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Le Vieux Port

The Old Port of Marseille is ideal for watching fishermen sell their fresh seafood. You can also hire a boat for the day here. For a relaxed visit, simply sit, read a book, eat, and gaze at all the expensive yachts in the harbor.

Notre Dame de la Garde

Known as “the big church,” this Byzantine and Romanesque Revival basilica sits at the highest point overlooking the city, making for one of the best views of Marseille. Old fishermen used to have their boats blessed in this church. Entrance is free but dress respectfully.

Vieille Charite

Home to the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and Museum of African, Oceanian, Amerindian Arts, Vieille Charite is a former almshouse built in the mid-17th century. Its architecture consists of an impressive three-floor corridor on a rectangular courtyard, with a domed Italian Baroque chapel in the center.

La Corniche

This striking seaside walkway winds along the coast for 5 kilometers (3 miles), offering lovely scenic views over the sea, as well as Chateau d’If and Les Calanques (a steep-walled inlet made of limestone and dolomite) to the east. It’s a good way to spend a few hours!

Admire Château d’If

This small island located 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) off the city’s coast was a penal colony for political prisoners, including the Revolutionary hero Mirabeau and the Communards of 1871. It’s better known for its role in the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte-Cristo. Admission is 6 EUR.

Le Cours Julien and La Plaine

This trendy part of Marseille is full of bookstores, cafes, vintage clothing stores, fountains, and colorful street art. Every Thursday and Saturday morning, La Plaine market takes place here, offering the opportunity to shop for everything from clothing and knick-knacks to shoes and delicious food. Treat yourself to dinner at Lacaille or opt for tapas at Le Couz’in.

Borély Park

Borély Park is known as one of the most remarkable parks in France and its captivating gardens are a highlight of visiting Marseille. Located near the ocean, this park was created in the 17th century by French merchant Joseph Borléy. You can wander the flowing English garden, the perfectly manicured French garden, and a Zen garden. Borély Park is also home to Château Borély, an 18th-century country home that now houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware and Fashion. Admission is free.

Le Panier

This is the oldest area of Marseille, dating back to around 600 BCE. In French, its name means “the basket” and was named for an inn that had a basket as a sign. In time, the hilltop neighborhood became known by the same name. Today, Le Panier is known as an artistic hub, with colorful street art adorning the buildings and artist studios dotting the neighborhood. Be sure to visit the Vieille Charité, a 17th-Century villa that has museums and exhibitions

La Place Castellane

This historic roundabout in the 6th arrondissement was built in 1774 and contains a magnificent fountain (the current fountain was added in 1913 to replace the original). The fountain represents the three Provençal rivers (Durance, Gardon, and Rhône). An obelisk was originally part of the fountain, but it was relocated in 1911 to the 9th arrondissement. The square is named after the aristocrat who funded the project, Henri-César de Castellane-Majastre, and was mentioned in Joseph Conrad’s 1919 novel The Arrow of Gold (Conrad also wrote the famous novel Heart of Darkness).

Mazargues War Cemetery

Over 9,000 square meters, Mazargues War Cemetery is the final resting place of allied soldiers from World War I and World War II. The bodies of soldiers and laborers were buried in various cemeteries in Marseille during WWI, however, after the war and before Armistice, the grounds of Mazargues Cemetery were expended and the remains of hundreds of soldiers were moved from the smaller cemeteries and laid to rest here. It is located about 6 km (3.5 miles) from central Marseille.

Palais de Longchamp

This monument opened in 1869 and celebrates the completion of the Durance canal, which brought fresh potable water into Marseille. The famous animal sculptor Antoine Louis Barye made the lions and tigers at the entrance, while the monumental fountain in the middle of the colonnade is by Jules Cavelier. It also hosts the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Marseille’s oldest museum, with its large collection of 16th-19th century Provencal and Italian artwork. Admission is free.

Noailles

This area of the city (around the Noailles subway station) is known for its Arab, Indian, and Chinese communities. It’s filled with delicious places to eat for. Try places like Les Portes de Damas, Caffé Noir, and Le 5.5 karaoke bar. There is also daily market where vendors sell North African specialties including spices, dried fruit, sticky pastries, flatbreads, and more.

Diving

Diving may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of France, but Marseille is making a name for itself as the country’s diving capital. Take a trip out into the Mediterranean, where you can explore tunnels, caves, and admire colorful sea sponges, anemones, and sea fans. You can also spot moray eels and octopus as well as numerous of shipwrecks, such as Le Liban (1882) and Le Chaouen (1961). June to October, when the water is a bit warmer, are the best months for diving here. Prices start at 100 EUR.

Food Tour

Explore the historic district of Marseille on a 3.5-hour walking food tour. Food tours can be a fun way to learn about the history and culture of the city, while sampling regional foods such as tuna and shrimp tartare, tapenade, panisse, and roasted Camembert. Tours with Do Eat Better Tours start at 85 EUR.

Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean (MuCEM)

Inaugurated in 2013, this museum is located next to Fort St. Jean towards the entrance of the harbor. Designed by French architects Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta, the museum is a 15,000 square meter cube surrounded by a latticework of fiber and concrete. The museum features two levels of exhibits devoted to Mediterranean and European history, as well as an underground auditorium, and bookshop. The restaurant on the top of the museum offers one of the best viewpoints in the city. Tickets are 11 EUR, but you can walk around the exterior for free.

Wine Tour

When visiting Marseille, it is hard to pass up an opportunity to go on a wine tour. This is, after all, Provence. You can choose from half-day or full-day tours. Provence Wine Tours offers a full-day tour around Aix-en-Provence for 110 EUR, lunch not included. They also offer half-day tours for 70 EUR.