Things to know about Marseille
Last updated on January 26th, 2026.
We traveled to Marseille during spring, undoubtedly one of the prettiest times of year to visit.
Like many major European cities, there are parts of Marseille worth seeing, and others, well not so much.
Though overall, we enjoyed our time exploring the city, there are many things to know about Marseille before visiting. And it’s these tips that I want to share with other first-time travelers.
Marseille: did you know?
Here are some things to know about Marseille:
- It’s the second largest city in France
- It's located in the southeast of the country
- It’s a port city
- The main international airport is around 25 minutes by car to the city center
- Marseille was originally an Ancient Greek colony called Massalia
- The city is the birthplace of the National Anthem, La Marseillaise.
Things to know about Marseille
Is Marseille safe?
During our time in Marseille, though short, we found Marseille to be very safe. There are, however, parts of the city that you should probably avoid. More on that later.
Sixteen arrondissements (administrative districts) in total make up Marseille. The 1st arrondissement includes the main sights of the old port, and the neighborhoods of Canebiere and Noailles. Most of the city’s attractions are located in this area, and it’s safe, though touristy.
The 2nd arrondissement is where we stayed during our trip at NH Collection Marseille.
Safe arrondissements in marseille
It’s quiet, local in many parts, and best of all, close to the colorful Le Panier neighborhood. The hotel’s also a short walk from La Joliette metro, which is handy for traveling elsewhere around the city.
This arrondissement is also home to Marseille Cathedral and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations.
Explore other arrondissements
There are many other pretty and safe neighborhoods in Marseille worth visiting, such as the 6th, 7th and 8th arrondissements.
The first has plenty of residential tree-lined streets, leading to the popular tourist attraction of Notre Dame de la Garde. The 7th arrondissement is home to the Abbey of St Victor along with plenty of attractive and grand houses.
Go beyond the 1st arrondissement
The 8th arrondissement is further south, and you’ll need a car or public transportation to get there.
It’s an affluent district, and is also home to the striking Parc Borely. This Chateaux and 18th century gardens with a public park and lakeside café is a local favorite.
I’d also encourage you to explore other areas, as we came across a superb patisserie in the 5th arrondissement. For a seriously buttery, flaky and chocolaty pain au chocolat, make the journey to Amandine.
The surrounding streets are also very residential, and you immediately get the feeling that Amandine is where the locals go.
We visited on a Sunday morning, and savored every bite of our patisserie and coffee at this local hangout.
Map: things to know about Marseille before visiting
Areas to avoid in Marseille
Every city on the planet has good and not so good neighborhoods, and the same applies to Marseille.
Areas to avoid in Marseillle tend to be around the northern quarters of the city, i.e. the 14th arrondissement onwards. I won’t be naming any specific places or streets but these areas carry a general reputation for being less safe.
I’d just advise to stay within the areas above, especially if it’s your first time in Marseille.
Pack appropriately for the unpredictable weather
Needless to say, we’re at the mercy of the weather whenever, and wherever, we travel. We visited Marseille in early April and overall, I’d say it’s a good time of year.
There was plenty of spring sunshine, which made all the walking also more enjoyable. However, one of the things you should know about Marseille is that the weather can very be unpredictable.
Be weather savvy
When it rains in Marseille, it pours, and in our case, it poured for 1 entire day during our trip. Luckily, we’d come prepared with an umbrella, and an extra given by the hotel.
We’d also packed the right clothing and worn waterproof jackets to protect us from the elements.
Marseille is a port city, and even without the rain, it can feel chilly with the breeze.
Saying that, be prepared for any change in weather when visiting Marseille. Sure, there will be less chance of rain in summer, but you just never know.
Wear comfortable shoes
On an average day in Marseille, we racked up approximately 20,000 steps from walking around the city.
As well as walking to tourist areas around the center, we also found many sloping streets. La Panier neighborhood in Marseille has plenty, and as charming as it is, it can also wear you out.
Given this, I advise wearing your most comfortable, breathable pair of shoes or boots when traveling to Marseille.
Don't follow the locals
While you do see local women wearing high heels, they can do this as they’re pros at navigating their city.
Do your feet a favor and stick to comfortable shoes with pure cotton socks.
