Best tours of Marseille

There are cities that always surprise, and Marseille is one of them. Its old port and its two forts are still reminiscent of former times of splendour when Marseille was the gateway to Africa and one of the great trading cities of the Mediterranean.

But Marseille is much more than its port. It hides charming neighbourhoods such as Le Panier, magnificent museums, impressive monuments and finger-licking gastronomy. Not forgetting the beauty of its surroundings. There are many things to see and do in Marseille. These excursions will allow you to discover all its secrets.

If you need to see Marseille in a day or if you want to get a first glimpse of the city and then explore it at your own pace, a guided tour is perfect. It will allow you to discover the most attractive places, immerse yourself in a history that goes back more than 2500 years and reveal a few secrets.

The tours usually start in the Old Port, the real heart of the city. After getting to know its historical importance, the tours usually go into Le Panier. This is the oldest quarter of Marseille, the place where the city was founded. Today, its steep, narrow streets are dotted with bistros and craft shops.

There is still much to see: the Vieille Charite, an old 17th century asylum; the cathedral of Saint Mary Major, with its surprising oriental style; and the Fort Saint-Jean, among other treasures.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: from 25 euros
• Duration: approximately 3 hours
• Advantages and disadvantages of this excursion: it allows a first approach to the city and to get to know its main attractions, although it does not stray far from the port area.

This is a city with countless attractions. If you don't have much time to discover them, I recommend you to take one of the Marseille sightseeing bus tours. You can take a panoramic bus tour on your own, but ideally you should take a guided tour. You will immerse yourself in the charm of the city without missing anything.

The tours usually start from the port, the heart of Marseille. The first stop is the Basilica of one of the symbols of Marseille. From here, you can also enjoy magnificent views of Marseille and the island and castle of If, the Count of Monte Cristo's prison.

The route will also take you to other key sites in Marseille, such as the Abbey of Saint-Victor and the forts of Saint-Jean and Saint-Nicolas. This way you will have a broad and very complete overview of everything that awaits you in the city and then be able to explore it at your leisure and discover some other treasures, such as the districts of Le Panier or Endoume or the magnificent Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: from 25 euros
• Duration: about 5 hours
• Advantages and disadvantages of this excursion: it allows a first approach to the city and to get to know its main attractions, although it does not stray far from the port area and its surroundings.

If you don't want to miss anything in Marseille, either of these options is perfect. You'll get much further than on foot and get to places that buses can't reach. Another advantage is that you can choose between longer or shorter routes, depending on the time you have available or what interests you most.

If you choose the bicycle, a guided tour will take you around the port and the coast or through the heart of the city, if you opt for the longer ones. You will discover the importance of the old port for the history of Marseille, its cathedral, the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde or the Corniche, a coastal road from which you will have another view of the city.

If you have to make plans in Marseille with children, cycling is a good idea. On the one hand, you can enjoy the beauty of the city. On the other hand, the kids will have a great time while riding in a pushchair or on a trailer.

Do you prefer the comfort of a sidecar? In that case, you can go even further and ride along the Corniche. Your guide will also take you to the charming port of Goudes, a place where rushing is out of the question.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: from 35 euros for a bike and around 100 euros for a sidecar.
• Duration: between 1 hour 30 minutes and 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the vehicle and the type of excursion chosen.
• Advantages and disadvantages of this tour: it is a good option if you are only going to spend a day in the city or if you want to discover places a little further away from the centre than other types of guided tours. However, the sidecar tours are not suitable for very young children.

Marseille is an old city, but with a young spirit. That's why a different way to enjoy it is by visiting some of its best nightlife venues and bars. As the is very mild, there are also plenty of terraces and roof terraces where you can enjoy the Marseille nightlife.

We are talking about the second largest city in France, which means that the nightlife on offer is truly immense. That's why a guided tour is always a good idea. The routes will take you through the most atmospheric areas of the city, stopping off at some of the trendiest bars.

And if you're still in Marseille for a few days, you'll still be able to enjoy the nightlife. The expert guides will recommend many other places where you will have a great time.

Interesting facts about this tour

• Price: from 15 euros
• Duration: approximately 4 hours
• Theadvantages of this excursion: the tours usually include a shot in the locals, as well as games to liven up the route.

If you are one of those who appreciate exquisite aromas and flavours, this tour is for you. Marseille's gastronomy is truly exquisite and varied. Bear in mind that this thousand-year-old city has been a meeting point for cultures, so its cuisine has a host of influences that make it special.

What can you try on the best gastronomic tours of Marseille? Of course, bouillabaisse, a soup made with various fish. Also typical sweets such as navettes, biscuits in the shape of a boat, or chocolate. Not forgetting the delicious Provençal cheeses, accompanied by a good local wine.

Tasting the gastronomy of Marseille will allow you to discover not only its flavours and aromas, but also the history of the city and of Provence. Did you know that it was the Phoenicians who brought the first vines to Provence? This is just one of the curiosities you will discover on these tours.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: from 35 euros
• Duration: about 1 hour and 30 minutes
• The advantages of this tour: you will taste the best specialities of Marseille in a single tour and in typical restaurants that still preserve the culinary traditions of the city.

The Calanques National Park is one of the great treasures of the South of France and is located next to Marseille. Its hidden coves and white cliffs make for a spectacular postcard. If you like hiking, this is one of the best routes you can do in Provence.

