Get a bird’s eye view
To get started and discover the city, why not contemplate it from above? Marseille has the most beautiful observatory of all, the Notre-Dame de la Garde hill. From here, visitors can see the city from sea to hills.
If you’re feeling daring, you can reach the “Good Mother” on foot (because it’s quite a climb), or by bus. A cherub with his finger on his lips greets visitors at the entrance to the sanctuary. Take heart, there are still a few steps to go before you reach the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde via the drawbridge (a real one!). Before entering and discovering the mosaics and numerous ex-votos (models of boats and airplanes, naive paintings and medals…), it’s time to take a tour of the building. Up there, the magnificent 360° view over Marseille, Frioul and the ports… all the way to the Calanques massif is magical. The game is to find the Old Port, the Château d’If and the Orange Vélodrome… and make your own schedule of visits.
And for lunch, check out our website to find out all the local restaurants around you.
Head for the Old Port
Head back down to the Old Port and take a 20-30 minute boat trip to the Château d’If to discover this fort built at the request of François 1er and made famous by the adventures of Edmond Dantès in Alexandre Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo. Children will love the Count of Monte Cristo’s cell! Take a guided tour and discover the mysteries of the fortress while having fun at the same time.