One last point also worth mentioning is to wear the correct material. If it rains, it can be a nightmare for materials like suede. Instead, stick to leather or a waterproof material; soggy socks and shoes can be a travel downer.
Beware a substandard bouillabaisse
For many people traveling to Marseille for the first time, there’s usually only one dish that dominates their wish list.
Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fisherman’s fish stew that originates from Marseille. You’ll see many restaurants, particularly around the harbor area, advertising it on their menus.
What you won’t know, however, is whether the bouillabaisse you’re eating is the real deal, or just a cheap imitation. It’s normal for major cities to capitalize on its most popular food item. In Berlin, it’s the currywurst; in Valencia it’s paella.
But, the biggest difference between these dishes and bouillabaisse is the cost. Most prices for bouillabaisse start around €40 ($45/£35*).
How to eat bouillabaisse in Marseille
The bouillabaisse is served in two parts, the first of which is the broth. If you’re looking for pieces of fish and seafood here, you’ll be disappointed as that comes later.
The broth’s served with small slices of toasted bread almost resembling larger croutons. To this, you spread on some rouille; a mayonnaise made from olive oil, saffron and garlic and cayenne pepper.
It has the same consistency and color of an English mustard, but without the heat. Lastly, you place the toast in the broth and eat together.
Part 2 of the bouillabaisse is the fish itself. A traditional bouillabaisse usually has fish such as rascasse, red gurnard and English conger.
More elaborate — and expensive — versions may also serve it with langoustine. The fish is served in the same broth, along with boiled potatoes.
Do your research
Now you know how to eat a bouillabaisse, you also need to know which restaurant does it best. This is where it can get difficult, because the last thing you want is a bad bouillabaisse.
At the time, we could only base our research on one thing: online reviews. To choose a restaurant near the port made sense given the ingredients of the dish so we started here.
We eventually settled upon a restaurant further away from the crowds, and one that had glowing reviews. Another good sign upon entering, was that all the other diners were French.
The bouillabaisse for 2 people cost €47 ($53/£41) and we prepared ourselves for a fish feast. It never arrived.
A bouillabaisse with no taste
The fish broth, rich in bouillabaisse color, was tasteless and bland. Our waiter also failed to tell us there was a second part to the dish.
By the time the fish plate arrived, we were already full from the bread and broth. The pieces of fish, though delicately cooked, was again lacking any flavor.
Suffice it to say, our bouillabaisse experience wasn’t so great. The restaurant staff and manager were very friendly, but we weren’t as positive about the food.
I later learned, that most people from Marseille don’t actually eat bouillabaisse, they probably leave it to the tourists. Truthfully, if we’d known this beforehand, we may have just skipped it altogether.
Get tips from the locals
There’s one fail-safe way to know whether a place/restaurant is good or not, and that’s to ask a local. At NH Collection Marseille, we were lucky to have an excellent customer relations manager to give us some insider tips.
Sadly, she was wasn’t working the day we went to try a bouillabaisse. But, she did direct us to an excellent French restaurant in La Joliette called Un Petit Cabanon.
She also gave us a good tip on a restaurant for dinner in Le Panier. Both her suggestions were for local places, with excellent quality food and wine.
Lunch starts early in Marseille
One of many things to know about Marseille is that lunch starts earlier rather than later. We were surprised by this, as in other Mediterranean countries, lunch tends to start later.
By comparison, many people start heading for lunch at 12pm in Marseille. If they start the lunch service early, they also end it early too.
Plan ahead
We discovered the hard way that some restaurants were already closed by 1.30. Fortunately, our guest relations manager had made us a last-minute booking at Un Petit Cabanon for a late lunch.
There were only two other tables dining when we entered — and they were already on the coffee; it was 1.15pm.
If you do plan to visit a certain restaurant for lunch, check the opening times before visiting. This way, you can always have a plan B if it falls through.
Take a day trip from Marseille
Marseille just so happens to be in one of the most beautiful regions of France, Provence. Taking a day trip from the city is possible, and there are also plenty of spectacular destinations to choose from.
Avignon
Take the picturesque commune of Avignon. It takes around 1 hour 44 minutes by car from Marseille to reach this location packed with UNESCO heritage sites.
The medieval Gothic structure of Palais des Papes is one of the most visited attractions in Avignon. It literally translates as Palace of the Popes, as it was once the Papal residence of 7 popes.
