Marseille Travelers Recommend

With three days in Marseilles, you’ll have enough time to really soak in the flavor of the Mediterranean port city, visit nearby villages and natural wonders, and spend plenty of time at sea. Check out this itinerary to learn how to make the most of your time. 

Day 1: Highlights of Marseilles

Start your first day in Marseille in the center of the action, the Old Port (Vieux Port) area on the edge of the Mediterranean. Many of the city's attractions are clustered in this area, from the Cantini Museum, a showcase of contemporary art in a 17th-century mansion, to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (MuCEM), which explores life in the Mediterranean from ancient times to the modern day. Grab lunch at one of the many sea-facing cafés—bouillabaisse is the most celebrated local specialty—then get out to sea with a tour to the Château d’If, a 16th-century island fortress that once served as a prison, or a sunset dinner cruise.

Day 2: Cassis and the Calanques

On your second day, explore the area around Marseille, starting with the Calanques. For the best views of these beautiful limestone cliffs, which line the coast between Marseilles and Cassis, take a boat trip between the two ports. Spend time in Cassis, people watching at Place Baragnon and learning about local history at the Cassis Museum of Art and Popular Traditions (Musée d'Art et Traditions Populaires de Cassis); also be sure to stop by Cap Canaille, France's highest sea cliff. In the evening, head back to Marseille to check out the Cours Julien area, a trendy neighborhood full of bars, restaurants, street art, and little shops. If you have the energy, stop by Espace Julien, a neighborhood venue that regularly hosts concerts and comedy shows.

Day 3: A Day in Provence

Spend your final day exploring the region of Provence, known for its excellent food and wine and beautiful lavender fields. Joining a tour allows you to experience Provence's famous wines without worry. Start with a visit to Aix-en-Provence, known for its cathedral full of 15th-century art and its atmospheric main drag, Cours Mirabeau. If you're visiting in summer, continue to the Vaucluse area to see the lavender fields in bloom. From here, head to the old papal town of Avignon to explore its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the city’s medieval ramparts, gorgeous cathedral, and enormous fortress palace.

As France’s oldest and second-largest city, seaside Marseille juxtaposes historic structures with innovative new builds. One day in the city gives you chance to tick off several top attractions and spend some time at sea. Here’s how.

Morning: MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean

Start your day with a walking tour of Marseille's Vieux Port, the sea-facing home of many top Marseille attractions Don't miss a trip to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM); you certainly won't be able to miss the building, with its latticed cube facade. Inside, admire hundreds of artefacts from across the Mediterranean region, which showcase past and present. From here, it's just a short stroll across a bridge to Fort Saint-Jean, a series of old buildings that now serve as an extension of the museum.

Afternoon: Château d’If

Stick around the Vieux Port area for lunch as there are plenty of sea-facing spots that serve up fresh seafood—for the ultimate local specialty, try the bouillabaisse. Then, take a tour out to Château d'If, a 16th-century fortress on a tiny offshore islet. It was made famous by its appearance in Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo, but it’s worth visiting even if classic French literature isn’t your thing, as it served as a prison for centuries. The best way to visit is either by hopping aboard the Frioul If Express from the Vieux Port or, if you want a more in-depth experience, join a tour from the mainland.

Evening: Sunset at Sea

There are plenty of ways to wrap up your day. You could go out for dinner and drinks back in town, or catch a show at the Marseille Opera or—if you can understand French—at La Criée Theatre. However, as Marseille is a city of seafarers, it's worth considering spending your final night at sea, on a catamaran cruise out into the Mediterranean. Cruises depart from the Vieux Port and typically combine drinks and dinner with unobstructed sunset views; some often include onboard DJs.

With the hidden coves, medieval villages, and rolling vineyards of Provence within easy reach, Marseille makes a great base from which to discover the best of southern France. Here are a few great ways to tour Provence from Marseille.

Half-Day Tours

The sleepy town of Aix-en-Provence—perhaps one of the most popular half-day tour destinations from Marseille—shows visitors another side to life in Provence, away from the bustling city. Stroll along tree-lined streets dotted with centuries-old mansions, take a rest in the shade of traditional cafés, and admire top attractions such as Place d’Albertas (Albertas Square), Paul Cézanne’s artist workshop, and Saint Sauveur Cathedral (Aix Cathedral). Alternatively, spin along the scenic Corniche des Crêtes route and take to the waves on a cruise from Cassis to the calanques, a pretty stretch of hidden coastal bays and coves. For a truly personalized experience, enlist the services of a personal guide on a private tour.

