13 Must Visit Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Marseille

November 30, 2021 Mustafa Natalwala 4515 Views

Marseille is a city situated on the coast of Gulf of Lion in France. It sits where the mouth of river Rhone opens to the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered one of the most beautiful coastal cities in France. Some of the best things to do in Marseille includes exploring beaches, islands, historical sites, museums, art galleries, mountains and forests.

The city was founded around 600 BCE by Greek settlers who arrived from Phocaea. It is the oldest city in France and one of the oldest in Europe. Owing to its long history and strategic significance of its port, there are numerous historical places to visit in Marseille. These sites hail from different cultures and empires which held control over this region at different points in time. The city was called Massalia by Greeks and Massilia by Romans. It was also part of the Byzantine Empire before the French Monarchs took control of it. The port of Marseille has been at the center of city’s history, culture and economy. It was the first port of France, second in the Mediterranean Sea and fifth in Europe. You will find a large variety of things to see in Marseille in and around the old port of the city.

Marseille tourist attractions offer a blend of various culture, which is very different from any other place in France. The Old Port brought in many traders, merchants, visitors and settlers to this city from Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Over the course of history the city accommodated many aspects of these culture into its own without loosing its inherent French culture. You can explore museums dedicated to these cultures during Marseille sightseeing. You will get to see art and artifacts of these cultures and civilizations as well as their influence on the city’s history.

The city is rich in history, art and culture. But, the top reason for people to visit Marseille is its coastal beauty. The best beaches in Marseille have delighted tourists for ages. The city opens to an archipelago and there are several small and large islands which you can visit to admire the wonders of nature in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Table of Contents

The Best 13 Tourist Places to Visit in Marseille in 2 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard (Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde)

This cathedral is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city, known for its incredible architecture. It is also one of the best places to visit in Marseille to get a 360 view of the city. You will need about an hour to explore this Romano-Byzantine cathedral.

2. Abbey of Saint-Victor

This 11th century abbey is named after saint victor, a roman soldier who became a christian martyr. Initially, this place held 2 monasteries built in 4th century. Among the most interesting things to see in Marseille is also known for its underground crypt which displays pagan sarcophagi. You will need about 2 hours to explore this abbey.

3. Palais du Pharo

This Palace was presented to the city by Napoleon III and was built in the 18th century. It was built for his wife Eugenie and looks towards Chateau d’lf. It is one of the most popular Marseille tourist attractions and you will need an hour or so to explore it.

4. Marseille History Museum (Musée d’Histoire de Marseille)

This museum tells the story of the city from ancient times leading. It is one of the very first Marseille attractions you should visit as it gives a deep perspective on rest of the trip. You will need 2 hours to explore this museum.

5. Old Port of Marseille (Vieux-Port de Marseille)

This port has been the heart and soul of the city for several centuries. The history of this port goes back to greek settlements in 6th century. It is a major highlight of Marseille sightseeing. You will need an hour for this port.

6. Château d’If

This island fortress is among Marseille must see places. It has had a notorious reputation for being a prison. The fortress was built in 1524 by King Francis I to guard the bay of Marseille. You will need 2 hours for this fortress.

Day 2

1. Palais Longchamp & Musee des Beaux-arts

This opulent palace is one of the most fantastical places to visit during Marseille travel. The palace is known for its fine architecture and landscapes. The palace is home 2 museums, namely Museum of Natural History and Fine Arts Museum. You will need about 2 hours to explore this palace and its museums.

2. La Vieille Charité

This complex was built as an almshouse in 1622 dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of Charity. It now serves as home to 2 museum and a cultural center. It was designed by architect Pierre Puget. The Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and Museum of Art of Africa, Oceania and Amerindia. You will need need an hour or so to explore this museum when you visit Marseille.

3. Le Panier

Among best things to do in Marseille, France is exploring the cobbled streets of the old neighbourhood. This place has an altogether different vibe to eat. You will see several historical buildings, old cafes, restaurants and more. You will need an hour to explore this area.

I suggest you should do a guided tour of Le Panier District.

4. Marseille Cathedral (Cathedrale de la Major)

One of the most important monument among places to see in Marseille, it is the oldest church in the city. It is renowned for its blend of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. It is also the seat of Archdiocese of Marseille. You will need 1 hour to explore this cathedral.

5. Musee Regards de Provence

This beautiful seafront building is home to a collection of provencal art spanning a 400 year history. This is among the most interesting places to visit in Marseille. The collection of this museum includes 900 artworks from various artists. You will need about an hour to explore this museum.

6. Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée)

This museum as the name suggests is dedicated to the archeological, cultural, and anthropological history of mediterranean civilizations. It is among the 50 most visited museums in the world and hence one of the best known Marseille tourist attractions. You will need 2 hours to explore this museum.

I suggest you should get your Skip-the-Line Ticket of Mucem in advance.

7. Fort Saint-Jean

This fort was built in 1660 by King Louis XIV to protect the port of the city. It has one of the best views among Marseille sightseeing. You will need an hour to explore this fort.

If you are looking to add more places to Marseille travel guide, check out the section below. We have put together an extensive list of attractions and activities in Marseille which you can explore during your trip.

