Expect a historic bounty in Marseille, a city that blends along-developed café culture with art, architecture and medieval landmarks. Notlimited to history however, the city is home to exotic markets, spacious parksand breathtaking outdoor daytrips. Be sure to bring hiking boots.
Spring into the morning with a coffee at Vieux Port, Marseille’s historic centre. Here, the cafés have spentthe last century tinkering with their formulas, perfecting each coffee to anart form.
Explore the nearby Panier, the city’s maze-like old town. Browsehistoric artefacts at Vieille Charité Museumor discover the stunning Baroque façade of the Hotel de Ville. The Petit Train provides easy access to the hilltopNotre Dame de la Garde Basilica,where you’ll find a panoramic view of Marseille.
Join the bustle along the Canabière thoroughfare, the city’s main roadand home to galleries, theatres and the magnificent Opéra de Marseille. Nearby, the city’s main tourism office providesevent schedules and ticket booking. Step into the Noailles district, which is anexotic experience highlighted by a bazaar-like African market.
For some sun and fresh air, explore the intricately designed Borèly Park. Here, a grand chateau andbotanic gardens provide memorable sights, historic items and exotic plants.Take the short walk to Prado Beachor Borèly Beach and enjoy a swim anda drink.
Further afar, the adventurous will delight in a day of hiking or boatingaround the soaring limestone formations that characterise the Calanques National Park. Combine a daytripwith a boat tour from Vieux Port to Chateau d’If, an island that once held aprison, as memorialised in Alexandre Dumas’ Countof Monte Cristo.
Get around the main areas of Marseille on foot, or use frequent bus andboat routes to the southern parks and more distant attractions. Trains connect Marseille to most regions ofFrance, as well as major hubs in Central Europe. Alternatively, get to Corsica,Sardinia and North Africa via frequent ferry routes.
