe...
#3 The Old Port
📍maps.app.goo.gl/hJ5hcbHasUeKz...
#4 Boat trip to the Calanques
There are different boat companies in Marseille; we booked our trip with “Croisières Marseille Calanques”: www.croisieres-marseille-cala...
📍departure: maps.app.goo.gl/2BULs3Nc2ukdM...
We went on the tour “L’intégrale des Calanques” (€ 32 per person)
Take panoramic road between Cassis and La Ciotat by car:
Route des Crêtes = D141
#5 Food & Drinks
🍽️ Bistrot l’Horloge: maps.app.goo.gl/BBzqYw8MLQani...
(11 Cour Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves - / 261928313940308 )
More restaurants (that we didn’t try, but which were recommended by locals):
🍽️ Le Chalet du Pharo - www.le-chalet-du-pharo.com/ - maps.app.goo.gl/5hRkviKmtakJi...
🍽️ Le Petit Pavillon - www.le-petit-pavillon-restaur... - maps.app.goo.gl/RndPGSqgZqZTu...
For “Bouillabaisse”:
🍽️ Restaurant Michel - www.restaurant-michel-13.fr/ - maps.app.goo.gl/hdCoubBR9G5JN...
3 Restaurants in “Endoume” district:
🍽️ L’Épuisette - www.l-epuisette.fr
🍽️ Chez Fonfon - www.chez-fonfon.com
🍽️ Chez Jeannot - www.pizzeriachezjeannot.com
Close to Old Port:
🍽️ L‘Oliveraie - maps.app.goo.gl/Y55qApyzgNFDP...
🍸Rooftop “Ciel” - www.ciel-rooftop.com/ - maps.app.goo.gl/BWUmJi443Trgm...
#6 Le Panier - oldest part of the city
📍maps.app.goo.gl/zAesbg5LyzDNG...
📍Vieille Charité: maps.app.goo.gl/FbEqMoMBc3k4j...
#7 “Petit train” (little tourist train)
📍maps.app.goo.gl/QwiQemTEP8Fki...
Departure: 174 Quai du Port (150 meters from the town hall/”mairie”)
Leaves every 20 minutes from April to October (10-12.20/10AM-12.20 PM and 13.40-18.20/1.40-6.20 PM) and every 40 to 90 minutes from November to Mars (10-12 and 14-16/2-4 PM)
#8 Shopping
📍Rue Paradis: maps.app.goo.gl/7kZT2z9mmEJ3b...
📍Rue Haxo: maps.app.goo.gl/9UF7YkhbdwfQC...
📍Rue Saint-Ferréol: maps.app.goo.gl/VybRNH8t9LF27...
📍Centre Bourse: maps.app.goo.gl/z5sqkHcaj85Fz...
📍La Canebière: maps.app.goo.gl/xGJZvq6mVijzn...
#9 Les Docks Village - www.lesdocks-marseille.com/
📍maps.app.goo.gl/PjusA7ehNGtik...
#10 Best beaches
📍Plage des Catalans: maps.app.goo.gl/VgfBoJaLRfGz9...
📍Plage du Prophète: maps.app.goo.gl/KNsN2oUtjaQzK...
📍Plage de la Pointe Rouge: maps.app.goo.gl/ttHeZJM1qrN7R...
Boat shuttle to Pointe Rouge (from Old Port): 5€
📍Plage le Bain des Dames: maps.app.goo.gl/95PRhnM4t4mAt...
We’d like to give a special THANKS to the following kind locals who answered all our questions with great patience and passion. We could tell they love their city:
Robert, the boat man
Michel, the port man (our “cousin” ;-)
Serge, the bar man
Another huge thank you to Christine for sharing her invaluable tips!
Images:
Map of France by Eric Gaba (Sting - fr:Sting) - Own workSource of data: NGDC World Data Bank II (public domain), CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Music: www.epidemicsound.com/
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Aila on Facebook: / azurblau.fr
#marseille #france #top10 #provence
© RIVIERA GO! 2023. All rights reserved.

