What to Do in Marseille in 2 Days: Complete Itinerary

Few know what to expect from this multicultural city on the Mediterranean coast before visiting. What you’ll find in Marseille is a complex place, brimming with history and character, destined to win you over.

The trick to seeing what makes Marseille so special is to arrive prepared. Taking a look at a Marseille itinerary like this one will ensure you know how to make the most of your visit. With our itinerary as your guide, you can spend just 2 days exploring the city and be sure not to miss any of the best places to visit in Marseille. So, if you want to leave pleasantly surprised, here’s what to do in Marseille in 2 days.

The Perfect 2-Day Itinerary in Marseille

As one of France’s largest cities and a major tourist destination, you won’t have trouble keeping entertained for a couple of days in Marseille. To experience the best of Marseille means spending enough time along its central harbor and the historic districts it has sustained for centuries. However, to experience the top things to do in Marseille, you’ll also want to visit other neighborhoods and districts, from the elegant Cinq-Avenues to the steep Saint Victor. And let’s not forget the group of islands just off the coast, including the dramatic Château d’If.

Marseille Itinerary: Day 1

Upon arriving in the city, head straight to the waterfront and the numerous attractions found around Le Panier.

Vieux Port (Old Port)

Rather than having a main square as its geographic and symbolic center, Marseille has the Vieux Port (Old Port). A vast marina full of boats and almost entirely surrounded by buildings and fortifications, the Vieux Port has always been vital to the city. While in recent years it has become more pedestrian-friendly, the area still retains much of its old-world charm.

Head to the Fish Market at the end of the harbor, where fishermen still sell their catch every morning. The market square also has some modern touches, like the large Ferris wheel or the large canopy structure with a reflective roof. After seeing the market, take a walk along the north side of the port and admire the hundreds of masts filling the Vieux Port.

Fort Saint-Jean

Following the waterfront, you’ll reach your next stop, the impressive Fort Saint-Jean. To enter the fortress, you must climb the stairs on the opposite side of the street and cross a raised pedestrian bridge. Once inside, you can explore the walls and fortifications of this fort that has protected the Vieux Port since 1660. A pleasant surprise among its views and defenses are the herb gardens planted in some spots, delighting the nose with their aromas.

MuCEM

The other pedestrian bridge providing access to Fort Saint-Jean leads to one of Marseille’s new additions, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations or MuCEM. This museum, opened in 2013, is dedicated to exploring the fusion of histories and cultures of civilizations that have lived around the Mediterranean. Exhibits focus on themes like trade and agriculture across different periods, including the modern era. Even if you decide not to see the exhibits, you’ll at least want to admire the surprisingly modern architecture of the building from the endless ramp that wraps around it.

Marseille Cathedral

A short distance away, through a pleasant pedestrian walk, you will find the Marseille Cathedral. This seemingly modern cathedral immediately captures attention due to its size and unusual Byzantine architecture. While there had been a previous cathedral on the same site since the 12th century, it was almost entirely destroyed to make way for this new cathedral, completed in 1896. As beautiful as this city emblem and national monument is from the outside, you truly feel its scale once inside. It’s not your usual French church, so don’t miss it.

Le Panier

The residential area adjoining many of these points of interest is known as Le Panier and is one of the oldest parts of the city. With its position on a hill overlooking the harbor, Le Panier features numerous steep and narrow streets, as well as old-world charm. The neighborhood makes you feel as if you have left the big city and found yourself in a completely different town.

The best thing about Le Panier is its vast street art. Every street and side alley seems to have its own little gallery, encouraging you to keep exploring the neighborhood and see what treasures you can find.

La Vieille Charité

One of the few points of interest found in the residential heart of Le Panier is the cultural center La Vieille Charité. Despite its elegant Baroque design, the 18th-century building now housing this museum and cultural center was originally used as a shelter for the city’s poor. Both the Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne and the Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens et Améridiens housed here require an entrance ticket, but it is free to enter the main courtyard and admire the gallery arches enclosing its small chapel.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde is located on the other side of the city but is well worth the trip to get there. Overlooking the southern side of the city atop a hill stands the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde. This basilica is Marseille’s most iconic landmark and is visible from most spots in the city. Make the journey to reach this 19th-century basilica and you won’t regret it.

Upon arrival, you’ll immediately notice the sparkling golden statue of the Madonna and Child atop its tower. The building itself has multiple levels, with a crypt carved into the rock below and a stunning Neo-Byzantine chapel above it. Most importantly, you can enjoy spectacular views over all of Marseille and even the Frioul Islands offshore from its outdoor viewing terraces.

Marseille Itinerary: Day 2

We’ve made a good start with Marseille’s attractions, but there’s still much more of the city to discover. Then there’s the famous Château d’If on the Frioul Islands that you won’t want to miss.

Palais Longchamp

Start your second day with the impossibly grand Palais Longchamp outside the city center, in the 4th arrondissement. Believe it or not, this ensemble of fountains, steps, and colonnades was built as a monument to celebrate the construction of Marseille’s Canal in the 19th century. Yet, you’d fully believe it was once a palace for a local noble elite thanks to its terrace fountains and spectacular architecture. The buildings on either side of its main fountain, known as the Water Castle, house the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille

Since you’re already there, enter Palais Longchamp and explore the figurative art displayed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille. Although it wasn’t relocated to Palais Longchamp until the 1860s, the Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1802, making it the oldest museum in the city. Its exhibits boast an enviable collection of paintings and sculptures by Italian and Provençal masters from the 16th to the 19th century.

