In Marseille, the pastel-colored houses with their beautiful facades greet us as we stroll towards the port. The ships sail in and out of the harbor and there is a light sea breeze in the air – I am already convinced: I like Marseille! Find out why Marseille is fantastic for a short trip or a day trip and what sights await you here:
Notre-Dame de la Garde :
The Notre-Dame de la Garde church is located on a hill in the middle of Marseille and is the city’s landmark. From here you can catch a wonderful view of the whole city.
Entrance fee:
Free of charge
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday – 8 am to 5 pm
Address:
Montée de la Bonne Mèr, 13006 Marseille
Tip:
A small tourist train also runs from the port, which takes you to the various sights of the city. You can get off at Notre-Dame de la Garde, have a look around and then take the train back. You can find out more about this under section 3.
Old harbor :
There is an endless amount to see and discover at the Old Port. Numerous ships sail in and out here and it is worth strolling along the waterfront right by the Old Harbour and going on a discovery tour.
Sightseeing tour with Les Petits Trains:
You either like them or you don’t. Personally, I always find this a nice way to take a little break in between and still discover a little more of the city. These little streetcars are very common in French cities and you can take them on a little tour of the city and see the most important sights.
In Marseille, the train stops on Route 1 after about 20 minutes at Notre-Dame de la Garde, where you can get off and explore and discover the church and the area around it at your leisure. If you want to go back, you can simply take a train back to the city. This then runs every 10 minutes back to the port.
Cost:
8 €
Duration:
Approx. 1.5 h (depending on how long you stay at Notre-Dame de la Garde)
Departure point:
directly at the harbor
A leisurely stroll through the city :
The city center of Marseille is colorful, full of stores & cafés and above all very, very pretty. The small alleyways, beautiful stores and many cafés simply create a city stroll atmosphere – at least that’s how I feel. From the old harbor, there are many beautiful large shopping streets and pretty little alleyways. Simply strolling around and seeing where you want to go is probably the best thing to do here.
Vieille Charité :
This impressive site is located in the heart of Marseille and is the perfect place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Vieille Charité actually houses many exhibitions on various topics. However, you can also stroll through the grounds and the beautiful archways for free.
Costs:
Grounds: free of charge
Admission to the exhibition: 6 €
Address:
2 Rue de la Charité, 13 236 Marseille, France
Kathedrale von Marseille:
Schlendert man eine Zeit lang vom Hafen aus in die Stadt, so ist die Kathedrale von Marseille wahrscheinlich nicht zu übersehen. Die wunderschöne Kathedrale ist wirklich einen Abstecher wert. Selbst wenn man nur die beeindruckende Erscheinung der Kirche auf sich wirken lässt, während man am Wasser entlangschlendert.
Adresse:
Place de la Major, 13002 Marseille, Frankreich
Day Trips : Calanques National Park
If you are staying longer in Marseille, this excursion might be something for you. Because between Marseille and Cassis you will find these beautiful bays – the Calanques National Park.
There are many options for booking a tour to the bays from the port in Marseille.
A few more tips for an unforgettable stay in Marseille:
Getting there:
We didn’t stay overnight in Marseille directly, but only took a day trip there. From the beautiful coastal town of Cassis, where we camped for 3 days, there is a public bus to Marseille several times a day. For only around 2 – 3 euros, you can be in Marseille in just three quarters of an hour and can enjoy the view of the coast and mountains during the bus ride.
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