[@irinaha8091]

What a nice uplifting video! The energy is top! I am now excited to visit the city and the areas around it. Love the positive vibes you translate!

[@rivierago]

Thanks! Have a great trip, we hope you enjoy the area as much as we do! 😎

[@soc.8199]

what is the best time to see those people selling fish at the oldport and then I can wake up early to see them😅

[@rivierago]

In the mornings! Until noon at least, we suppose (or whenever their fish is sold) 😄

[@sheilagrayman7147]

Yes!🎉 Absolutely, vibrant and charming! Definitely worth a visit!🌻😁

[@rivierago]

🤩

[@Dr.CorneliaKratzer]

Thanks! Fun videos!

[@kaihoffmann7967]

Oh! Eine wirklich schöne Stadt! Danke für die Infos!

[@Snektoshi]

I love Marseille because of the football team 💙 ONE DAY i hope i will get there 😢💙 Allez l'OM 💙

[@rivierago]

Fingers crossed! Many of our friends from down here are OM fans 😊

[@stellapantidis9733]

Perfect. Thank you for the ideas. Will follow them on my visit end of month❤❤😊😊

[@rivierago]

We’re sure you’ll have a great time! 😄

[@smiley9987]

Hello pretty ladies! I know what people are saying about Marseille. I know how the french themselves speak about it. I know the great,the good,the bad and the dangerous points. I don't care what anybody says- its a Fascinating city! Nice and the Riviera are posh and beautiful and amazing in a very elegant in general . Like the pharmacy in cap3000 lol :). That vibe of a more realistic life( away from sometimes overdone Riviera style) is really a thing. All those people popping and the mixture of cultures and I don't know how to put it. But the salt and the pepper are in Marseille. So the dish can never be tastless or boring. Its one of a kind place and despite peoples talks and regular comments,the majority are pleasantly impressed. The region nature is stunning. As you said ladies- a place of contradictions,I agree. It screams Life. Local people are amazing. Food is various and amazing. The city steals the heart in unexpected ways. Night views are amazing. Amazing transportation connections. A place of a different kind. Thank you for sharing your short trip there. Its not the Riviera( which I love and appreciate the beauty of it),but its a uniqie real life city with great weather,people,nature and food. Subscribing now. I like you. 🌞

[@rivierago]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts - we couldn’t agree more!!! Yes, it’s in Marseille that you meet genuinely nice, friendly, down to earth people. It’s “rougher” than the posh Côte d’Azur, but all the more charming. A one time trip is not enough to fully understand and appreciate its beauty. We can only encourage everyone to go check this place out 🤩. How come you know the area so well?

[@smiley9987]

@@rivierago I agree with your words. Well, I am not French and I am not living in any of the cities we are exchanging thoughts about. So I am not trying to 'promote' anything to anybody. Just sincerely shared my heart about it. I am a french- everything lover. A person who lived in different places. I ve been in Nice several times and in other places near by,but absolutely can't say I know it like you do ( I assume) after many years there living and not only visiting. Its always different. I am planning to visit it soon again. Meeting a local friend there. Nice city is great and cool but for instance during summertime it feels a bit too much personally to me. That's the case for the entire area and its understandable. Beautiful places get crowded. I have no idea where exactly you live nearby and I am not asking you to share here in public but sounds like a good idea. Except one really needs a car perhaps. And many try to simply use well arranged transportation because its very convenient. Back to your question,I did see a lot around there and some surrounding areas,but its just a little dot from what is there to explore. From your videos, I saw several places that I'd love to visit or sit there and experience and I will be looking for more from you :). Its a pleasure to watch you. Down Provence area is another favourite. You can't compare the lifestyle with Riviera lifestyle at all. I would say they have different beauty. You are lucky you are living in such a fantastic area. Although I know there are negatives( like any place in the world) and you surely did or still have some challenging moments with some things,the pros are plenty and a real reason to be grateful. The sun,the nature, the views, the food, the quality, the relaxed vibe etc. You two with your beautiful smiles and exploring around is making me smile. Love seeing life grateful and casually-friendly people like you. Can't wait for more of your videos. 🌞👍