The Calanques hides an infinite number of extremely beautiful spots. That's why there are different hiking routes, both in terms of duration and level of difficulty. However, on any of them, you will be able to contemplate breathtaking landscapes as you walk through pine trees, junipers and holm oaks.

A guided route will take you to the calanques of Col des Chèvres, Sugiton or Saint-Jean de Dieu. You can even take a dip in the turquoise waters of some of them. Marseille also enjoys good weather, so you can include this excursion in your plans to see Marseille in February, November or even Christmas.

Walking is not the only option to enjoy the Calanques from the ground. Some of the best bike tours in Marseille take you around this natural treasure. The bike will allow you to reach particularly beautiful coves without effort, as they are electric vehicles.

Interesting facts about this tour

• Price: from 30 euros for a walking tour and 55 euros for a bike tour.
• Duration: between 3 and 7 hours, depending on the chosen excursion.
• Advantages and disadvantages of this excursion: one of the best things to do in Marseille in August if in addition to seeing spectacular landscapes you fancy a swim in a truly dreamlike place.

The coast of Marseille is truly spectacular. From the waters of the Mediterranean, the views of the entrance to the port, the silhouette of the city or the island and the Château d'If are postcards you will never forget. And if the boat trip coincides with sunset, you will see one of the most incredible sunsets on the Mediterranean coast.

But sailing around Marseille is a much more extensive experience. The tours usually leave in plenty of time for a little dip and snorkelling before the sun begins to set.

And to round off the trip, the tours usually include a little snack-dinner and music to round off one of the best plans for enjoying a city closely linked to the sea.

Useful information about this excursion

• Price: around 75 euros
• Duration: about 4 hours
• Advantages and disadvantages of this excursion: some routes also take you to the Calanques, which allows you to contemplate a natural area of enormous ecological and scenic value. However, the availability of this excursion is usually limited to the warmer months.

One of the best boat tours in Marseille is the one that follows the coastline to tour the Calanques National Park. There are 20 kilometres of coastline dotted with small fjords that end in crystal-clear coves.

The beauty and contrasts of the Calanques are best seen from the sea. Here the green vegetation blends with the whites and ochres of the cliffs and the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean. Get your camera ready because you won't be able to stop taking photos.

Tours of the Calanques usually include the possibility of taking a dip and snorkelling to contemplate the richness of these waters. They also include a small lunch on board.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: from 130 euros
• Duration: about 7 hours
• Advantages and disadvantages of this excursion: it is the perfect complement to a walking or cycling tour of the Calanques. But it requires a full day.

Endoume is one of the most charming districts of Marseille. It is a place where you can still breathe a seafaring atmosphere and discover the most authentic side of the city. Its port of Vallon des Auffes is lined with fishermen's houses painted in a thousand different colours. And in front of them, small boats typical of this area.

This small port is one of the typical images of Marseille. But on this guided tour you will discover much more. You will discover, for example, the Corniche Kennedy, a road that overlooks the Mediterranean and from which you can enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the city.

On the way to Endoume you will also see other faces of Marseille, from the exclusive villas of the neighbouring district of Bompard to the most idyllic images you can imagine stopping at one of the viewpoints that line the coast of Marseille.

Useful facts about this excursion

• Price: about 15 euros
• Duration: about 2 hours
• Pros and cons of this tour: if you have to make plans to see Marseille in two days or even more, you will be able to discover one of the most charming places in the city which is off the beaten tourist track. However, if you are travelling with children, there are better plans to make with them.

Behind the Old Port, Noailles is one of the liveliest and most multicultural districts of Marseille. Strolling through its narrow cobbled streets is a very special experience. The aromas of spices fill every corner and in its centuries-old shops you can buy everything from food to handicrafts.

With a guided tour you can discover the bustling and exotic Capuchin market. It is located in what used to be a former convent, hence its name. Inside you can take a real journey through the flavours, aromas and colours of a large part of the world, especially the Orient.

The market is the heart of Noailles and the Canebière, the artery that leads to it. This is Marseille's main shopping street, its most famous avenue. Founded in the 17th century, it is home to some of the city's most interesting sights. But it is above all a place where you can immerse yourself in everyday life in Marseille.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: around 20 euros
• Duration: about 2 hours
• Pros and cons of this tour: if you like shopping or if you are one of those who are looking for the most unique corners of the cities you visit, this tour is perfect. It's a perfect experience to include in your plans to see Marseille in three days.

This basilica offers the best views of Marseille, both of the harbour and the bay. It is a neo-Byzantine temple as spectacular on the inside as it is on the outside, crowned by a spectacular golden sculpture of the Virgin Mary.

But a guided tour will take you to other interesting places nearby that you might otherwise overlook, such as the Bois Sacré, the Latin Quarter or the very steep Boulevard André Aune.

If you are in good shape, you can make the tour without any major problems. But if you don't feel like getting too tired, you have the option of doing it on a Segway, which is also great fun.

Interesting facts about this excursion

• Price: around 20 euros on foot and around 50 euros on a segway.
• Duration: between 2 and 2.5 hours.
• Advantages and disadvantages of this option: it gives you a bird's eye view of Marseille, but walking up to the basilica requires some effort.