What to see in Marseille

Lookout, Basilica

The most famous symbol of Marseille is undoubtedly the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which stands on a hill above the city. Many people confuse this basilica with La Major, the main cathedral by the harbour, although it is much smaller. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-notredame] In terms of importance, however, it may even surpass the cathedral.…

Promenade, Harbour

The Old Port is the centre of all the action in Marseille and the city's main attraction. The artificial bay is about 200 metres wide and flows inland between the Sain-Jean and Saint-Nicolas forts, about 500 metres inland, right into the city centre. [btn "Book a hotel with a sea view" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-vieuxport] Pedestrian promenades Wide pedestrian promenades run all around…

Cathedral

Marseille's largest church and main cathedral is located on the seafront and on the edge of the historic district of Le Panier. The cathedral impresses at first sight with its unusual and ornate neo-Byzantine style. The cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. [btn "Book your hotel in Marseille in advance" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-major] Old and new cathedral The Romanesque basilica…

National Park, Coast, Hiking trail

The Calanques de Marseille or Massif des Calanques is a beautiful national park and mountain range starting at the southern edge of Marseille. Virtually the entire park lies directly within the administrative boundary of Marseille and is therefore the only urban national park in France. In reality, however, you will be completely outside the city surrounded by beautiful nature and breathtaking views. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Marseille"…

City Quarter

Discover the oldest district in Marseille and immerse yourself in a tangle of narrow streets and staircases. [btn "View hotels in the centre of Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-panier] What's the best way to enjoy the Le Panier district? Just get lost in it. The area is relatively small, so you'll always turn up sooner or later on the main promenade of the Vieux Port or at La Major…

Lookout, Park

The Palais Pharo is one of Marseille's most important monuments and stands on an elevated bank above the old harbour. The mid-19th-century building is now used as a convention centre and therefore does not attract tourists on its own. Nevertheless, the area in which it stands, Le Pharo, is one of the most beautiful places in Marseille. [btn "Top 10 best hotels in Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label…

Museum

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations is one of the most visited institutions in Marseille. The abbreviation Mucem is generally used for this museum. The institution is housed in two different buildings. The main part is in a modern and great architectural work from 2013 to 2018 and the other part of the museum is in the medieval fortress of Saint-Jean. The two buildings are connected to each other by a bridge. [btn "Book a…

Fortress, Museum

Fort Saint-Jean has guarded the old port since the 16th century and is still one of the most famous buildings in Marseille. [btn "Top 10 best hotels in Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-st-jean] The fortifications were built in 1660, as was Fort Saint-Nicolas on the opposite shore of the harbour. While officially both forts were built to defend the city from enemy raids, their true…

Fortress

The Citadel of St. Nicolas is the largest fortress in Marseille, guarding the Vieux Port and situated on its southern shore. As it has no watchtower like the opposite Fort Saint-Jean, it is less conspicuous, though in fact noticeably larger. Like Fort St. Jean, the citadel of Saint-Nicolas was built in the 17th century between 1660 and 1668, and rather than protecting the town from outside danger, it protected the governor from the uprising of…

Palace, Museum, Garden

The Longchamp Palace is one of the most famous sights in Marseille and should not be missed. The building hosts two major museums and the adjacent park is one of the most beautiful in all of France. [btn "Top 10 best hotels in Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-longchamp] A celebration of water The Longchamp Palace began construction in 1839 (it wasn't completed until 30 years later)…

Museum, Cave

The modern Cosquer Méditerranée Museum is located on the seafront between La Major Cathedral and the Muc. The Cosquer Museum specialises in the prehistoric civilisations that lived on the Mediterranean coast. The main attraction of the museum is the replica of the Cosquer Cave. [btn "Find a hotel with a sea view" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-codquer] Cosquer Cave The main aim of the…

Sandy beach

Catalans beach is the closest option from the centre of Marseille to take a dip in the sea in a nice location. The beach is located on the west coast by the Corniche Kennedy promenade and only about a 5-minute walk from the Le Pharo viewpoint. [btn "Find a hotel with a sea view" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-catalans] Beach facilities Access to the beach is free. Plage des Catalans is…

Gateway

Porte d'Aix is the name for Marseille's Arc de Triomphe, which resembles a scaled-down replica of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. [btn "Book a hotel in the centre of Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-porte] Marseille's Arc de Triomphe stands on Place Jules-Guesde, near the historic centre and the train station. Monumental arch in antique style The Porte d'Aix is architecturally very…

Archipelago, Fortress, Pebble beach

The Friulian archipelago is a group of several small uninhabited rocky islands with several fortresses, former prisons and small beaches. The archipelago lies about 4 km west of the centre of Marseille and includes the famous Château d' If fortress, located on the smallest of the Frioul islands. [btn "Book a hotel in the centre of Marseille" https://www.booking.com/airport/fr/mrs.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-frioul] The 3 main…

Coast

The Cote Bleue is a coastline stretching north of the centre of Marseille for about 25 km, ending near the town of Martigues. Administratively, much of the coastline still falls under the city of Marseille, although it is realistically about 30 minutes away from the centre by train. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Marseille" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-cotebleue] The wild coastline beckons…

Fortress, Island

The castle on the island If is one of the popular tourist attractions and a frequent half-day trip from Marseille. The small rocky islet lies about 3.5 km from Vieux-Port and is part of the Frioul Islands. We recommend combining a trip to Château d'If with a visit to the other islands. [btn "Book a hotel in the centre of Marseille" https://www.booking.com/airport/fr/mrs.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-if] The island of If is only 3…

Promenade, Modern Building

The Old Harbour Umbrella, as the official name of this novel shelter is, can be found right in the centre of town on the main promenade. [btn "Find a hotel with a sea view" https://www.booking.com/city/fr/marseille.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-marseille-ombriere] As the name suggests, it is a canopy covering a large part of the walkway near the regular boat and bus stops and is also used for various events, concerts, etc. The underside of…

Monument, Lookout

This dignified and generous monument was erected in 1927 in memory of all soldiers killed in the fighting of World War I in North Africa in the Middle East. The monument stands on the waterfront of the Corniche Kennedy about a 15-minute walk from the Le Pharo lookout. However, the terrace at the monument also serves as a beautiful viewpoint of the sea and the west coast of Marseille.