Full-Day Tours

With more time to spend, enjoy the freedom to travel deeper into rural Provence and see sides of the region you might otherwise miss. Take a sightseeing tour to the seaside town of Arles (where van Gogh mastered his signature style), explore the medieval cliff-top village of Les Baux-de-Provence, and browse local produce in the busy markets of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Or choose a tour that spins through Avignon and the villages of the Luberon to admire sites of interest such as the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct. And of course no Provence tour is complete without experiencing the lavender fields or a wine-tasting session at the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wineries, two of the delights of the French Riviera.

Things to Know

• Half-day tours into Provence from Marseille typically last from four to five hours, while full-day tours can last up to 10.5 hours

• Tours typically include pickup and drop-off at your Marseille hotel, round-trip transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, guide, and entrance fees where applicable

• Aix-en-Provence lies 19 miles (31 kilometers) north of Marseille, about a 40-minute drive

• Arles is located 56 miles (90 kilometers) northwest of Marseille, and the drive takes approximately one hour

• Avignon sits 64 miles (103 kilometers) northwest of Marseille, just over an hour’s drive

Two days in Marseilles gives you ample time to explore Vieux Port, see the city’s top museums, and venture out to the nearby town of Cassis, admiring limestone sea cliffs along the way. Here’s how.

Day 1: Marseille Highlights

**Morning:**Start your day with a bike tour of the Marseille’s Vieux Port area, a historic district full of historic buildings and charming cafes. Don’t miss the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM), home to hundreds of artifacts related to life in the Mediterranean region. 

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, enjoy Marseille’s local specialty of seafood bouillabaisse followed by a boat trip to the Château d'If, a fortress located on an island just off Marseille’s coast. The fort was made famous by Alexandre Dumas’The Count of Monte Cristo, and also served as a prison for centuries.

**Night:**There are plenty of dining spots in the Vieux Port neighborhood, but for a change of pace you may want to head inland to the trendy Cours Julien area, replete with restaurants, bars, and quirky boutiques. While in the neighborhood, see what's on at Espace Julien, which hosts everything from dance parties to comedy nights.

Day 2: The Calanques and Cassis

**Morning:**Spend your second day visiting the Calanques, a series of rock formations between Marseilles and the nearby town of Cassis. There are plenty of ways to get there, from driving to cycling, though you’ll get the best views by taking a cruise between Marseilles and Cassis.  

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, explore the port town of Cassis. Popular attractions include the Musée d'Art et Traditions Populaires de Cassis, full of archaeological finds from the area, and Cap Canaille, the highest sea cliff in the country.

**Night:**Make your way back to Marseille by early evening and head to the Vieux Port area to board an evening sunset cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. Most packages include drinks and dinner, with some boats boasting onboard DJs. 

With the rolling waves of the Mediterranean Sea and the fertile vineyards of Provence within easy reach, Marseille is a foodie’s haven. The typical order of the day: ultra-fresh seafood paired with a chilled glass of pastis. See below for our top picks of flavors to savor in Marseille.

Must-Try Dishes

Bouillabaisse is a traditional fish stew delicately flavored with a mix of herbs and spices that originated in Marseille. Key ingredients are usually European conger, gurnard, and red rascasse, but bream, hake, monkfish, and turbot also feature. The dish is best enjoyed in Marseille's Old Port or along La Canebière, accompanied by a bottle of local white wine. On a sunny summer's day, nothing beats a glass of pastis—an anise-flavored aperitif that symbolizes the south of France. Though perhaps not as famous as Champagne or Bordeaux wine, pastis is the best way to beat the hot Mediterranean heat.

Must-Do Experiences

• Explore the medieval village of Aix-en-Provence and browse the bustling open-air market, where locals pick up fresh produce for their kitchens.

• Take a wine tour—perhaps to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wineries—and sample some of the delicate white, renowned rosé, and bold red wines for which Provence is famous.

• Admire sweeping views over the Bay of Cassis from a vantage point at Cap Canaille—one of the highest clifftops in Europe.

• Try your hand at pétanque, a traditional French game of bowls, and follow it up with a refreshing glass of pastis.