Marseille holidays

How to reach Marseille

Flight time:

• Flights to Marseille from London take about 2 hours.

• There are also flights from other major UK airports, such as Manchester and Birmingham, which are of similar duration.

Transfer time:

• The shuttle bus from Marseille Provence Airport, 20km northwest of the city, to the gare SNCF takes around 25 minutes.

• Buses run every 15 minutes from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm.

Price:

• A shuttle bus ticket costs €10 one-way.

• Taxis cost between €50 and €60 for a trip to the city centre.

Weather and best time to visit Marseille

Deciding when to take your trip to Marseille will depend on how much you enjoy the heat and the crowds of fellow tourists.

April to June:

• Spring is one of the best times to visit Marseille.

• The weather is warm but not too hot, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C.

• Rainfall is moderate, about 30-40mm per month, and you can expect around 8-10 hours of sunshine daily.

July to August:

• This is peak tourist season when the heat (often hitting 30°C) and humidity can be overpowering and the crowds and traffic overwhelming.

• Rain is rare, with less than 10mm per month, and there are about 12 hours of sunshine daily.

September to November:

• Autumn offers a more relaxed atmosphere with temperatures cooling to between 15°C and 25°C though there are still 7-9 hours of sunshine daily - hence this is still a fantastic time for swimming and sunbathing.

• Rainfall increases to around 50-70mm per month.

December to March:

• Winter in Marseille is extremely mild compared to the UK.

• Average temperatures range from 5°C to 15°C.

• Rainfall is around 40-60mm per month, and there are 5-7 hours of sunshine daily.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the main language, but many people in tourist areas speak English.

• Local habits and customs: Marseille has a typically laid-back Mediterranean vibe. Dining is a leisurely affair, with lunch often lasting a couple of hours. No one is rushing here. The city’s inhabitants, meanwhile, are known for being down-to-earth and gregarious.

• Currency: The Euro (€) is the currency used. ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most places.

• Getting around: Marseille has an extensive public transport system, including buses, trams and a metro. You can buy individual tickets from bus drivers and métro ticket offices, or machines at métro stations and tram stops. There’s also a ferry between the Vieux Port and Pointe Rouge in the south of the city.

• Electricity and plug types: Voltage is officially 230V, using plugs with two round pins. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Marseille is in the Central European Time zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed.

Best things to do in Marseille

A vibrant, multiethnic Mediterranean metropolis, Marseille - a former European Capital of Culture - possesses good food, great bars and culture in abundance.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Notre-Dame de la Garde: For a sweeping view of the port, islands and Marseille’s littoral, head up to the city’s highest point, which tops the hill south of the harbour.

The best districts

• Vieux-Port (Old Port): An intoxicating blend of food, history, water and sunlight at the very heart of France’s great Mediterranean metropolis.

• Le Panier: The oldest part of Marseille, home to landmark structures like the 17th-century Hôtel de Ville on the quay and the half-Gothic, half-Renaissance Hôtel de Cabre.

• Cours Julien: Populated by Marseille’s bohemian crowd and a diverse immigrant community, the cours is thronged with pools, fountains, restaurant tables and boutiques.

Museums

• Mx Experience: A cool new attraction where visitors can learn all about the emblematic Marseillais tipple, how it’s made and how you mix the perfect pastis apero.

• Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne: The second-largest Egyptian collection in France after the Louvre, along with artefacts from the Middle East, Cyprus, Ancient Greece, Etruria and Rome: truly spectacular.

Parks and gardens

• Parc Borély: The city’s best green space, the Parc Borély lies between avenue d’Haïfa and the sea, and has a boating lake, rose gardens, palm trees and a botanical garden.

• Palais Longchamp: The gardens around this grandest of palaces make for lovely strolling, while the palace itself houses the Natural History Museum and the Fine Arts Museum.

Historical monuments

• Abbaye St-Victor: Marseille’s oldest church - with choir walls almost 3m thick, it looks and feels more like a fortress.

• Unité d’Habitation (Cité Radieuse): Le Corbusier’s highly sculptural concrete masterpiece is a truly ground-breaking piece of modernist architecture.

Day trips in the area

• The Calanques: Whether you walk, swim or simply take a boat trip, don’t miss the blinding white rocks, crystal-clear waters and fjord-like inlets of the coastal national park between Marseille and Cassis.

• Aix-en-Provence: With its colourful markets, splashing fountains, pavement cafés and general air of civilised ease, Aix is a stunning place.

• Cassis: Chic little fishing port bustling with activity: stalls selling handicrafts, guitarists busking around the port and cafés and bars doing brisk trade.

Activities for families in Marseille

With so much to see and do in this large city, you could spend weeks on your Marseille holidays and still not run out of family-friendly things to do.

• Beaches: A sprawling city it may be, but there are some super beaches to hand: the most popular one close to the city centre is the Plage des Catalans, while another good one is Plage du Prado, a vast stretch of sand backed by a wide strip of lawn.

• Interactive museums: The city is packed with kid-friendly museums: education and entertainment collide brilliantly at the Musée Subaquatique de Marseille, a cleverly conceived underwater museum dedicated to art, marine biodiversity and environmental protection.

