What to do in Marseille in 2 days: complete itinerary

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

The trick to seeing what makes Marseille so special is to arrive prepared. Taking a look at a Marseille itinerary like this 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 the largest cities in France and a major tourist destination, you will have no trouble keeping yourself entertained for a couple of days in Marseille. To experience the best of Marseille means spending enough time along its central port and the historic neighborhoods it has sustained for centuries. However, to experience the best things to do in Marseille, you will 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

Arriving in the city, head straight to the waterfront and the many attractions found in the Le Panier area.

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 completely 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 charm.

Head to the Fish Market at the end of the port, 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 will arrive at your next stop, the impressive Fort Saint-Jean. To enter the fortress, you will need to climb the stairs on the opposite side of the street and cross an elevated 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 scents.

MuCEM

The other pedestrian bridge that provides access to Fort Saint-Jean leads to one of Marseille’s newcomers, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, 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. Exhibitions focus on themes such as trade and agriculture in different periods, including the modern era. Even if you decide not to see the exhibits, you will want to at least take a look at the surprisingly modern architecture of the building with 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 catches attention thanks to its size and unusual Byzantine architecture. While there was a previous cathedral on the same spot 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 the scale once inside. It is not the usual French church, so do not miss it.

Le Panier

The residential area adjacent to many of these attractions is known as Le Panier and is one of the oldest parts of the city. With its location on a hill overlooking the port, Le Panier features numerous steep and narrow streets, as well as an old 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 extensive street art. Every street and side alley seems to have its own little gallery, encouraging you to keep exploring the neighborhood to 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 located there require an entrance ticket, but it is free to enter the main courtyard and admire the gallery arcades enclosing its small chapel.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde

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

Upon arrival, you will 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 splendid neo-Byzantine chapel above it. Most importantly, you can enjoy spectacular views over all of Marseille and even the Frioul Islands offshore from the outdoor panoramic terraces.

Marseille Itinerary: Day 2

We made a good start with Marseille’s attractions, but there is still much more of the city to discover. Then there is 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 majestic Palais Longchamp outside the city center, in the fourth arrondissement. Believe it or not, this set of fountains, stairs, and colonnades was built as a monument to celebrate the construction of the Marseille Canal in the 19th century. Yet, you would fully believe it was once a palace for a local noble elite thanks to its terrace fountains and spectacular architecture. The buildings on both sides of its main fountain, known as the Water Castle, house the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille

Since you are already there, enter the Palais Longchamp and get to know the figurative art on display at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille. Although it was not moved 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 created by Italian and Provençal masters from the 16th to the 19th century.

Views from Palais du Pharo

Now we return to the Vieux Port area, this time along the south side of the harbor heading towards the Palais du Pharo. Overlooking the pleasant Émile Duclaux Park and the mouth of the Vieux Port, this is another good spot in Marseille for views. In particular, it is a good place to look down along the Vieux Port and see how imposing the Fort Saint-Jean must have been for arriving ships.

Abbaye Saint-Victor

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

Museum of Marseille History

Continuing with the great history of the city, we now head to the Museum of Marseille History. Opened in 1983, the museum is built around an outdoor park with ruins uncovered during archaeological excavations in the 1960s, which include sections of walls and a necropolis. Inside, you will find artifacts dating back to the settlements of ancient Greece and Roman antiquity.

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 pieces of soap not only helps the local economy but also brings home a “useful” souvenir.

Sunset Dinner Cruise

There is no better way to spend an evening in Marseille than enjoying a sunset dinner cruise. Sip a drink on the open deck while you enjoy the wonderful surrounding scenery as you sail along the coast of Marseille. As the sun sets, drop anchor in a secluded bay and enjoy dinner in the fresh 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 reach the Château d’If on the Frioul Islands. This infamous fortress is located on the island of If, the smallest of the islands just outside the port of Marseille. 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 from which he later escapes. In reality, however, no one is known to have escaped 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 walkway.

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 the timing of your trip is very important.

For example, summer in Marseille means hot and dry temperatures and crowds at their peak, making it far from ideal. Instead, the best time to visit Marseille is widely considered to be the months following summer, from 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 other parts of France, it is still cool and rainy.

How to Get Around Marseille

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

There are two lines each for the 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 the networks, with a single journey ticket costing €1.70 and lasting one hour. While a ticket covers transfers, it can be used for only one metro journey. Tickets can be purchased at metro stations, tram stops, and on board buses.

Another great way for tourists to get around is with a hop-on hop-off bus. A day ticket allows you to get off and on 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 is 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 a train to get there. Frequent shuttles direct to Marseille’s main train station Gare St. Charles take 30 minutes and cost €8.30. Alternatively, the train costs €5.10 and takes 23 minutes, but you will first need to take the free shuttle from the airport to the Vitrolles Aeroport train station.

Where to stay in Marseille

To make the most of your time, you should pay attention to where to stay in Marseille. Choosing good value accommodation in the right part of the city 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 links.

For a truly special experience in Marseille, there is no better choice than the InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu. This stunning five-star hotel is set inside 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 are looking for the kind of amenities you are used to at home, you will want to stay somewhere like Staycity Aparthotels Centre Vieux Port. These studios and apartments have kitchens and good space, and the location puts you between the main train station and the Vieux Port.