Where do we go ? What do we do ?

Visit Marseille in two days

In Marseille, there are many things to do and see, if you are just passing through for a day, you will have to make a choice and go for the essential. To make the most of it, we’ll help you a little by proposing a tour of the must-see places in Marseille !

Published on 8 July 2021

Morning : Vieux-Port (Old Port) north bank and Panier

We start slowly, we take the time to appreciate the city which wakes up, nothing better than to go on the Vieux-Port (Old Port) and drink a coffee in front of Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica. You can then stroll along the waterfront as you slowly make your way to the quartier du Panier (Panier district), the historic district of the city, a walk through the typical narrow streets of the city. Here you will discover the many local craftsmen and the amazing and colourful works of street-art which are very present in the area. At the bend of the street, you will come across exceptional places such as the “Accoules” church, the “Hôtel Dieu” or the “Vieille Charité”.

While “going back down”(because yes, you have surely noticed…we go up to go to the “Panier”!) you will head towards the “Tourette Esplanade” where you will have a breathtaking view of the Port and the Good Mother “Notre Dame de le Garde” basilica!

Before your lunch, take the footbridge and visit the Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisation, a timeless museum with amazing architecture. If you have a little time, walk around the “Place d’Armes” and visit the museum which is full of exceptional pieces and regularly hosts international exhibitionsn (Van Gogh, Ai Weiwei, Jeff Koons etc; ..)

If you are hungry, you can stay and enjoy an exceptional meal at the starred chef Gérald Passédat, at the “Môle Passedat”, on the roof terrace of the Mucem, or if you prefer to continue your discovery of the city and have a quicker lunch, simply cross the street and go to the “Halles de la Major” for a quality meal on the go.

In front of me, I saw this beautiful Marseille, this city of the “midi” meaning the south of France ” par excellence. It is located at the bottom of an amphitheater formed by arid rocks like all those of Provence.

Stendhal

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Afternoon : Marseille south bank and seaside

After lunch, a visit to the ” Notre Dame de la Garde” basilica, the Good Mother is a must!
A visit to Marseille without seeing Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica is like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, it’s unthinkable, but be careful, we prefer to warn you ! It climbs ! But don’t panic… several solutions are available to you ! Either you take a city bus (n°60) direct to the top (the bus starts in front of the Mucem) or you take the little touristic train, the departure of the little train is just next to the Ferry boat landing stage, on the side of the Town Hall ( except during the summer season, the little train is waiting for you at the bottom of the “Canebière” street)! The 3rd solution…on foot ( about 20to 30 minutes to get there), at the exit of the Mucem, go along the shore and the entrance of the port, just behind the “Fort Saint-Jean”, you will then have to go all the way around the Vieux-Port but if you feel like it, just in front of the Marseille City Town Hall, you can take the mythical Ferry Boat, it costs 0,50 euros and takes you in a few minutes to the other side of the port ! It’s the smallest sea link in the world ! 283 meters long !

Once at Notre Dame de la Garde basilica, admire the city from all angles, a 360° view ! The hill where you are is visible from the whole city, from the North to South and East to West! If the weather is good ‘ no Mistral wind or rain) you can continue your discovery of the city by going to the island of the ‘Château d’If’ (If castle) and visit this mysterious place which inspired Alexandre Dumas in his novel, the “Count of Monte Cristo”. The boat to get there is on the Vieux-Port (Old Port).

Back from your sea trip, go to the Corniche and the “Vallon des Auffes” ( to get there, take the bus 83 from the Vieux-Port), a real little fishing port typical of Marseille, where you can start your evening in one of the famous restaurants of the cove ( Chez Fonfon, l’Epuisette, and Chez Jeannot…) and enjoy a breathtaking sunset!

For this full day in Marseille, you will have seen the essentials, but there are still many beautiful things to see, including the fabulous Calanques, the village of “La Treille”(Marcel Pagnol’s village), the building of the architect “Le Corbusier”, the “Palais Longchamp” or the “Orange Velodrome Stadium”, good reasons to return!

Did you know ?

If you don’t want to run around the city but want to see as much as possible, there are a lot of other more or less original ways, just let yourself be guided !
A city tour by Tuk-Tuk, a visit of the essentials by electric bike or a tour by colorbüs, a double-decker bus that stops you at all the must-see points of the city ! now, it is your turn to decide !