Marseille is a city that surprised me in the best way! It’s walkable, quaint, colorful and filled with great restaurants and shops. There are also so many fun things to do in and around Marseille, making it a great base for a long weekend or a few-day long trip. Marseille itself isn’t huge, so if you only have a day or so to explore, you’ll be able to see a lot of what the city has to offer. Let’s get right into the guide and itinerary for spending one perfect day in Marseille, France!
Sleep: The Best Hotels in Marseille
When thinking about where to stay in Marseille, I definitely recommend being in the Vieux Port (Old Port) area. It doesn’t matter which side of the Old Port you stay on, you can walk between them quickly or take a very quick (3ish minute) ferry.
I stayed at the Hotel Dieu Intercontinental and it was absolutely incredible! While it is on the pricier side, it’s absolutely worth it for the location and views. Be sure to get a room facing Notre Dame; it’s one of the most incredible city views I’ve seen from a hotel.
Other great hotel options in Marseille:
- Grand Hotel Beauvau Marseille Vieux Port
- Hôtel Marsiho by HappyCulture
- Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites
- Hotel Belle-Vue Vieux-Port
One Day in Marseille Itinerary
Start Your Day with a Great Breakfast
Marseille has a great selection of restaurants and cafes. Start your day with a good coffee and some breakfast before a day of exploring!
NOTE: Many coffee shops don’t open until 9ish (or later). So if you’re an early riser, you’ll want to get coffee at your hotel or make some at your AirBnb.
A few of my favorite cafes and patisseries in Marseille include:
- L’influence – so cute! (they open at 10am)
- 7VB Café (they don’t open until 10:30am)
- Deïa Coffee & Kitchen (they open between 9:30am and 10 depending on the day)
- La Pépite – dairy and gluten free(they open at 10:30am)
Tour the Marseille on the Petit Train
The Petit Train is an adorable train that takes riders on a tour of Marseille while narrating the sites and history of the city. There are three train routes (season dependent), and each one is a great way to see and learn more about Marseille.
The Petit Train picks up in the Vieux Port: 174 Quai du Port. Departures are every 20-40 minutes and you can buy tickets at the ticket booth located at the starting point.
Take in the Views from Notre Dame de la Garde
I personally recommend Route 1 on the Petit Train, as it includes a stop at Notre Dame de la Garde – one of the most famous sites in the city. This basilica is located on top of a hill outside of downtown and being able to ride the train to and from the church is a huge bonus.
The entire route, including a 20ish minute stop at Notre Dame de la Garde is about 1.5 hours. This is the perfect morning activity to get to know the city and to learn some history!
NOTE: If you prefer a hop-on hop-off bus to the train, that’s also an option!
OPTIONAL: Food Tour
I love taking food tours when I travel. It’s such a fun way to learn more about a city and its food culture. I went on a fantastic food tour in Marseille and was able to see and learn so much about the city while also trying local specialties.
A food tour usually lasts 2.5-3.5 hours, so this will take up a decent part of your day. However, in my opinion, it’s totally worth it.
Food tours in Marseille:
- Marseille Food Tour – Do Eat Better Experience
- Evening option: Do Eat Better Experience
- Marseille Food Tour – Bakeries, Chocolate and Patisseries
- Marseille French Pastries and Chocolate Tour
- E-Bike and Food Tour
Explore Le Panier Neighborhood
After getting dropped off by the Petit Train, take a quick walk to Le Panier neighborhood to explore! This neighborhood is Marseille’s oldest district and it’s known for its colorful street art, shops, and narrow streets.
Le Panier is often referred to as an “open air museum” due to all of the colorful street art you’ll find at every turn.
Also in Le Panier, you’ll find the Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure and this stunning cathedral is absolutely worth a quick visit.
While in Le Panier, there are several places to stop for a quick coffee and snack while you relax and enjoy some people watching:
- Cokiss
- For cookies and coffee
- Chez Lucas
- Sandwiches
- Dutch Cafe
- Pastries, juices, coffee and cocktails
Another great way to visit the Le Panier and Old Port areas is on a guided walking tour!
Check out the Soap Shops
Marseille was once the soap capital of the world and today soap production and sales remain an important part of the economy and culture! Starting as early as the 14th century, soap was being made in Marseille and by the 16th century it was a booming business.
Marseille soap is made with olive oil and it’s said to be some of the finest soap in the world. There are tons of soap shops all over Marseille selling traditional soaps, scented soaps, shaped soaps – you name it, they sell it!
There is a small soap museum you can visit to learn more about the history of soap making in Marseille. You can easily see the entire museum in 20 minutes. Sometimes they have soap making demonstrations and at the end you can stamp your own soaps!
Next door to the soap museum, there is a wonderful soap shop that’s great for picking up some great soaps and souvenirs.
Enjoy a Rooftop Happy Hour
The views of Marseille from a rooftop are really beautiful to take in. An evening happy hour is a great way to relax with a drink and enjoy a small bite to eat before dinner. There are several rooftop bars in Marseille, but two of my favorites are:
Ciel Rooftop
These views from Ciel Rooftop are incredible! The drinks and food are good as well, making this the perfect place to check out in the evening.