• Markets: You could spend days exploring the city’s markets, with something for all the family: the Sunday flea market, Marché aux Puces, is a brilliant spectacle and good for serious haggling.

• Puppet theatre: Théâtre Massalia is an ambitious young people’s theatre with inventive shows involving elements of puppetry, dance, circus and live performance, with shows aimed primarily at a family audience.

Free things to do in Marseille

It may be France’s third largest city, with prices to match, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune - or indeed very much at all - on your holidays to Marseille.

• Festivals: All kinds of festivals punctuate the year in Marseille, but the two standouts are June’s Festival de Marseille and the Fiesta des Suds in October, a world music and arts festival in the industrial setting of the city’s docklands, with some free performances.

• La Friche la Belle de Mai: Former tobacco factory that’s now a venue for all kinds of performances – from circus to dance, music and theatre – and for art exhibitions; many events are free of charge.

• Walk along the Corniche: Take time out to parade the spectacular corniche that winds south from the Vieux Port, stopping occasionally for a coffee and a spot of people-watching.

Nature and outdoor activities

Mountains and water meet in spectacular fashion here in Marseille to offer a multitude of fabulous activities; those seeking flora and fauna won’t be short-changed either.

• Hiking: Most hikers have one goal here: the mountainous limestone Massif des Calanques, with the most popular route leading to the Calanque de Sugiton, a round trip of 8km which takes about two and a half hours.

• Water sports: The Mediterranean offers possibilities for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, the latter a brilliant way to explore the Calanques.

• Cycling: Marseille is very bike-friendly, so grab one of the Blue bicycles belonging to the Le Vélo scheme, which can be rented from the 130 self-service rental points throughout the city. More demanding is the EuroVelo 8 route - also known as the Mediterranean Route - which passes through Marseille.

• Wildlife watching: The flora of the calanques is exceptionally rich, while rare Bonelli’s eagles are among the 67 protected bird species found here, alongside 13 species of bats and nocturnal geckos.

Beaches in Marseille

Marseille’s stunning coastline offers a mix of urban beaches and hidden coves, perfect for a relaxing day by the sea. Whether you're after a lively beach atmosphere or a secluded spot, there's a beach to suit every traveller.

• Plage des Catalans: Just a short walk from the Old Port, this lively city beach is popular with both locals and visitors. It’s a great spot for sunbathing, swimming, and beach volleyball, making it ideal for those seeking a bustling beach experience close to the heart of Marseille.

• Prado Beaches: Stretching along the southern coast of the city, the Prado Beaches are a collection of sandy and pebble beaches offering a more laid-back vibe. They’re perfect for families, with picnic areas, water sports, and playgrounds. It’s a favourite among locals for weekend outings and offers plenty of space to relax.

• Calanques National Park: For a more scenic and adventurous beach day, head to the Calanques National Park, a short drive from the city centre. The park is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Beaches like Calanque de Sormiou and Calanque d’En-Vau are accessible via hiking trails or by boat, making them ideal for those seeking a more secluded and natural setting.

• Plage de la Pointe Rouge: Located further from the city centre, this sandy beach offers a more tranquil escape. It’s popular for water sports like sailing and kayaking and provides a relaxing environment for families and couples alike.

With a combination of urban and natural beach settings, Marseille's coastline offers plenty of options for sun-seekers and adventurers, ensuring an unforgettable beach holiday.

Local dishes in Marseille

Fish and seafood are the main ingredients of the Marseillais diet, but the food scene here has many other delicious facets.

Some typical dishes

• Bouillabaisse: The superstar of dishes is the city’s own invention - bouillabaisse, a saffron- and garlic-flavoured fish soup with croutons and rouille to throw in. There are conflicting theories about which fish should be included, though it’s generally agreed that rascasse is essential.

• Pieds et paquets: Sheep’s trotters and stomachs may be an acquired taste, but they’re a characteristic Marseille dish.

Meat dishes

• Daube Provençale: A real winter warmer, this is a thick beef stew enriched with red wine and seasoned with juniper, orange peel and chopped bacon.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Sardines grillées: There’s not much to beat fresh, grilled sardines with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sea salt.

• Oursins: Sea urchins eaten raw with a sprinkling of lemon juice and accompanied by a glass of crisp white wine.

Street food

• Socca: Best eaten hot and fresh from the pan, this chickpea pancake is perfect street food – simple, wholesome and tasty.

• Brik à l’oeuf: Of Tunisian origin, this filo pastry snack stuffed with soft-set egg, spicy merguez sausages and falafel is popular throughout Marseille.

Sweets and desserts

Navettes are boat-shaped biscuits flavoured with orange blossom water, especially popular during the festival of Candlemas, while a tarte tropézienne is a cream-filled brioche that originated in nearby Saint-Tropez but is just as popular in Marseille.

Local drinks

• Pastis: Provence is the homeland of pastis, an aniseed-flavoured spirit traditionally served with a bowl of olives before meals.

• Cassis: A local liqueur made from blackcurrants often used in cocktails or enjoyed on its own as a digestif.