Views from Palais du Pharo

Now let’s return to the Vieux Port area, this time skirting the south side of the harbor and heading to the Palais du Pharo. Overlooking the pleasant Émile Duclaux Park and the mouth of the Vieux Port, this is another good Marseille spot for views. Notably, it’s a good place to look down the Vieux Port and see just how imposing Fort Saint-Jean must have been for incoming ships.

Saint Victor Abbey

One of the city’s oldest monuments is the Saint Victor Abbey, easily reached from the Palais du Pharo. The abbey is said to have been founded by a hermit in the 5th century, though today only the 13th-century church remains. Inside, you’ll find a dark stone interior that gives a sense of how ancient the structure is.

Marseille History Museum

Continuing with the city’s rich history, we now head to the Marseille History Museum. Opened in 1983, the museum is built around an outdoor park with ruins uncovered during archaeological excavations in the 1960s, including sections of walls and a necropolis. Inside, you will find artifacts dating back to settlements from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

Soap Shopping

Marseille is also famous for its soap. Walking through the streets of the center you easily come across delightful shops selling soap of various sizes and colors. All the shops deserve a visit, and buying some soap not only helps support the local economy but also brings home a “useful” souvenir.

Sunset Dinner Cruise

There’s no better way to spend an evening in Marseille than enjoying a sunset dinner cruise. Sip a drink on the open deck while admiring the wonderful surrounding scenery as you sail along the Marseille coast. As the sun sets, anchor in a secluded bay and enjoy dinner in the cool night air. You can book your sunset dinner cruise experience here.

Château d’If

To conclude your time in Marseille, head down to the Vieux Port and take a ferry to the Château d’If on the Frioul Islands. This infamous fortress sits on the island of If, the smallest of the islands lying just outside Marseille’s harbor. While the Château d’If would be worth visiting for its picturesque island fortress alone, it is also the setting of the classic novel “The Count of Monte Cristo“. It is in this fortress-prison that the protagonist Edmond Dantès is unjustly imprisoned and later escapes. In reality, though, no one is known to have escaped from the prison and survived due to its isolated location. During a visit to Château d’If, you can explore its courtyards, cells, and exhibits, as well as enjoy views of Marseille from its ramparts.

Best Time to Visit Marseille

To truly enjoy your 48 hours in Marseille, it’s wise to consider the best time of year to visit. Both the weather and the number of tourists can affect how much you enjoy the city and its attractions, so timing your trip is important.

For example, summer in Marseille means hot, dry temperatures and peak crowds, making it far from ideal. Instead, the best time to visit Marseille is widely considered to be the months following summer, i.e., September to November. These autumn months, as well as the spring months of April and May, offer pleasant weather for sightseeing but with fewer tourists and more affordable hotel rates. As for winter, while Marseille remains warmer than many other parts of France, it is still cool and rainy.

Getting Around Marseille

When visiting Marseille, it’s important to understand the best ways to get around the city. Although some attractions are conveniently close, walking won’t always be the best option, especially on the second day of this itinerary. So, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with Marseille’s public transport network, which includes metro, tram, and buses.

There are two lines each for metro and tram, which can limit their usefulness. Buses, on the other hand, make up the main part of the network, covering the entire city. Tickets are shared across networks, with a single journey ticket costing €1.70 and lasting one hour. While one ticket covers transfers, it can only be used for a single metro ride. Tickets can be purchased at metro stations, tram stops, and onboard buses.

Another great way for tourists to get around is with a hop-on hop-off bus. A day ticket lets you get on and off at any of the numerous scheduled stops and explore Marseille at your own pace. The bus also includes an informative audio guide providing commentary on the main attractions. You can purchase your hop-on hop-off bus ticket here.

It’s also important to know you have options for getting to and from Marseille Airport. The airport is 27 km from the city, and you have the option of a shuttle or train to get there. Frequent direct shuttles to the main train station Marseille Gare St. Charles take 30 minutes and cost €8.30. Alternatively, the train costs €5.10 and takes 23 minutes, but you first must take a free shuttle from the airport to the Vitrolles Aeroport train station.

Where to Stay in Marseille

To make the most of your time, you’ll want to pay attention to where to stay in Marseille. Choosing good-value accommodation in the right part of town can have a bigger impact on your visit than you might realize. The easier it is to get around for sightseeing and find places to eat and relax, the more enjoyable your trip will be. Ultimately, the best places to stay in Marseille will be as close as possible to the Vieux Port or in a location with good public transport connections.

For a truly special experience in Marseille, there’s no better choice than the InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu. This stunning five-star hotel is housed within a historic building right above the Vieux Port, making it perfectly positioned in the city. Guests can indulge in two gourmet restaurants, a spa, an indoor pool, and a gym.

If you want the type of amenities you’re used to at home, you’ll want to stay somewhere like Staycity Aparthotels Centre Vieux Port. These studios and apartments feature kitchens and good space, and the location puts you between the main train station and the Vieux Port.