City Break to Marseille, France: A 3 Day Itinerary
Marseille is one of those lesser known and slightly underrated cities in France. But with it’s beautiful architecture, diverse attractions and plenty of summer sunshine, it’s definitely worth the trip. Here’s a relaxed 3 day itinerary to help you get the most out of this awesome city.
DAY 1 – WALK FROM LE PANIER TO THE MUCEM.
KEY PLACES:
Strap on your comfy shoes and take a stroll through the charming Panier district, admiring the graffiti art as you go. After Le Panier, visit Marseille’s cathedral and the first of your trip’s striped buildings, Cathedral de la Major. From there, head on over to the MuCEM – Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée – and see it’s intricate exteriors. As you walk to the end of the promenade, you can also get a great view of Fort Saint-Jean and the Vieux Port. If you have time, go inside the museum for a look around for €8.
DAY 2 – VISIT THE NOTRE DAME DE LA GARDE.
KEY PLACES:
- Vieux Port
- Notre Dame de la Garde
- Le Panier District
- Drink at Casa Pietra
- Cathedral de la Major
Walk through the bustling Old Port – Vieux Port – and head towards the impressive structure on the hillside horizon. The walk takes about half an hour; but be warned that it can be rather steep, so breathers may be needed! Once you reach the top, marvel at the stunning Notre Dame de la Garde. If you have time after admiring the basilica and city views, make sure you go inside as well; it’s free and incredible! After your long walk, treat yourself to a glass of something cold whilst sat in the sunshine at Casa Pietra bar, near the Cathedral de la Major. Finish off with a walk back through any unexplored streets in Le Panier.
DAY 3 – GO HIKING IN LES CALANQUES NATIONAL PARK.
KEY PLACES:
This National Park stretches along the coast and plenty of hikes and trails can be found online. One in particular is to the Calanque de Sugiton. Walk through the city, past the CCIMP – CCI Marseille Provence – and take the 21 Bus toward Luminy. Get off at the last stop and then basically follow the trail down to the Calanque. Alternatively, you can stop at the breath-taking Belvédère de Sugiton viewpoint to avoid the steep descents/ascents. It’d be easy to spend all or half a day or even longer in Les Calanques. Whatever time frame you choose, make sure to add it to your itinerary.
WHERE ELSE.
This relaxed itinerary covers the key attractions of Marseille, but there’s plenty more to see if you can fit it in.
- Palais Longchamp in Parc Longchamp – a gorgeous monument and fountain.
- Abbaye Saint-Victor – a late Roman former monastic foundation.
- Visit another museum – including the Musée d’Histoire de Marseille & the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
- Porte d’Aix – a triumphal arch that marks the old entry point in to the city.
- Place Castellane – a historic square in the city.
- Château d’If – a fortress situated on the Island of If.
- Vallon des Auffes – the traditional fishing area of Marseille.
- Relax on a beach – including Plage Des Catalans in the centre.
GETTING AROUND MARSEILLE.
WALK – One of the great things about this city is that everything is pretty close together and therefore, walking is the best way to see the city.
DRIVE – Although walking is great, it is also possible and easy to drive your own car in Marseille.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT – Buses are an excellent and cheap way of exploring the city and beyond. Taxis too!
P I N F O R L A T E R . . .