Other notable sights in Avignon include Pont D’Avignon and Avignon Cathedral.
Calanque National Park
See the most stunning natural sights away from the city at Calanque National Park.
Calanques are narrow steep-walled inlets made from limestone or dolomite found along the Mediterranean coast. The national park extends over 520km2 encompassing marine life, and has plenty of hiking and climbing spots.
Calanque de Sormiou is the biggest calanque in the park, and a popular spot for the locals in summer. Cars are restricted here in summer given the risk of forest fires.
The park has tons of activities to make the most of a day trip. Join a catamaran cruise to see the calanques from Marseille to Cassis or take part in a half-day hiking tour with swimming.
Cassis
Discover the coastal commune of Cassis on a day trip from Marseille.
Pastel-colored restaurants, bars and cafes line the port, while its pebble beaches and striking calanques attract visitors annually. Cassis is also known for its wineries and for producing white and rose wine varieties. Don’t confuse this with Crème de Cassis.
This liquor is actually made in Burgundy and takes its name from cassis the fruit (blackcurrants), rather than the commune.
You can see Marseille sights in 1 day
The last thing you should know about Marseille, is that it’s possible to see the main attractions in 1 day. Most of the city’s top sights, like Marseille Cathedral and Notre Dame de la Garde, are within the same area.
I highly recommend taking the no.60 bus from the old port to Notre Dame de la Garde. It’s not only a long walk, but also an uphill one at that.
Take a tour of the city
If time’s really short in Marseille, you may want to consider taking a guided tour, or even trying the hop-on hop-off bus. These routes help you visit the must-see things of the city and with a local expert too.
What are your thoughts on this travel guide of things to know about Marseille? Have you already been and want to add something to this list? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
*prices correct at the time of travel
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Thank you for writing this. We booked flights for early August and I have no idea about the place. I heard that the best and only areas to stay are the 1er and 2er Arrondissement... but alot of the accomodation I am seeing are outside of this. Would love your thoughts.
I'm glad that it is helpful. I'm guessing it's because you're visiting in August and other places in the 1st and 2nd have already been booked? Our preference was staying as central as possible. Some of our French friends advised that some parts outside could be a little more dodgy, their words not ours 🙂
Lisa I have never heard of Bouillabaisse though I am sure its a dish I'd want to try if I visit Marsielle . Thanks for the advice on how to identify places which are selling substandard Bouillabaisse, it's always a great idea to take advice for the locals! Also, its a great tip that one must stay in the well-known areas of the city and avoid other neighbourhoods, especially as a solo traveller, that's something I must keep in mind.
Absolutely! It's always great to explore, but as a solo traveler, always be mindful of the areas that are best avoided
Wow! This must be a good place to visit as opposed to the belief that it has very little to offer. I love your photos.
Thank you! Marseille has plenty to offer 🙂
A lovely travel sharing, after read it, I missed my France trip many years ago & have not been to Marseille, would like to visit once 🙂 cheers,
Definitely visit for next time 🙂
I have always wanted to visit here and am loving all of your tips!
Thank you! It's a great city 🙂
I love how blue the sky is. 12-1:30 is normal lunch time here also.
Yes!
This city seems more interesting than Paris. More relaxed and havent read any chaos from this city from the news.
Absolutely!
I am curious to know why the 14th arrondissement is considered unsafe? Is it not safe for everyone or specifically for women?
There's been stories of gang violence in the past, but please don't take my word for it. It's just what we were told in Marseille 🙂
I have heard about Marseille and the place looks beautiful. I would love to take a day trip there on my visit to France. Bouillabaisse sounds interesting. It is a pity that your bouillabaisse experience was not that great. I would have been quite disappointed if the fish arrived late and had little taste. But I am happy that rest of the trip went great. Thanks for all the useful tips you gave for a visit to Marseilles. It will be really helpful for the travellers.
Thank you so much! We did have a great time overall, and yes it's a shame about the bouillabaisse, next time we'll know better 😀
I have been there. It is indeed a lovely place to explore.
It is!
I love how informative you were with your tips. I think that a trip here sounds awesome.
Thank you! I hope you get to visit one day
Wow, Such a wonderful place in Marcelle the photos Amaze me. I would love to visit this place someday. Great photos.
