Is Marseille worth visiting? If you want a quick answer – it’s 100% yes! Marseille is one of my absolute favorite cities in France and one I recommend to all travelers. There are so many reasons that make Marseille worth visiting and I’ll get into the top five most compelling in this article. If you want a city with tons to do while also being on the sea, Marseille is certainly for you.
1: Marseille is Considered France’s Most “Authentic” City
Although Marseille is heavily visited, especially by French travelers, it’s not a quintessential tourist city like Paris, Rome or Barcelona. Are there tourists? Yes of course, but the city isn’t built around them. This makes Marseille the perfect location for travelers who want to see more than just tourist hot spots and really love to explore what a city has to offer.
While there are many non-touristy areas in the city, I recommend staying in the Vieux-Port (Old Port). This is the most tourist-centered part of Marseille. It has the most to do and is the most walkable. Outside of this area, the neighborhoods are much more local and do not cater to tourists in the same way.
One thing that is so wonderful about Marseille is its mix of cultures. Marseille has a large population of North African and Middle Eastern immigrants and this can be seen in the markets, shops and restaurants. In addition to the classic French cuisine, Marseille is a fantastic destination for North African and Middle Eastern food.
Two of my favorite restaurants to check out are:
- Chez Yassine (Tunisian)
- Bistronomie Yasmine Vieux Port (Middle Eastern)
Parts of Marseille, like the Vieux Port, feel very French, whereas other neighborhoods are much more multicultural.
All of this being said, outside of the polished Vieux Port area, Marseille really feels like it’s made for locals. It’s not created for tourists in the same way other cities are, and that’s something that makes it really interesting to visit!
2: It’s the Starting Point of the French Riviera – but Cheaper Than Other South of France Hot Spots
Because Marseille isn’t as polished and heavily touristed as places like Nice and Saint Tropez, it’s significantly less expensive to visit. Hotels, restaurants and activities will all, in general, be less expensive than other “postcard” destinations in the South of France.
This alone is a great reason to add it to your list!
Marseille is located on the Mediterranean Sea about 2 hours from Saint Tropez and Nice – two of the most famous destinations in the South of France. These two cities are definitely “must visits,” but an even BETTER destination, in my opinion, is Cassis, located just 30 minutes from Marseille. You can easily go on a day trip from Marseille and explore the city and the beaches or, better yet, spend a few days!
While Marseille is close to some of the best beach cities in the South of France, it also has its own beaches. Yes, they’re more urban than those in Nice, Saint Tropez and Cassis, but they’ll get the job done on a hot day.
However, the real gem of Marseille are the Calanques. This protected natural area is made up of huge limestone cliffs and coves with beautiful turquoise water inlets. Here, you’ll also find beautiful, small secluded beaches.
You can visit the Calanques on your own by hiking or taking a kayak, but I recommend going on a tour in order to see the most incredible spots and learn from a guide!
- Hiking in the Calanques National Park
- Calanques Trilogy Electric Bike Tour
- Guided Kayak Excursion
- Sailing Day in the Heart of the Calanques
3: It’s Easily Accessible from Paris
From Paris, with a fantastic international airport, Marseille is an easy three hour train ride. The drive is over 7 hours, so I definitely recommend the train.
While there are direct flights from European cities into Marseille, there are currently no direct flights from the US to Marseille.
There are direct flights into Nice and from Nice, it’s an easy 2.5 hour train or 2 hour drive.
If you’re coming from the US, my recommendation is to fly into Paris, spend a couple days in the city and then take the train to Marseille to start exploring the South of France.
4: The Weather is *Pretty Good* Year Round
Marseille has a nice Mediterranean climate with decent weather year round. The best part, it’s the sunniest city in France! It also never gets too cold in Marseille, with daytime winter temperatures usually in the 50s. The summer months are warm, usually in the 70s and 80s.
My favorite times of year to visit Marseille are the shoulder seasons: April & May and September & October. During these times of year, the weather is still really nice, but you avoid the busier tourist months in France.
That being said, the summer in Marseille is really beautiful. With such great beaches and water activities nearby, summer is a fantastic time to enjoy all that Marseille has to offer.
5: Marseille is Great for Long or Short Trips
Being the second largest city in France, there’s a lot to do in Marseille. But in addition to its size, as I’ve mentioned, the location is ideal. Not far from Paris, but also the gateway to the French Riviera, means that there are no shortage of day trips you can take from Marseille.
A few of the best day trips from Marseille (all within 1.5 hours):
- Cassis (30 minutes drive or short train/bus)
- While you can take a guided day trip to Cassis, it’s also very easy to reach by public transportation.
- The Frioul Islands (15-30 minute boat ride)
- Arles (1 hour by car, 45 minutes by train)
- Moustiers Sainte Marie (1.5 hours)
- The Luberon Villages (1.5 hours)
- Also check out this wine tour in Luberon!
If you rent a car, these are very easy day trips. For some locations, like Arles and some of the Luberon villages, they’re a quick train ride away. Otherwise, guided day trips are always a great option.
Is Marseille Worth Visiting? Why Some People Say It’s Not
Marseille has a Reputation for Being “Dangerous”
Marseille has a reputation for being dangerous. Whether or not that reputation is warranted, is an entirely different story. Marseille is often considered to be the most dangerous city in Europe, but that title is misleading. While the crime rate in Marseille is higher than other French cities, it’s most always not targeted at tourists or happening in tourist areas.