[@rivierago]

@@smiley9987 thank you so much for your elaborate reply! And again, so much of what you write we can totally relate to. Now is the season where we get the Côte back to ourselves, best time of year 😅 (even though right now the weather is awful, but we should soon be back to sunshine). We live close to Grasse and quite enjoy the less posh “village” life in the countryside. By the way, all of the bigger cities like Nice, Cannes and Marseille have changed greatly over the past 20 years, for the better! They look so much nicer, have so much to offer and are a lot safer. We hope you’ll have a great time in Nice (and are sure you will)! 😊

[@user-ce6lh5bn4k]

Thank you very much! Both of you are so nice soul!

[@rivierago]

Thank you 🙏🤩

[@irenegryziec8052]

Merci beaucoup!

[@rivierago]

Avec plaisir 🤩

[@ivanchelsea2110]

Wow , you in Marseille

[@bamsecreates_]

The contrast in Marseille city i've never seen anything like it. I wish i saw this video before i put out my vlogs but i did manage to cover a few things.

[@rivierago]

Thanks! We agree, it’s a truly special place - you might need a few days to fall in love with it, but nowadays it’s much easier than a decade or two ago (we think - let us know if you think otherwise) 😄

[@jimmyspapraticien3108]

👍🏻

[@nademkhan931]

Thank you for this excellent guide. We are planning a visit in 3rd week of April. How is the weather usually at that time?

[@rivierago]

Thank you! 😀 April is still a bit tricky, it can rain, but chances are higher that during the day it’s sunny and kind of warm (around 20 degrees Celsius), but it still gets cool as soon as the sun goes down.

[@nickloong]

Another great sharing, but due to time constraints, I've given Marseille a pass from my itinerary for my coming trip. By the way, is it possible to cover Marseille on a day trip from Montpellier?😅

[@rivierago]

GPS says 2h 11min from Montpellier to Marseille, and it’s pretty much the same from Nice to Marseille. So: possible yes - but it’s more relaxed with an overnight stay in Marseille, of course 😅

[@nickloong]

@@rivierago Noted with thanks!😊👌

[@soc.8199]

Hi Lady, may i know where can i keep my luggage in Marseille? Thank you.

[@rivierago]

Hey, good question - we didn’t know, but look what the tourists office says: www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/organize-your-stay/practical-information/luggage-storage/

[@soc.8199]

@@rivierago Merci beaucoup😃

[@lauriebaker4152]

Do you have a favorite tour you would recommend if we are only there for 10 hours? We'd like to spend maybe 4 to 5 hours touring or wine tasting. Thank you

[@rivierago]

Hi, well there are wine bars that offer wine tastings close to the port, like www.lecanonduvieuxport.com/ and instagram.com/fuellanera (haven’t been there ourselves), so that’s a good plan. Other than that explore the area around the old port. The „Panier“ area, Mucem museum (roof!) and the Fort next to it (roof again), and the opposite side of the port, with its restaurants, and definitely go up to Notre Dame church for the view. Enjoy!!😊

[@acbc3543]

I have a legit question : how much should One bring for a good Week in the south of France ? €3,600?

[@rivierago]

Hi, that’s a tough one, it all depends on what you’re looking for - a budget trip or a luxury stay or anything in between. For a cheap place at night you maybe spend 100€ (for 2), which can go up tenfold or more if you choose a 5 star hotel or luxury villa. For food again it all depends, you can do with 20€ if you have “cheap eats” in bakeries and supermarkets. If you go out to nice places 2 or 3 times a day, count close to 100€ (or more, depending on the degree of fancy). And for things to do: nothing is REALLY expensive, whether it’s a boat trip, a museum or a cultural event. Of course, if you rent a yacht there’s more money involved. With the budget you mention (for 1 or 2?) you can definitely spend a great week!

[@camus6208]

First thing to do in marseille, Get Out of this Garbage City 😂

[@rivierago]

Sorry, we don’t agree 🤷‍♀️😉