Best Things to do in Marseille; France’s Blue Coast

Last Updated on 17 December, 2020 by Veronica

When we decided to visit Marseille, we didn’t know it was a city with such ancient history. It struck me the most when I started reading about this city; Marseille is more than 2600 years old!

• Check Out: Marseille Pass (1, 2 or 3 days)

Marseille. A City with History

This time we decided to go without a plan, which means we had a loose schedule. We wanted to slow down and see what was around us. In fact, if we couldn’t get see everything, it wouldn’t matter, we could go see it another time. We wanted to travel without haste. You should try it on your trips.

Our trip to Marseille was part of our southern road trip of France, but you can also make it a weekend getaway by plane.

What to see in Marseille? Essentials

The fish market

You have to start early in the morning to make the most out of the day. So by 09:00, we were already having breakfast and starting our tour.

It is advisable to start on the esplanade of the old port of Marseille. Here, the fishermen sell the fish they have just caught directly without going through the fish market, or any health checks, from the boat to home. They put their little stalls, a couple of tables, three at most, an umbrella, and start selling to the customers.

They clean the fish right there and throw the remains including scales, intestines, etc. into the water… In the stalls, they have all kinds of catch: octopuses, fish that I don’t even know, some sole I thought I saw, and a lot of the trays with some fish still blowing because they lack air. I thought it was very authentic and I was fascinated for a while, Vero, on the other hand, had her stomach stirred and thought about becoming a vegetarian…

The esplanade is presided over by the Great Ferris Wheel. We didn’t think it had anything special, so later, when they opened it to the public, we decided not to ride on it. In this same esplanade is l’ombriére, which is a huge roof made of polished metal that acts as a mirror.

Marseille’s Old Port

From where the Ferris wheel is located, to the right on La Canebiére street, is the tourist office of Marseille. Here, you can find out about some interesting excursions, buy the ticket for the tour bus, or the Marseille City Pass. The truth is the pass is worth it, it has access to a lot of museums, free public transport, and quite a few discounts and the most interesting part is that it includes the visit to the Island of If and the Chateau d’If.

Going down again towards the old port on the right bank or the north bank we head to the Town Hall Square.

The shore you’re walking along is the north bank and this is where the city was founded in 600 BC by the Greeks. On your right, you will find the Town Hall Square. In front of the Town Hall Square, you can take the ferry that crosses from one shore to the other. The journey is very short and once it was free, but now it has a cost of 0.50 euros.

You have to walk the old town, it’s pretty nice.

Le Panier in Marseille

Touring Le Panier is one of the activities that you should spend a couple of hours at least. You can see some of the oldest and most historic buildings of the city such as the Hotel Dieu, which was the old hospital, the town hall, the Lenche Square, the Cathedral of the Major, or the Vieille Charite.

It is a charming neighborhood where many of the streets are for pedestrians and you can find some of them full of plants that take care of the inhabitants of the neighborhood, or with some very interesting alternative shops. There is also room for street artists and some painters who exhibit their work by hanging the paintings in the middle of the street.

It is a very entertaining walk in which there will also be room for charming alleys, antiques, of course, and some other painter who we were able to “spy” in full creative act in his studio. Without a doubt, totally recommendable.

We returned to the Town Hall Square to take the ferry and cross to the other side of the old port, and we found a different Marseille.

Marseille Soap Museum and Factory

On this shore, we find the soap museum. It is a small museum in which they explain how the famous Marseille soap was made. You can see the traditional process, but it also has a small factory with modern machinery in which they make real soap.

Normally, there is no access but we were lucky that one of the people at the factory was giving an explanation to some children and let us go with them. The entrance is economical, only 2€ and includes a 100 gram Marseille soap pill.

Le Palais Du Pharo

The lighthouse palace was a palace commissioned by Louis Napoleon to establish an imperial residence in Marseille, but he never used it and eventually ended up being donated to the city by the Empress. Today, it is a congress palace but it is interesting to approach and visit it because it has a beautiful view of the old port of Marseille as you can see below.

The Island of If and the Count of Monte Cristo

This island on the coast of Marseille is the prison in which Edmundo Dantés’ fictional character is imprisoned in the Count of Monte Cristo, the iron mask man was never imprisoned and was a fort, a prison, and even hosted a rhino in the 16th century!

• Check out the Marseille City Pass (from 27€)

Basilica of Notre-Dame de La Garde

Notre-Dame de La Garde is the pretty girl of the Marseillaise. They have a very special affection for this church. It means Our Lady of the Keeper. In this location since the twelfth century, there has been a chapel or a church with this name. However, the current one is from the mid-19th century. This basilica presides over Marseille and is seen from many of its sites.

One of the most beautiful photos I could take of this church is from the north bank of the old port, where you take the ferry at night.

Les Goudes. Les Calanques

Actually, it’s Marseille and it belongs to Marseille, but it’s a little far away. Les Calanques is a natural park in the south of Marseille and is a district of Marseille. We went during the sunset as there are some very nice coves and we arrived at Les Goudes, which is a beautiful set of houses.

Here, we found an Irish bar that we loved known as 20,000 lieues (20,000 leagues). You can order yourself a few pints while enjoying the beautiful sunset in the Mediterranean, it was full of people. It was a fantastic colophon to our day that we won’t easily forget.

Marseille seemed to be a beautiful city, full of history and customs. We loved it and it left us with a special taste. We’ll definitely be back!

Where to sleep in Marseille?

Marseille has lots of accommodation for all tastes and budgets. As always, we look for our hotel in Booking.com. Check the link and get the prices for your trip.

In the case of Marseille, we went by car, so the accommodation had to have parking (or be able to park easily in the area) and be well connected to the center.

If you do not go with a car, it’s best to get closer to the center or the public transport. You know, check out Booking to see the best hotels for your trip date.

Our next stop is Nice, the Capital of the Côte d’Azur.

Prepare your trip to the south of France

• The most beautiful villages in the south of France (first part)
• The most beautiful villages in the south of France 2nd part
• Road trip South of France in 10 days.
• What to see in Nice
• Rent a car in the most important cities of France

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