In Marseille, the types of crimes being committed are *usually* gang and drug related and concentrated in certain areas of the city – not the touristy ones. This means, as long as you stay out of the more “dangerous” neighborhoods, Marseille is a safe city. The tourist areas, specifically, are very safe.
I will say the only time I felt uneasy was when I went to a concert after sunset at Notre Dame Basilica. The basilica is located on top of a hill not too far from the main tourist areas (easily accessible by Uber), but after dark, it’s pretty deserted. The concert cleared out quickly and a man was very clearly planning to pickpocket me.
Because the concert was sparsely attended, very quickly there were no people around. Luckily, a nice couple saw what was happening and waited with me until my Uber arrived.
All of this goes to say, the touristy areas are very safe. At night, avoid unpopulated areas. I shouldn’t have gone to the concert alone, but I thought there would be many more people around than there were.
Military Policing in Marseille
Something that makes Marseille feel more safe and less safe at the same time is the military style policing, called Operation Sentinelle. This is common in France and is essentially military personnel policing alongside the regular police, usually in heavily touristed areas or religious sites that could be targeted for terrorist activities.
I had seen this in other parts of France, like military members at train stations, for example, but never to the level I saw in Marseille.
While having dinner at a restaurant in Vieux Port around 7pm, all of a sudden at least 100 military personnel started walking down the streets in military formation – automatic weapons, body armor and all. At least 50 more were in police vehicles nearby.
It was shocking, at first, as I thought something was wrong. However, this is the style of policing that is common in Marseille and is meant to deter criminals from committing crimes. I would imagine that it works.
It Doesn’t Fit the South of France “Soft Travel” Aesthetic Many People Want
When you think about the South of France, most people picture quaint, picturesque seaside villages. While parts of Marseille, like Vieux Port, certainly fit this aesthetic, the whole city doesn’t.
Marseille is a contrasting city, with some parts beautifully maintained while others are a little more, well, gritty. The city itself is over 2,600 years old and there is certainly a mix of historic and modern. Depending on what neighborhood you’re in, you’ll find either charming historic, pastel buildings or murals, street art and modern architecture. Sometimes, you’ll have a mixture of both.
Marseille doesn’t have the glamorous feel that destinations like Saint Tropez have, but it’s a stunning, unique city nonetheless.
It’s Not a “Crowd Pleaser” City
For all of the reasons outlined in this post, both the good and the “bad,” Marseille is not a city that’s considered a “crowd pleaser.” It’s not for everyone. If you want a relaxing beach vacation in the South of France with beachfront restaurants and a glamorous feel, Marseille probably won’t be your go-to destination. However, I still do recommend it as a day trip for any traveler, as I personally think it’s worth it.
However, if you’re looking for a more unique destination that offers great historical sites as well as a plethora of outdoor activities to take part in, Marseille is for you! Spend at least a day or two taking in all this interesting and contrasting city has to offer.
If you’ve decided Marseille IS for you, be sure to check out my guide for how to spend one perfect day in Marseille.
Where to Stay in Marseille
When visiting Marseille, I recommend staying in Vieux Port or Le Panier neighborhoods. Both are tourist hotspots and they’re easily walkable to each other. That being said, there are far more hotels in Vieux Port when compared to Le Panier
Le Panier is more artsy whereas Vieux Port is the very center of the city where you’ll find great restaurants and shopping. Both are historic and beautiful!
Beautiful hotels:
- InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu (my absolute favorite!)
- Grand Hotel Beauvau
- Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites
- Marsiho By Happyculture
The Best Things To Do in Marseille
There is so much to do in Marseille! For a full, detailed guide I recommend checking out my post about 10 Unique Things To Do in Marseille, but for now, here are some highlights:
- Visit the Soap Museum & Shops
- Marseille is famous for its soap production that dates back centuries. It’s known as the soap capital of the world and the Savon de Marseille, olive oil based soap, is still a very popular product in the city.
- There are TONS of soap shops to check out and the Soap Museum is also worth a visit.
- Visit Chateau D’if
- This 500+ year fortress is located on an island about 20 minutes by ferry from Marseille. It was used as a prison and in the late 1800s opened to the public. Touring the island and former prison is very interesting – and quite haunting!
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas uses Chateau D’if as one of its main settings!
- This 500+ year fortress is located on an island about 20 minutes by ferry from Marseille. It was used as a prison and in the late 1800s opened to the public. Touring the island and former prison is very interesting – and quite haunting!
- Go On a Food Tour
- In addition to French cuisine, Marseille has fantastic North African and Middle Eastern food. I recommend going on a food tour in order to get to know some great local spots and hidden gems. On a food tour, you’ll have the opportunity to try some of the dishes Marseille is famous for. A few of these dishes include: Bouillabaisse, Navettes, Panisse and Brik à L’Oeuf,
- Check out the street art in Le Panier neighborhood
- Ride the Petit Train
- This little train is such a fun way to see the city! It picks up in Vieux Port and takes you all around the city.
- Visit Notre Dame de la Garde
- Take a Fun Tour!
- Marseille has a great selection of fun tour and activity options. Everything from walking tours, to sunset cruises to pastry classes. A few great options include:
- Check out the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations
- This museum opened in 2013 and is architecturally very cool from the outside. Inside, of course, it’s also incredible with tons of exhibits, art and artifacts.
So, is Marseille worth visiting? In my opinion, absolutely yes! This beautiful, culturally rich city is a great addition to your trip to France.
There is so much to experience in Marseille and its location also makes it the perfect first stop to explore other noteworthy destinations in the South of France.
Ready to book that trip to Marseille? Check out my other guides to keep planning your awesome adventure:
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♡Kate
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