Colorful and authentically Mediterranean, Marseille, one of France's most historic cities, is ideal for exploring in every season.
Marseille is the most important port city of France and the country's second largest city, after Paris. This distinctive city of the French South, in the region of Provence, is steeped in history. Many call it "France's Greek city" because it was founded by Greek Phocaeans around 600 BC. Marseille's strategic position on the Mediterranean turned the city into a melting pot of peoples and cultures.
The former "sinful" port is enjoying a second youth today. The city was literally transformed thanks to redevelopment projects by renowned architects and surged onto the tourism map of France and Europe after 2013, when it was named European Capital of Culture. Sun-drenched (with an average of 300 days of sunshine), colorful, and authentically Mediterranean, Marseille is a year-round destination.
What to see
Old Port
The Vieux Port, the old harbor, remains Marseille's signature landmark. It's the most photographed spot in the city and the one that sets its pulse. Walk the entire horseshoe, from the star-shaped St-Nicolas fort guarding the harbor's south side to Fort St-Jean on its north side. Here you'll also see one of the city's most popular new attractions, the mirrored canopy designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster.
Mucem
At the old port, next to Fort St Jean, stands an architectural marvel that's part of Marseille's post-2013 revival: the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM), with a wealth of exhibits related to the Mediterranean. Designed by the Algerian-born architect Rudy Ricciotti, it comprises two striking buildings, a gorgeous garden, and a restaurant-café.
Château d'If
Take the boat from the old port to visit the small islet of Chateau d’If, with the fortress-prison where the Count of Monte Cristo was held in the eponymous novel written in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas.
Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde
Climb to the city's highest point and to Notre Dame de la Gare, the grand basilica with the golden statue of the Virgin on the bell tower that serves as a symbol of the city. Its interior is adorned with vibrant frescoes, mosaics, and works of art, while the exterior offers fantastic views over the city. You can take the bus or the little train from the old port or walk for about 30 minutes.
Le Panier
Marseille has its own Montmartre - and that's the Le Panier neighborhood, which lies north of the Vieux Port. In the city's oldest and most picturesque quarter you'll discover a charming world filled with graffiti, little shops and artists' studios, bistros, delicatessens, and laid-back cafés. It's worth stopping at the baroque La Vieille Charité, the 17th-century almshouse that today houses the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, the Museum of African, Oceanian, and American Art, the Marseille International Poetry Center, a cinema, and exhibition spaces.
Longchamp Palace
Follow Boulevard Longchamp to reach the eponymous palace with its impressive fountain and lovely park. Here you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum.
What to try
In the local cuisine, fresh fish take pride of place, with the famous fish soup bouillabaisse (bouillabaisse) starring. In the restaurants of the old port and on La Canebière you'll taste the traditional signature soup, as well as mussels, oysters, shrimp, stuffed or fried calamari, and Mediterranean dishes that smell of the sea. The city also has a deep love for pizza.
Marseille's local markets are full of flavorful treasures. Wander the labyrinthine maze of open-air stalls at the Marché des Capucin in the Noailles neighborhood. Whether it's seasonal fruit and vegetables from Provence or Middle Eastern halva or North African spices, this open-air market reflects multicultural Marseille. The journey through global flavors continues at the ethnic restaurants of Cours Julien.
Shopping
No one leaves the city without taking home savon de Marseille, the traditional hard soap, made with a 600-year-old recipe, with plant oils and seawater from the Mediterranean. It's sold all over the city. Visit one of the traditional workshops to see up close how Marseille's famous soap is made and to learn about its history and production.
Nearby excursions
From Marseille you can visit the resort town of Cassis with its crystalline turquoise waters, as well as the impressive Calanques National Park which consists of fjords of unique beauty with high cliffs and small beaches. Most of these are accessible only from the sea (excursion boats depart from Marseille's old port). A day trip to Aix-en-Provence is also worthwhile, a small and beautiful town with old houses, labyrinthine alleys, and little squares.
