Marseille 5-day itinerary

1. Stop 1

   Vieux Port

   Watching fishermen selling their stock by auction is a must. Arriving into Marseille in the Vieux-Port on a summer evening is something you will never forget. You can watch this show by going to Frioul islands or Chateau d'If and going back late in the afternoon. There is also a nice view of the harbour from the Palais du Pharo (Pharo Palace). The famous Canebière avenue goes straight down the harbour. However the Canebière is not that interesting despite its reputation.

2. Stop 2 · 16 min walk

   Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde

   The big church which overlooks the city. Old fishermen used to have their boats blessed in this church. You can still see many boat models hanging around in the church. From there it is one of the nicest view of the city. You can use the tourist train from the Vieux Port to reach the church - you can get off the train, look around and board a later train back to the port.

3. Stop 3 · 11 min walk

   Abbey of Saint Victor

   Abbey of Saint Victor is a listed stop in this neighborhood.

4. Stop 4 · 10 min walk

   L'Hotel de Ville

   Marseille City Hall

5. Stop 5 · 4 min walk

   Le Panier

   Le Panier (which means basket in French) is the historical centre of the city. This district is characterized by many narrow and steep streets. The tourist office organises a guided tour in English of the Old town every Saturday at 14:00. You can begin your tour from the Vieux-Port and finish at the Mucem or vice versa. A recommended trail of this district is also proposed by the tourist office.

6. Stop 6 · 4 min walk

   Marseille Cathedral

   A Byzantine-Roman cathedral at the western side of Le Panier quarter.

Eat · Café Cantine: This little place has the best food made fresh onsite! Very kind and friendly staff. Fast service, fresh and good products. Very warm welcome and very good homemade meal.

1. Stop 1

   Place Castellane

   With a grand fountain/column/sculpture in the center, with excellent cinemas and cafés surrounding. There is another place called La Castellane: it is a poor suburb of Marseille where famous footballer Zinedine Zidane was born.

2. Stop 2 · 12 min walk

   Cours Julien

   A hangout area with bookstores, cafés, fountains, and a playground for the small ones. It is a trendy area of Marseille.

3. Stop 3 · 4 min walk

   Place Jean Jaurès

   La Plaine is the local name for Place Jean Jaurès close to Cours Julien. Every Thursday and Saturday morning the Plaine market is the place to shop. If you are there early enough you can make very good deals, even if what you'll find there is sometimes "tombé du camion" (fallen off the truck) as one says in Marseille.

4. Stop 4 · 7 min walk

   Noailles quarter

   Lined with Arabic and Indo-Chinese shops some of the streets could be part of a bazzaar in Algeria. A fascinating area.

5. Stop 5 · 21 min walk

   Palais Longchamp

   It houses the city's Musée des Beaux-Arts and Natural History Museum. The surrounding park (the Parc Longchamp) is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France. The Boulevard Longchamp connects it with the city centre.

6. Stop 6 · 37 min walk

   Fort Saint-Jean

   Fort Saint-Jean is a fortification at the North-Western end of the Old Port, built in 1660 by Louis XIV. The fort also hosts the Museum "Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée", but the fortification itself is accessible to the public free of cost, and worth a visit. You can walk through the old fortifications, stroll through a small park, enjoy the view on the Old Port or on the sea, or walk over the free-hanging bridges to the museum or the Church Saint-Laurent.

Eat · Sampolo: Sampolo is a nice family place. The dishes and desserts are very tasty and homemade. Great place and great atmosphere in the evening.

1. Stop 1

   Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée

   The first French national museum outside of Paris. It has large permanent and temporary exhibitions. Its architecture mixes a very contemporary structure (a dark box) with an old castle, with footbridges linking the two parts of the museum.

2. Stop 2 · 37 min walk

   Musée des beaux-arts de Marseille

   The painting collection includes works of the French, Italian, Spanish and Northern (Flanders and Holland) schools.

3. Stop 3 · 4 min walk

   Natural History Museum

   Natural History Museum is a listed stop in this neighborhood.

4. Stop 4 · 25 min walk

   Musée Cantini

   Museum focusing on modern art from the late 19th century until the mid-late 20th century.

5. Stop 5 · 63 min walk

   Museum of Contemporary Art [MAC]

   Later works from the Cantini collection. Situated in southern suburbs but easily reached by Metro then bus. Now reopened after a major refurbishment.

6. Stop 6 · 85 min walk

   FRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

   Contemporary art in a building designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Part of a national network .

Eat · Brasserie Le Saint Victor: A very friendly neighborhood brasserie with good traditional dishes and caring, fast and efficient staff. The catering is excellent with a wide variety of daily specials.

1. Stop 1

   Marseille History Museum (MHM)

   Discover 26 centuries of history in archaeology, fine arts, everyday objects & architecture. There is a mobile app.

2. Stop 2 · 14 min walk

   Deportation Memorial

   Memorial & museum relating to repression & persecution during World War II. Run by the Marseille History Museum (MHM).

3. Stop 3 · 60 min walk

   Museum of the Decorative Arts, Fashion and Ceramics

   Château Borély and its grounds are pretty impressive before you start with the museum. Often the exhibits are scattered amongst the furniture in the house.

4. Stop 4 · 108 min walk

   Motorcycle Museum

   Museum in a former flour mill featuring motorcycles from 1885 to the present day. Four levels of bikes. It may look closed but you need to press the button by the gate to gain admission.

5. Stop 5 · 118 min walk

   Mazargues War Cemetery

   A war cemetery dedicated to World War I and World War II martyrs from the Allies, especially the Indian and Chinese gunners and runners. A very serene place, it is the perfect place to spend sometime thinking about the people who laid down their lives to give us the freedom we enjoy today.

6. Stop 6 · 20 min walk

   Unité d'Habitation

   Designed by Le Corbusier, and one of 17 of his buildings to be listed as a World Heritage Site. The building is called "la maison du fada" (the house of the foolish) by locals. The building contains a shopping street, a church, a children's school and housing. You can access the roof and enjoy the breathtaking view of Marseille between hills and sea (10:00-18:00). There is a bar/restaurant/hotel on the 3rd floor too. The Marseille tourist office offers guided tours.

Eat · Moon Burger: The quality is exceptional, the products are fresh, the bread is homemade, the meat is succulent. The homemade sauces are top of the line. Also the staff is very warm and attentive.

1. Stop 1

   Aix-en-Provence

   Listed as a next stop from Marseille. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

2. Stop 2

   Cassis

   Listed as a next stop from Marseille. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

Eat · Pack snacks from town. Do not count on a full menu at a small station.