Marseille is France's oldest city and its most passionately debated — raw, beautiful, chaotic, and utterly authentic. Founded by Greek traders in 600 BC, this Mediterranean port has been a crossroads of cultures for two and a half millennia. Today it's a city of spectacular coastal scenery, outstanding seafood, a vibrant North African influence, and a renewed confidence that has made it one of France's most exciting destinations. Here are the best things to do in Marseille.
1. Explore the Vieux-Port (Old Harbor)
The Vieux-Port is the beating heart of Marseille — a long rectangular harbor where fishing boats have docked since ancient times, flanked by busy cafés, fish stalls, and the monumental neoclassical Fort Saint-Jean and Fort Saint-Nicolas guarding the entrance. The morning fish market on the quay is one of France's most lively, with fishermen selling their catch directly from boats.
2. Hike the Calanques National Park
The Calanques are Marseille's greatest natural treasure — a 20 km stretch of dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden fjords, and turquoise coves stretching east from the city to Cassis. Designated as France's youngest national park, the Calanques are accessible by foot from the city's southern neighborhoods. The calanques of En-Vau and Port-Pin are among the most beautiful. Start early in summer, as the most popular trails close midday to reduce fire risk.
3. Visit the MuCEM
The Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée (MuCEM) is Marseille's most architecturally stunning museum. Opened in 2013, the building by Rudy Ricciotti is a modern masterpiece — a concrete lattice cube connected by footbridge to the restored Fort Saint-Jean. The museum explores Mediterranean cultures and their interconnections over millennia, and the rooftop café has one of the best views in the city.
4. Eat Bouillabaisse
Bouillabaisse is Marseille's iconic dish — a complex, saffron-infused fish stew elevated over centuries into one of France's greatest culinary traditions. Authentic bouillabaisse must follow the Marseille Bouillabaisse Charter: at least four types of local fish, served in two courses (broth first, then fish), with rouille (spicy mayo) on toasted bread. Chez Fonfon in the Vallon des Auffes cove and Le Miramar on the Vieux-Port are the most celebrated addresses.
5. Take the Boat to Château d'If
Made famous by Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo, Château d'If is a 16th-century fortress prison on a tiny island 15 minutes by boat from the Vieux-Port. The views from the ramparts back across the harbor to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde are exceptional. The Frioul Islands nearby offer more swimming and hiking.
6. Climb to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
Marseille's gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the Romano-Byzantine basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde gazes over the entire city from the highest natural point in Marseille (162m). Known affectionately as "La Bonne Mère" by Marseillais, the basilica's interior is lined with ex-votos — model ships, paintings, and photos left by sailors and travelers in gratitude. The panorama takes in the harbor, islands, Calanques, and on clear days the Alps.
7. Explore the Panier Neighborhood
Le Panier is Marseille's oldest neighborhood, a hill above the Vieux-Port where the Greek settlers first established the city of Massalia. Today it's a lively quarter of pastel-painted houses on steep lanes, street art murals, independent boutiques, and artisan workshops. The Centre de la Vieille Charité — a magnificent 17th-century baroque almshouse with a domed chapel — now houses an archaeology museum and hosts art exhibitions.
8. Visit the Basilique Saint-Victor
One of the oldest Christian sites in France, the Abbaye Saint-Victor dates from the 5th century AD, built over catacombs where early Christian martyrs were buried. The current fortified abbey — which looks more like a castle than a church — was built in the 11th–14th centuries and contains a fascinating crypt with early Christian sarcophagi.
9. Discover the Corniche Kennedy
The Corniche Kennedy is Marseille's coastal road, running along dramatic clifftops south of the Vieux-Port. The footpath and the rocks below are where Marseillais come to swim, fish, and sunbathe on warm evenings. The Vallon des Auffes — a tiny calanque with colorful fishing boats — is accessible from the Corniche and is one of the city's most photogenic spots.
10. Explore Cours Julien
Cours Julien is Marseille's bohemian heart — a tree-lined square surrounded by independent record shops, secondhand clothing stores, bars, restaurants, and galleries. The surrounding streets are covered in extraordinary street art, making it one of the best outdoor art galleries in France. The Wednesday organic market on the cours is excellent for local produce.
Marseille Travel Tips
- Marseille is safe to visit — take the usual precautions in any large port city
- The city is hilly — wear comfortable walking shoes
- Book Calanques hikes for summer months in advance via the national park website, as access is limited
- The bus network covers the city; tram line T2 connects the Vieux-Port to the northern neighborhoods
- Marseille's airport (Aéroport Marseille Provence) has excellent connections across Europe