Marseille Holidays

Marseille is where Mediterranean grit meets coastal glamour. France's oldest city is a melting pot of cultures, world-class seafood and jaw-dropping coastal scenery. From the buzzing Old Port to the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Calanques, this is a city break with proper character.

☀️ Good to Know About Marseille

• ☀️ Marseille gets over 300 days of sunshine a year. Summers are hot at 28-30°C, and even winter stays mild at 7-12°C. The mistral wind can blow through any time of year though, so pack a light layer just in case

• 💶 Pricier than rural Provence but still good value for a major French city. A pint costs around €5-6, a solid restaurant meal €15-25, and an espresso at the bar about €2. Bouillabaisse (the local signature dish) at a proper restaurant will set you back €40-60 for the real deal

• ⚽ Marseille lives and breathes football. Olympique de Marseille play at the Stade Velodrome, which holds 67,000 and creates one of the most intense atmospheres in European football

🌟 Highlights of Your Holidays to Marseille 2026/2027

• ⛵ The Vieux-Port (Old Port) is the beating heart of Marseille. Lined with cafes, seafood restaurants and fishing boats, it's where the city has centred itself for over 2,600 years. The daily fish market at the quayside is still going strong

• 🏔️ Calanques National Park is right on Marseille's doorstep. Dramatic limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise water, with hidden coves you can reach by boat, kayak or on foot. It's one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Europe

• ⛪ Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde sits on the highest point in the city and the views from the top are incredible. You can see the whole of Marseille, the coastline and the islands. Locals call it "la Bonne Mere" (the Good Mother)

• 🏛️ MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) is a striking modern building connected to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean by a dramatic footbridge. The exhibitions cover Mediterranean history and culture, and the rooftop terrace has some of the best views in the city

• 🎨 Le Panier is Marseille's oldest neighbourhood. Narrow streets, colourful street art, independent boutiques and artisan workshops crammed into a hillside above the port. It's the kind of area where you can wander for an hour and keep finding new things

Looking specifically for hotels in the city centre? Check out our Marseille City page for stays right in the heart of the action around the Vieux-Port, Le Panier and La Canebiere.

🏨 Top Marseille Hotels

Looking for the perfect place to stay on your Marseille holiday? You can see all our hotels in Marseille here, or browse our top picks below. For stays specifically in the city centre, also check our Marseille City page.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

Marseille skews towards couples and groups, but it works well for families too. The beaches at Prado are family-friendly, the Calanques are a brilliant day out and there are boat trips to the Chateau d'If. Our top picks for families are:

• 🏊 Radisson Blu Marseille Vieux Port is a big, well-equipped hotel with an outdoor pool, hot tub and a poolside snack bar. It's a 6-minute walk to the Vieux-Port with wheelchair-friendly rooms and family-friendly services throughout

• 🏠 Residhome Marseille has rooms with kitchenettes, which is a real plus for families. Free cots, close to Les Terrasses du Port shopping centre and a 12-minute walk to the Old Port

💑 Couples

• 🏛️ Maisons du Monde Hotel & Suites Marseille is a swanky 62-room design hotel right by the Old Port and the Opera House. Modern interiors, concierge service and you're steps from the best restaurants in the city

• 🌊 New Hotel of Marseille Vieux Port has an outdoor pool, bar and restaurant with modern design throughout. A short walk to the Vieux-Port, Les Catalans beach and the Corniche Kennedy coastal road

✨ Luxury

• 💎 NH Collection Marseille is a sleek, modern hotel near the Old Port and the MUCEM with a gym, restaurant serving local and international cuisine, and excellent transport links

🎉 Groups

• 🏢 Novotel Suites Marseille Centre Euromed has spacious suites with balconies and sea views, a fitness room, bar and sun terrace. 15-minute walk to the MUCEM and Fort Saint-Jean

• 🏙️ Odalys City Marseille Centre Euromed has 252 studios and apartments sleeping up to 4, with an indoor pool, sauna and Turkish bath. A solid group base with self-catering options

💰 Value

• ☕ B&B Hotel Marseille Centre Vieux Port is a compact, no-fuss hotel right in the centre. A short walk to the Old Port, Le Panier and the Mucem. Air-conditioned, with a bar and 24-hour reception

• 🌅 Escale Oceania Vieux Port sits right on La Canebiere opposite the Old Port. A solid breakfast buffet and the bus/metro stop is literally 10 metres from the door

👉 See all Marseille hotels

🏛️ Must See in Marseille 2026/2027

• ⛵ Vieux-Port - Marseille's historic harbour and the centre of daily life. The morning fish market is the real deal, the quayside cafes are perfect for people-watching, and the Norman Foster-designed mirrored canopy is a brilliant piece of modern architecture in an ancient setting

• 🏔️ Calanques National Park - Limestone inlets with turquoise water stretching along the coast southeast of the city. Calanque d'En-Vau and Calanque de Sormiou are the showstoppers. Reachable by boat, kayak or hiking trails. Go early in summer as access is restricted on high fire-risk days

• 🏰 Chateau d'If - The island fortress made famous by Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. A 20-minute boat ride from the Vieux-Port, and the views back towards Marseille from the ramparts are brilliant

• 🏛️ MuCEM & Fort Saint-Jean - The museum itself is world-class, but even the building and the footbridge connecting it to the 17th-century fort are worth the visit. The rooftop terrace is free to access and the views are stunning

• 🎨 Le Panier - The oldest neighbourhood in France's oldest city. Narrow streets climbing the hillside above the port, packed with street art, craft shops, galleries and some of the city's best independent restaurants

• ⛪ Notre-Dame de la Garde - The hilltop basilica that watches over the city. The interior is covered in ex-voto offerings (model ships and plaques left by grateful sailors), and the panoramic views from the terrace are the best in Marseille