Thank you! It's a great city to explore and photograph too
I do hope to visit Marseille someday soon! Such a beautiful city and the pastries look so freakin delicious. Great tips on where to avoid dodgy neighborhoods. I always look for those so that I don't' accidentally end up in trouble.
Me too. I love exploring but you never want to make a wrong turn in a bad neighborhood!
Most people post about Paris, not Marseille! Thank you for this, I definitely will take it to use when I go.
That's great to know, hope you enjoy it!
I never heard Marseilles before I heard it is a beautiful place. And, your photos tell the truth as it is so beautiful!
Thank you, it's a beautiful city!
Some great tips about when lunch is (very surprising how early it is); about what to expect from ordering bouillabaisse and that you can see everything you need to see in Marseille in one day. Great post.
Thanks Nicole, glad you enjoyed it!
What a great guide to this city. I especially love the added I go about safe areas vs not as safe areas. I have not been to Marseille, but after reading this am definitely intrigued. Thank you.
Thanks Laura, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. It's an interesting city with plenty to see and do
Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog about Marseille. I just love how beautiful this place it. The beautiful streets, wonderful architecture and gorgeous views. I would love to visit this place someday.
Thank you so much! It's really a great city to explore; I hope you visit one day
I have always wanted to visit there! Looks so beautiful!
It really is, consider visiting!
It's sad that you have to deal with the bland fish. But the rest of the photos are great. I will add this place to the list of places to travel with my friends.
Lol for us too! Thank you, I hope you get to visit one day
These are amazing tips from such a real perspective. Thank you for sharing the good and the bad! So many people just share the beautiful and safe parts but this post made me feel like I was actually there and now I have some amazing tips for when we're there! Great post!
Thank you Sana! I really appreciate your feedback. Yes, it's important to show both sides of the city, they do exist!
I love Marseille! it’s such a nice city I was lucky enough to visit last year. I would love to go back again
Yes, we had a great time too. It's so charming!
That's a great list of things to do and tips. We'd love to visit Marseille and it looks like a lovely destination x
Consider visiting, plus you can bring the kids along!
I wish I made it to the heart of Cote d'Azur and, in particular, Marseille. I was on a cruise ship and went to Toulon (sort of the boundary for the Cote d'Azur). I would love to experience the history and atmosphere of Marseille.
The Cote d'Azur is magnificent! I hope you make it next time to Marseille - it's great for families too
I like all the tips you gave about Marseille. The lunch eating time is an important one! It's also helpful that you shared which arrondissements are good to visit and what areas to stay away from.
Thanks Elizabeth! I wanted to share what we'd learned and pass it on; the guidebooks would be more diplomatic 😀
Great post, there is a lot of helpful information here and Marseille looks beautiful to visit.
Thank you, it's a wonderful city 🙂
We are heading to the South of France this fall and these tips are so helpful.
You're welcome! Hope you have a wonderful time
Adding this to the list! Thank you or the virtual tour and tips to make the most of Marseille
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Wow this is incredible and I didn't know any of these things about Marseille!
I hope you took something useful away from this post! 😀
Looks beautiful. I would love to visit that place and other similar places in Europe. #travelgoals
Thanks Danielle, I hope you do too!
I love Marseille! I have been so many times and I think yours are great tips for first-timers. Especially when you talk about the safer arrondissements and the ones that you should avoid. I love Notre Dame de la Garde. The view is amazing!
It's amazing, especially when the sun's out too! And thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Nice reading your Marseille travel guide. I would love to be there and enjoy the warmth of this lovely place.
It's a fab city; definitely consider visiting!
Marseilles looks so enchanting. In France, we have only been to Paris and taken in the usual sights and experiences. However, we need to explore the other regions of France. Marseilles sounds like a good place to start with. Your tips are great in having a safe and immersive experience while there. A very useful ready reckoner for first timers to the place.
Thank you Sandy! Yes, there are so many other parts of France worth exploring, not just its capital 🙂
I remember the first time I visited Marseilles like it was yesterday. It's an absolutely stunning city and one of my favorites in France! You sure provided some very useful information for first-time visitors (like you always do) 🙂
Thank you Daniel, I appreciate the feedback and the kind comment. It's really an interesting city to visit!