Things to do in Marseille

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Marseille

Museum of Civilizations of Europe and Mediterranean
Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde
Chateau d’lf
Cathedrale la Major
Palais Longchamp
Fort Saint Jean
La Vieille Charite
Abbaye Saint Victor
Musee Cantini
Palais du Pharo
Marseille History Museum
Musee des Beaux Arts de Marseille
Musee Regards de Provence
Museum of Contemporary Arts
Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware and Fashion
Fort Saint Nicholas
Museum of Archeology of Mediterranean
Natural History Museum of Marseille
Museum of the Roman Docks
Port Antique
Place Castellane Fountain
Musee Grobet Labadie de la Ville de Marseille
Museum of Foreign Legion
Musee Subaquatique de Marseille
Chateau Pastre
The Marseille Soap Museum
Museum oof African, Oceanic and American-Indian Arts
Villa Valmer
Statue of David by Michelangelo
Porte de L’orient Monument aux Armees
Opera de Marseille
Preau des Accoules
Fort de Niolon
Port d’Aix

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Marseille

Massif des Calanques
Calanque d’En Vau
Parc National des Calanques
Frioul Archipelago
Huveaune River
Garlaban
La Grande Candelle
Musee de la Moto
Col de la Gardiole
Pas de la Demi Lune
Pic du Taoume
Massif de I’Etoile
Col de Cortiou
Col de la Gineste
Riou Archipelago

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Marseille

Friche Belle de Mai
Magic Park Land
Mont Puget
Ecopark Adventures
Grande Roue de Marseille
Pastre Aventure

Shopping in Marseille

Bourse Commercial Center
Recyclodrome
Les Terrasses du Port
Old Port Market
Les Voutes
Rue Saint Ferreol
Galeries Lafayette
Cours Julien Street
Monoprix
Rue De Rome
Bonneveine Centre
La Panier
The Grand Littoral Retail Park
Rue Paradis
Le Prado Market
Avenue du Prado
Capuchin Market
Rue Grignan
Marseille Flea Market
Rue de la Tour

Beaches in Marseille

Calanque de Sormiou
Calanque de Morgiou
Cananque de Sugiton
Calanque de Port Pin
Plages du Prado
Plages de Catalans
Calanque de Callenlongue
Rotanneau Island
Massif de Marseilleveyre
Ile de Riou
Plage du Prophete
Plage de I’Huveaune
Plage de la Pointe Rouge
Pomegues Island
Cape Croisette
Calanque du Devenson
Escale Borely
Col de la Candelle
Calanque de I’Escu
Ile de Planier
Bonneveine Beach
Calanque de la Crine
Ile Maire
Col de Sugiton
Sommet de Marseilleveyre
Plage Borely
Col de Sormiou
Calanque du Muavais Pas
Cape Morgiou
Calanque des Queyrons
Parc Balneaire du Prado

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Marseille

Island Hoping
Boat Cruise
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Surfing
Kayaking
Swimming
Hiking
Trekking
Les Patits Trains de Marseille

Sightseeing in Marseille

Old Port
Parc Borely
Caneiere Street
Vallon des Auffes
Cours Julien Street
Parc du 26e Centenaire
Domaine de la Font de Mai

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Marseille

Le Patit Nice Passedat
Chez Fonfon
Les Bords de Mer
L’Epuisette
Chez Michel
La Boite a Sardine
Douceur Piquante
I’Inattendu
Schilling
Aux Antipodes
Sepia
Le Perroquet Bleu
Le Cafe des Epices
L’Eau Vive
Chez Etienne
Le Souk
Copper Bay
Le Bouchon Provencal
Ourea
Le Grain de Sel

Where to Stay in Marseille?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Marseille. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Marseille.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Marseille

How to Reach Marseille?

By Air

The fastest option for Marseille travel is the city’s international airport which sits about 30 km away from the city center. You can get direct flights from Athens, Dublin, Moscow, Paris, Lille, Algiers, Batna, Chlef, Calvi, Rennes, Lyon, Toulouse, Malta, Montreal, London, Brussels, Tel Aviv, Dusseldorf, Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich, Istanbul, Luxembourg, Casablanca, Manchester, Naples, Porto, Palermo, Prague, Rome, Valencia, Venice, Vienna, Zurich and many more. You can get buses, shuttle buses, and cabs to get around to places to visit in Marseille, France.

By Road

You can get a direct train to visit Marseille from several cities in France as well as a few cities in Europe such as Frankfurt, Geneva, Brussels, Barcelona, Strasbourg and many more. If you are not getting direct trains, you should opt for connecting ones to reach the city.

The bus network is more widespread and you can get buses, direct and connecting, from several cities in Europe. If you plan to travel by car, you should head towards routes A50, A507, A55 or A7. If you are looking to explore the best beaches in Marseille, then route A55 is the perfect choice. It runs almost parallel to the coast and is directly connected to several seaside attractions near the city.

By Water

You can get ferry and boat rides to reach Marseille ports of Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto Torres, Propriano and Porto Vecchio.

Image Reference

Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard (Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde) – djedj / PixaBay
Abbey of Saint-Victor – Guiguilacagouille / Wikimedia Commons
Palais du Pharo – Kevin Decherf / Flickr
Marseille History Museum (Musée d’Histoire de Marseille) – Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / Flickr
Old Port of Marseille (Vieux-Port de Marseille) – Ivan Herman / Flickr
Château d’If – DEZALB / PixaBay
Palais Longchamp & Musee des Beaux-arts – Vicuna R / Flickr
La Vieille Charité – François Schwarz / Flickr
Le Panier – Kevin Decherf / Flickr
Marseille Cathedral (Cathedrale de la Major) – Samuele Schirò / PixaBay
Musee Regards de Provence – Swadim / Wikimedia Commons
Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) – tria denis / PixaBay
Fort Saint-Jean – djedj / PixaBay