Check out my Instagram reel for a full video of the views!
BONUS: Right across the street from Ciel Rooftop you’ll find Les Cookies de Lucas. I definitely recommend grabbing a few of them for a late night snack, they’re delicious.
The Terrace: Intercontinental Hotel Dieu
The Terrace bar at the Intercontinental is beautiful and the perfect place for a drink. You’ll be able to enjoy incredible views of Notre Dame and the atmosphere is relaxing and charming.
The prices here are a bit more expensive, because it’s a hotel, but it’s definitely nice to enjoy a drink here.
Enjoy a Delicious Dinner
Marseille is home to some delicious restaurants! Right in the Vieux Port area you’ll find a wonderful selection. Many have outdoor seating with great views of the port!
A few of my favorite restaurants in Marseille:
- Bistronomie Yasmine
- Syrian food with indoor and outdoor seating
- Propaganda Tapas
- Indoor and outdoor seating, with water views
- Great cocktails and tapas
- Indoor and outdoor seating, with water views
- Splendido
- A fun, circus themed Italian restaurant
- Indoor seating, make a reservation
- A fun, circus themed Italian restaurant
OPTIONAL: Dinner experience
Marseille is a port city and therefore is a great place to enjoy a boat ride or dinner cruise during the warmer months. Taking in the views of the city and the water while enjoying a delicious dinner really makes for the perfect evening.
If You Have Extra Time
If you have extra time in Marseille, there is no shortage of great activities and experiences to fill your time.
Check out the Mucem – Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean
This is the most popular museum in Marseille and, if you have time, it’s a great addition to your itinerary! Think of this museum as a mix of history, anthropology, archeology of the Mediterranean world.
The museum is located at Fort Jean (built in 1600), which is free to visit and offers amazing views. Even if you choose not to visit Mucem, Fort Jean is worth a stop.
You can buy tickets online in advance here.
Visit Chateau d’If
Chateau d’If is a fortress located on an island about 1 mile from Marseille. Built in the 16th century, it was famously used as a prison until being opened to the public in the late 1800s.
Chateau d’If is also one of the settings of the famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas!
You can explore the whole island, including the prison, and take in the stunning views of Marseille.
To get tickets to Chateau d’If and reserve a spot on the ferry, head over to the Vieux Port and visit the ticket booth at 4 Quai du Port. Tickets can sell out, so I recommend going first thing in the morning to reserve the time you’d like to go.
Tour Calanques National Park
From Marseille, you can hop on a tour to the stunning Calanques National Park! Calanques are giant, limestone rocky structures that form beautiful coves. The scenery, water and calanques themselves are stunning to see.
This area is highly protected, so it’s best to go on a guided tour in order to see some of the most amazing spots. It’s possible to go on a sailing tour, by ebike, kayaking and also hiking – so there are many ways to see the gorgeous Calanques!
Calanques National Park Tours
One Day in Marseille: Q&A
- Is Marseille a walkable city?
- Marseille is very walkable, but it is hilly! This being said, you can walk around most of the touristy parts of the city very easily. While some parts do get hilly, it’s usually not too strenuous to walk in the main tourist areas. The major exception to this is Notre Dame; it’s a steep uphill climb to get here.
- Walking around the Old Port, from one side to another, can take about 25 minutes. While the walk is easy, there’s also a ferry that runs back and forth that you can take for just €0.50. It’s about 3-4 minutes by ferry to cross the harbor.
- This is a fun little activity to do.
- Walking around the Old Port, from one side to another, can take about 25 minutes. While the walk is easy, there’s also a ferry that runs back and forth that you can take for just €0.50. It’s about 3-4 minutes by ferry to cross the harbor.
- Marseille is very walkable, but it is hilly! This being said, you can walk around most of the touristy parts of the city very easily. While some parts do get hilly, it’s usually not too strenuous to walk in the main tourist areas. The major exception to this is Notre Dame; it’s a steep uphill climb to get here.
- Are there Ubers in Marseille?
- Yes! You can easily call an Uber to get wherever you need to go. Ubers are also great for going to/from Notre Dame.
- What food is Marseille known for?
- Bouillabaisse (fish stew)
- Navettes (boat shaped biscuits)
- Panisse (sort of like a french fry, made with chickpeas)
- Madeleines (small almond flavored cakes)
- Aïoli (a garlicky spread with eggs that’s popular for dipping or on a baguette as a sandwich)
- Pastis (an anise flavored liquor)
- How much time do you need in Marseille?
- 2-3 days, but you can see many major sites in 24 hours.
- Do they speak English in Marseille?
- Many people in the tourism industry do speak English, for example in restaurants, shops and museums. However, not everyone does. Knowing a few words and phrases in French is helpful.
- How far is Paris from Marseille?
- About 3 – 4 hours by train.
And just like that, you’ve spent one fantastic day in Marseille! Marseille is a wonderful little city for a weekend escape or a stop on a journey around the South of France.
For more recommendations, check out my post with 10 unique things to do in Marseille on your trip!
If you have any questions about how to spend one day in Marseille, or anything to add to this post, let me know in the comments.
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♡Kate
Note: This guide for how to spend one day in Marseille includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
