Must SeeFree
Vieux-Port
Vieux-Port
The city’s historic harbour, ringed with fish restaurants and a daily morning fish market.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Food lovers
Open-air; fish market mornings
Marseille
A gritty, sun-soaked port city with calanque coves and the best bouillabaisse.
Plan your Marseille trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Marseille
Marseille is France’s oldest city and has a raw, multicultural energy. Its Old Port, hilltop basilica and modern museums sit beside the spectacular Calanques National Park, where cliffs meet turquoise water.
- Where
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France
- Recommended stay
- 2–4 nights
- Best time to go
- May–June and September–October; summer is hot and busy on the coast.
- Approx. daily budget
- £65–130 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Marseille cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£60–85a day
- Mid-range traveller£115–170a day
- Luxury traveller£235+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Marseille
ViewpointsFree
Notre-Dame de la Garde
La Garde
A hilltop basilica with a golden Madonna and the best view of the city and sea.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Daily, roughly 7:00–18:15
Culture~£12
MuCEM
Vieux-Port
A striking museum of Mediterranean cultures, linked by footbridge to the old fort.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Wednesday–Monday, roughly 10:00–19:00
Must See~£6
Château d’If
Frioul Islands
A small island fortress prison made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families
Daily; ferry from Vieux-Port
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Le Panier
Le Panier
A hillside old quarter of colourful murals, artisan shops and tucked-away squares.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; shops open daily
Day TripsFree
Calanques National Park
Calanques (15 km)
Limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise coves, reached by boat or a good walk.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Beach lovers · Photographers
Open-air; access limited in high fire risk periods
Hidden GemsFree
Vallon des Auffes
Corniche
A tiny fishing harbour under a bridge, with seafood shacks and swimming rocks.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Open-air; restaurants open lunch and evening
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Marseille
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingHôtel Vieux-Port Vue
Vieux-Port, Marseille
Excellent valueValue score 85 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, about 8% below typical 4★ prices in Marseille, in a central location.
From £110 per night · check current availability
Best Budget ChoiceBest Location
Example listingLe Panier Maison
Le Panier, Marseille
Very good valueValue score 76 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Marseille, in a central location.
From £80 per night · check current availability
Best for Families
Example listingCorniche Sea Hotel
Corniche, Marseille
Very good valueValue score 72 out of 100
Rated 8.5/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Marseille, right by the beach.
From £120 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 5 Where to eat
Four des Navettes
The oldest bakery in Marseille, open since 1781, making navettes, boat-shaped orange-blossom biscuits.
Known for: Navettes
Under about £20 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Chez Etienne
A neighbourhood pizzeria beloved by locals for its wood-fired pizzas and no-frills atmosphere.
Known for: Pizza, fried squid
About £20–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Chez Fonfon
A long-running family restaurant in a tiny fishing harbour, a classic address for bouillabaisse.
Known for: Bouillabaisse
About £40–70 per person
Special occasion Good for Couples · Groups
Le Miramar
A harbourfront restaurant with a long reputation for a traditional bouillabaisse.
Known for: Bouillabaisse
About £40–70 per person
Good for Couples · Groups
A suggested Marseille itinerary
3 nights Couple
Marseille · Highlights
Marseille in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Marseille picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Vieux-Port, Le Panier, MuCEM, Cours Julien Nightlife
- Day 2 · Calanques National Park, Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Day 3 · Noailles Market Quarter, Château d’If, Vallon des Auffes
Plan Marseille your way
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