Photo: lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Marseille
A sunny, gritty old port with sea walks and the Calanques on its doorstep.
France's oldest city and biggest port: a busy harbour with a fish market on the quay, a hilltop basilica watching over it, the steep lanes of Le Panier and a striking museum in an old fort. The sea is everywhere, with little coves along the corniche and the white cliffs of the Calanques a bus ride away.
Places to see
Old Port (Vieux-Port)Sight · A deep harbour packed with boats and ringed by café terraces, with fishermen selling the…Free
Le PanierWalk · The old quarter on the hill above the port: stepped lanes, washing between pastel walls,…Free
MuCEMMuseum · A glass cube wrapped in a lace-like concrete screen on the harbour wall, with exhibitions…≈ A$23
When to go
- Jan12° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Feb13° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Mar16° / 7°Some rainQuiet
- Apr19° / 10°Some rainBusy
- May23° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Jun27° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul30° / 20°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug30° / 20°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The Old Port. The harbour, its quays and café terraces, the forts and the MuCEM: the heart of the city, busy day and night.
Le Panier and La Joliette. The old hilltop quarter above the port, and the waterfront cathedral below it: lanes, street art and a few small places to stay.
The Canebière, Noailles and the station. The main avenue, the market streets and Saint-Charles station: lively and cheap, with most of the hostels; keep an eye on your things at night.
Flying in
Marseille Provence (MRS): Airport shuttle bus to Saint-Charles station, about 30 min, ≈ A$18. Runs every 15–20 minutes; slower in traffic (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Marseille; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$4. The port, Le Panier and the centre are walkable but hilly; buses climb to Notre-Dame and run along the corniche, and bus B1 reaches Luminy for the Calanques. In summer, boats cross the Old Port and run to the islands (check).
RTM 24-hour ticket (≈ A$9, 24 hours): Unlimited metro, trams and buses, including the bus to Notre-Dame de la Garde and to Luminy for the Calanques (check).
