How to get the best of Marseille in a weekend trip ?

Wherever you come from, whether you are french or foreigner, hold your breath beacause Marseille is beautiful. Do not pay attention to what you may have heard on a random radio station. Open wide your eyes and your heart : Welcome to Marseille.

Marseille’s got two main features. First there is this city, special in its culture, its accent, monuments and food. Second, there is the endless blue sea and sky to contemplate and get lost within. 

To enjoy the both sides of Marseille, one should reserve one day for the city and monuments and the other one for natural delights. 

Be Clever : Toilets facilities at airport and St charles (0.80€/person)

It’s okay to be ambitious. But did you overestimated your needs for the weekend and finally realise that may be it is going to be a little bit complicated to carry it all day long ? Here’s  your relief : There are baggage lockers available at the last platform after Toilets and VIP lounges under the signboard « consignes ». For the smallest locker the fare is about 5€. 

The most suitable card for you is PassXL 24 hours(6€) or PassXL 72hours(10€). Compared to Paris you’ll find it cheap but trust me, it is worth it. It allows you to use freely buses, trams and metros. To avoid the endless queues find an automatic RTM ticket machine at train platform level. Just one more thing, ask for a Marseille transport map at the station, it’s available at the accounters downstairs at the metro station. 

 

Be Clever: use the site lepilote to calculate your journey and know directions.  

Now at the Vieux Port, you have been surprised by the fishy smell and now you wonder where to go ? Basically the question is to go left or Right ? For the morning, you can turn right in the Mucem direction. Following the bank, you’ll soon reach to stairs just after a soap shop called : « Savonnerie de la licorne ».Take these stairs. you arrive in front of Church St Laurent St Raphael. Visit it, then take the aerial walkway to Mucem. Try to go upstairs at The Tour de Roi René, it’s a beautiful viewpoint. Explore the terrace and now come toward the second aerial walkaway which leads to the second part of Mucem. Enjoy the astonishing structure, rest a litte bit, take the stairs and go down. You now have in vision Cathedral de la Major. Its style is neo roman and neo byzantin (Thankyou @Mendak for this precision). The neighbourhood is called Panier, explore its artistic, intimistic streets that lead you back to the Old Port.  

Be Clever : Toilets at Mucem.

Now, take the bus 83. Stop at Pharo. Explore this beautiful garden and Palace. Lunch at this beautiful port dominating sight.

 

 

For the Afternoon, two possibilities : 

1. go back to the old port. Take the bus 60 to enjoy the 360° panorama at Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde
2. Continue with the bus 83 until the next stop Catalans. it’s a lovely beach with volley ball courts. Continue whether with bus or walking toward the Vallons des Auffes. It’s a little intimistic port, really pittoresque and typical in provincial colors. you have the stairs at both sides of street. you have a monument in memory of oriental soldiers. Take a nice photo. Go back the monument, let your hair go. Next you can also descend at the Fausse Monnaie, leads you on the rocks, to contemplate the sea. Enjoy the sound of water, get a little bit of silence. Take the bus or continue by foot. Next stop Parc Valmer. It’s a really beautiful exotic garden with palm trees. A villa within looks at the sea. Climb to the villa, make a titanic pose, look back at the sea. Yeah, every one wants to live there :). Continue by the sea. you’ll now soon arrive to La plage de Prophète. A lovely beach where you can descend. If you feel like having a romantic walk, continue walking along this long ciment bench which is the longest in world, yeah it’s true. you’ll come across to another monument in honor of those who came back from other countries afater the WWII. Still have time ? take the bus 83 and stop at Parc Borely, which is known as a cool parc in summer. Unfortunately, having visited it in winter, I do not have an objective point of view. 

When you are finished with one option continue with the second one 🙂

 

Detail about my Parc Borely Discovry

Program your transport via lepilote app

Get to the Old Port and queue for the ferries to leave for Frioul Islands. Explore every bit of it. Take a bath depending on the season. Notice the diffrent shades of blue. Get back to the ferries in advance if leaving with TGV or to Airport. Huge queues can make you miss the targeted hour ferry. Fill your eyes with this blue. 

Be Clever : Toilets at Ferry station and at the walkway between the two islands.