I haven't visited Marseille yet so it's good to get your detailed tips, I've pinned this for future reference. I'm still a bit confused about the bouillabaisse processes? Do you get the broth first, then the fish gets tossed in the same broth? Or do you get two bowls of broth? Always confusing how to eat traditional dishes in foreign places!
Thank you! Lol you get the broth first with the toast and rouille; then the second part is the actual fish pieces, served in the same broth. Ask a local for tips or do plenty of research before choosing a restaurant 🙂
Loved to read about Port city of Marseilles. As it is second biggest city in France, I can imagine there is lot of walking involved. I would love to visit this beautiful place in April as you suggested.
It's a good time to visit.
I would love to visit Marseille! I love exploring France; I'll have to add this to my list 🙂
Xo, Alicia
That's great to read, you'll have a good time!
This is awesome. We live in Spain and have yet to visit Marseille, though we've been talking about it forever. Time to give it a serious thought now.
You definitely should! There's a lot to see here 😀
this has so much information about Marseille! Very helpful if you're traveling there soon
Thank you, glad you found it useful
Oh you bought back sweet memories of our visit to Marseille in 2013. It can be an edgy city but that is what we loved about it. Wish we had have known about the Amandine Patisserie - that pastry looks very soft and flaky. My - the cost of bouillabaisse - really 40 euros? To have such a poor experience and to also pay Euros 47 - ouch!
Sadly yes! But that's why I wanted to write about it to inform others 🙂
We are yet to head to the south of France and ofcourse Marseille is in our plans. We are considering the next winter, coz its just too expensive in summers!
Thanks esp, for the tips about where not to go.
Reg, the local food - I'd just be skipping it, being a veggie! 🙂
Lol then you'll definitely be ok!
Marseille looks so beautiful. I have been to Paris several times but have never made it to the Med. I'll have to correct that soon. The Le Panier neighborhood seems heavenly.
It was our favorite neighborhood! Definitely consider visiting one day 🙂
These are some really handy tips. I definitely want to visit Marseilles soon.
You should, plus it's great for the family too
Marcelle sounds like a dream to me! So charming and filled with food. I do hope to cycle there one day
That'd be a real challenge!
girl all i can say is wow! Thank you for sharing my sister is going in august, I sent her your post. Just a beautiful trip
Aw thank you! I hope she has an amazing time
Such a great post! I especially enjoyed the information on bouillabaisse - it's a pity yours didn't live up to the hype!
Thank you! Lol yes, ours looked nice but the taste was a let down. Oh well, you live and you learn!
I was planning a trip to this part of France, but I must tell you that Marseilles had ignored it on my tour, perhaps because of the mistaken belief that it is a city that has little to offer ... instead ...
That's great to read! It really has a lot to offer, you just need to look hard enough 😀
Thank you so much for this very helpful article. I will surely bookmark this.
Great!
We only spent a day in Marseille as it was a stop off on our Med cruise, it's such a pretty city
It is! And great for families too
I have been to France but never been to Marseille yet. This works as a good and informative guide for me. I love how you have also added places to find good food.
You're welcome! Just be sure to research your bouilliabasse before ordering!
Thank you for the virtual tour of this lovely city in France. I haven't been there so I am adding Marseille to my travel bucket list. I love that photo of you sitting on a bench looking out at that calm body of water. I can just imagine how beautiful the sunset would be there. Bookmarking this post for reference for a future trip. 🙂
Thank you Annemarie! We really enjoyed visiting, as it's a nice change from Paris. I'd love to know if you do visit
Trying not to be jealous of this incredible trip over here! Ha! Also, did not know that about Boullabase! I’ll keep the 2 parts in mind
Lol sorry! Yes, it's something I wish she knew before too 😀
You always visits wonderful places. This places on France is so beautiful and makes me want to visit this as well soon. I bet it would be an amazing experience, sitting in a local cafe alfresco sipping coffee and just observing.
Thank you! Marseille is very pretty and typically French too 🙂 Dining or taking a coffee al fresco is a must here!
Great tips and amazing photographs! This is perfect for whenever I get the chance to travel here (hopefully sometime in the next few years). Marseille is on my list of places to see!
Aw thank you! It's a great city to photograph. I hope you get there too one day x