🏘️ Where to Stay on Your Marseille Holidays

• ⚓ Vieux-Port & La Canebiere The heart of Marseille. Restaurants, cafes, the fish market and transport links all on your doorstep. This is where most first-time visitors base themselves and the best area for being in the thick of it

• 🎨 Le Panier The old town climbing the hill above the port. Cobbled streets, street art and independent shops. Characterful and atmospheric, though the steep streets aren't ideal if you're carrying heavy bags

• 🏗️ Euromed & Joliette Marseille's regenerated waterfront district near Les Terrasses du Port shopping centre and the MUCEM. Hotels here tend to be newer and good value, with easy metro access to the rest of the city

• 🏖️ Prado & South Further along the coast towards the Calanques. Prado Beach is the main family-friendly strip, and it's quieter than the centre. Good for those who want beach access without being in the urban buzz

🗣️ Local Lingo

• 🇫🇷 Bonjour - Hello (use before 6pm, then switch to "bonsoir")

• 🙏 S'il vous plait / Merci - Please / Thank you

• 🍺 Une biere, s'il vous plait - A beer, please

• 🍽️ L'addition, s'il vous plait - The bill, please

• 🥂 Sante - Cheers

• 🐟 Une bouillabaisse, s'il vous plait - One bouillabaisse, please (when in Marseille...)

🗺️ Marseille Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to do for families in Marseille

• 🚢 A boat trip to Chateau d'If is a brilliant family day out. The 20-minute crossing from the Vieux-Port is half the fun, and the island fortress (famous from The Count of Monte Cristo) keeps kids entertained with cells, ramparts and views back towards the city

• 🏖️ Prado Beach is Marseille's main family-friendly spot with shallow waters, lifeguards and play areas. There are cafes and ice cream shops right behind the sand, and it's easy to reach on the bus from the centre

• 🦁 La Barben Zoo is about 40 minutes from Marseille and home to over 700 animals. A solid day trip that combines well with a drive through the Provencal countryside

• 🏛️ The MuCEM has interactive exhibits that work for older kids, and the free rooftop terrace and footbridge to Fort Saint-Jean are fun for all ages. The park around the fort is a good spot for a run-around

💑 Things to do for couples in Marseille

• 🌅 Walk the Corniche Kennedy coastal road as the sun goes down. This 5km stretch hugs the clifftops between the Vieux-Port and Prado Beach, with views across to the Frioul Islands. One of the most romantic walks in the south of France

• 🍷 Take a day trip to Cassis, a gorgeous little coastal town about 30 minutes east. Vineyards, a pretty harbour and boat trips into the Calanques. The local white and rose wines are excellent and most of the production stays in the region, so this is your chance to try them

• 🎨 Lose an afternoon in Le Panier. The winding streets reward slow exploration, and the independent cafes and galleries give you plenty of excuses to stop. It's the kind of neighbourhood where you keep turning corners and finding something new

• 🍽️ Book a table at a waterfront restaurant in the Vieux-Port for the evening. Watching the boats come in while eating fresh seafood with the city lit up around you is one of Marseille's great pleasures

🎊 Things to do for groups in Marseille

• ⚽ Catch an Olympique de Marseille match at the Stade Velodrome. 67,000 capacity, one of the most passionate fan cultures in Europe and an atmosphere that's properly electric. Even for non-football fans, it's an experience

• 🚣 Hire kayaks and explore the Calanques as a group. Paddling into the limestone inlets with turquoise water below you is a brilliant way to spend a day. Several operators run guided group tours from the Pointe-Rouge area

• 🍸 Head to Cours Julien for Marseille's best bar and live music scene. This artsy district has a different energy to the Vieux-Port - street art, vinyl shops, independent bars and live music venues all packed into a few colourful streets

• 🥃 Do a pastis tasting. Marseille's signature aniseed-flavoured spirit is a rite of passage. Several bars and shops offer guided tastings where you can try different varieties and learn the proper ritual of mixing it with cold water

🌍 More Destinations

Fancy exploring beyond Marseille? France has loads more to see and there's all of Europe to explore....

🇫🇷 More in France

• 🏖️ Nice The jewel of the French Riviera, about 2 hours east along the coast. The Promenade des Anglais, Old Town markets and some of the best beaches in the south of France

• 🗼 Paris France's capital is about 3 hours north by TGV. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre and world-class food

• 🌊 Cote d'Azur The wider French Riviera coast including Cannes, St Tropez and Antibes. Glamorous beaches, yacht-filled harbours and that classic Mediterranean lifestyle

• 🏄 Biarritz France's surf capital on the Atlantic Basque Coast. Golden beaches, Belle Epoque architecture and brilliant Basque food

• 🏰 Nantes A creative, walkable city on the Loire. Giant mechanical elephants, castle moats and some of the best food in western France

• 🐚 La Rochelle A charming Atlantic port town with golden beaches, one of Europe's biggest aquariums and France's finest seafood

🇪🇺 Wider Western Europe

• 🇮🇹 Milan Italy's fashion and design capital is about 4 hours by train or a short flight. World-class art, the Duomo and the best aperitivo scene in Europe

• 🇮🇹 Rome The Eternal City. The Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain and some of the best street food in Italy

• 🇨🇭 Geneva Lakeside elegance about 3.5 hours by train. The Jet d'Eau, Swiss chocolate, Alpine views and that unmistakable Swiss precision

• 🇨🇭 Zurich Switzerland's most cosmopolitan city. Old-town charm, lake views and world-class museums

• 🇩🇪 Germany Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and more. Great beer, brilliant culture and easy flights from the UK