Marseille: what to see in 1 day?

Marseille is one of the most famous French cities, formerly and still one of the largest ports and logistics centres in the country, as well as one of the centres for fishing and fish processing.

There are not many places of interest in Marseille and some tourists find it uninteresting and do not include it in their itinerary when visiting France. The reason for that is simply because it has its own charm. It has its own charm, its own flavour and some noteworthy sights. There are not many of them, and the most interesting places in Marseille can be seen within a day. The beauty of the city is that it’s perfect for a short city-break. A good starting point for your sightseeing is the tourist office at 11 La Canebière, where you can buy a map of the city.

Coach tours

Buses are available for sightseeing in Marseille and the routes are indicated on the map. You can either sightsee by sightseeing in one bus or get off and get on the next one.

Historic attractions in Marseille

Notre Dame de la Garde

Of course all tourist itineraries in Marseille will include the number one attraction, Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Cathedral. There is an observation deck on the roof of the city’s most important cathedral from which you can admire just wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. There’s also a history museum with a very interesting exposition.

Old port

A tour of Marseille also includes the Old Port with its centuries-old docks and the Fish Market. The northern part of the port is home to such attractions as the medieval Fort St Jean and the Euro-Mediterranean Civilisation Museum. The latter is sure to appeal to those with an interest in the origins of European culture.

The old port is also renowned for its fish restaurants that serve bouillabaisse, a fish soup that is only cooked in Marseille.

Cultural Marseille

In the afternoon, explore the old town of Le Panier, known as Marseille’s Montmartre. This is the area where most of the theatres, museums and other places related to the cultural life of this French city are concentrated. One of the most notable is a building called La Vieille Charité. It used to be the home of an almshouse. It is now occupied by the Marseille Science and Culture Centre, the Archaeology Museum and the Museum of African, Oceanian and Native American Art.

End of a tour day

End the tour with dinner in one of Marseille’s charming cafés serving pastis, a special kind of aniseed vodka produced in Provence.

If you have time and energy left or have more than one day to spend in Marseille, you can take a boat excursion. Excursion boats are waiting for tourists at the quay of the Old Port. During the tour you can see the Château d’If – the one from The Count of Monte Cristo. During the warmer months, individual boat tours with bathing stops can be booked.