- Marseille was the first French city to be governed by a communist mayor during the post-WWII era.
- The city’s iconic soap, Savon de Marseille, is strictly regulated by an edict dating back to the reign of Louis XIV in 1688.
- Marseille serves as the primary gateway for immigration from the Maghreb region, significantly shaping its culinary and linguistic landscape.
- The city is home to the oldest port in France, which has functioned as the Mediterranean's maritime hub for over 2,600 years.
- Marseille experienced a massive urban renewal project known as Euroméditerranée, one of the largest in Europe, to revitalize its former industrial waterfront.
About Marseille
Marseille is the oldest city in France, founded by Greek sailors from Phocaea around 600 BC as Massalia. As the country's primary commercial port, its identity is defined by a unique fusion of Mediterranean cultures and industrial history. Dominating the skyline is the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, while the modern face of the city is represented by the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations. The urban landscape blends maritime heritage with landmarks like the Palais Longchamp and the monumental Cathédrale La Major, showcasing centuries of architectural transformation.
Highlights of Marseille
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Temples
This basilica offers panoramic views over the entire city and the Mediterranean coastline.
Museums
The museum focuses on the anthropological history of Mediterranean societies through a striking contemporary concrete lattice design.
Historical places
This former island prison became famous as the setting for Alexandre Dumas's novel, The Count of Monte Cristo.
Temples
This cathedral is one of the largest in France and displays a distinct Romanesque-Byzantine style with striped stone patterns.
Parks
This expansive public garden features a large lake and botanical collections near the southern coastal beaches.
Venues
This iconic stadium serves as the home ground for Olympique de Marseille and features a distinct architectural roof design.
Parks
Built to celebrate the arrival of water to the city, this monument houses the fine arts museum and a natural history museum.
Museums
This seventeenth-century almshouse in the historic Le Panier district now functions as a multi-disciplinary cultural center.
Top things to do in Marseille
The 318 highest-rated places in Marseille, ranked by travellers.
1
Temples
Notre-Dame de la Garde is a 19th-century Neo-Byzantine basilica situated on the highest natural point in Marseille at 14...
2
Venues
The Orange Vélodrome is the primary home stadium for the Olympique de Marseille soccer club and a major venue for intern...
3
Parks
Parc national des Calanques is a protected area spanning 85 square kilometers of land and 435 square kilometers of sea b...
4
Temples
Cathédrale La Major is a massive Neo-Byzantine Romanesque basilica constructed between 1852 and 1893 to demonstrate Mars...
5
Museums
The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM) is the first national museum dedicated to the cultures of...
6
Parks
Palais Longchamp is a 19th-century water tower and monument built to celebrate the arrival of the Canal de Marseille, wh...
7
Parks
Parc Borély is an 18-hectare public garden in Marseille, recognized as a 'Jardin Remarquable' of France. The site featur...
8
Places of interest
Les Petits Trains de Marseille operate rubber-tired tourist road trains that transport visitors through the historic hea...
9
Historical places
Château d'If is a 16th-century fortress located on the Frioul archipelago in the Bay of Marseille. Originally commission...
10
Museums
The Centre de la Vieille Charité is a 17th-century Baroque architectural complex located in the Le Panier district of Ma...
11
Parks
Parc du 26ème Centenaire is a 10-hectare urban park built on the site of the former Prado railway station. The park comm...
12
Venues
Le Silo is a repurposed grain silo transformed into a contemporary multi-purpose performance venue located in the Joliet...
13
Historical places
Porte d'Aix, officially named the Porte Royale, is a neoclassical triumphal arch standing at the former northern entranc...
14
Parks
The Zoological Gardens, known locally as the Jardin Zoologique within the Palais Longchamp, is a historic site that no l...
15
Beaches and ponds
Port de Callelongue is a small, traditional fishing harbor located at the southern tip of Marseille, serving as the gate...
16
Museums
The Marseille History Museum is built directly over the ancient port of Massalia, the city's original Greek harbor found...
17
Museums
The Natural History Museum of Marseille is housed within the left wing of the Palais Longchamp, a 19th-century masterpie...
18
Venues
The Opéra de Marseille is an 18th-century neoclassical venue located in the historic center of Marseille. Originally ina...
19
Museums
Fort Saint-Jean is a historic military fortification marking the entrance to the Old Port of Marseille, now integrated i...
20
Places of interest
The Belvédère de Sugiton is a high-altitude observation point offering a panoramic view of the Sugiton and Morgiou calan...
21
Temples
Église Saint-Vincent de Paul, commonly known as the Église des Réformés, is a prominent 19th-century neo-Gothic landmark...
22
Historical places
Place Castellane is a central circular square in Marseille distinguished by the monumental Fountain Jules Cantini, a Car...
23
Venues
The Dock of Laughter (Le Quai du Rire) is a dedicated comedy club situated directly on the Vieux-Port of Marseille. The...
24
Parks
Parc de la Maison Blanche is a municipal garden situated in the 9th arrondissement of Marseille, centered around a 19th-...
25
Parks
Jardin des Vestiges, also known as the Port Antique, preserves the foundational archaeological remains of Massalia, the...
26
Amusement parks
Ecopark Adventures Marseille Saint-Jérôme is an outdoor treetop adventure park featuring various obstacle courses suspen...
27
Places of interest
The David replica in Marseille is a bronze cast of Michelangelo's original Renaissance masterpiece located on the Promen...
28
Beaches and ponds
Le Vallon des Auffes is a traditional 18th-century fishing harbor located in a sheltered cove along Marseille's coastlin...
29
Parks
Parc de la Moline is a 12-hectare green space located in the 12th arrondissement of Marseille, occupying the grounds of...
30
Museums
Musée Regards de Provence is housed in a repurposed 1940s sanitary station near the Marseille port, featuring a design b...
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Marseille on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Marseille
May to June or September to October, when the Mediterranean temperatures are moderate and the heavy summer tourist crowds have either not arrived or have departed.
3-4 days, allowing enough time to explore the city center, the islands, and the nearby national park coastal trails.
The city features a network of two metro lines, three tram lines, and an extensive bus system, though much of the central port area remains walkable.
The Vieux-Port area is the most central for transit access, while Le Panier offers a historic atmosphere with narrow winding streets.
Mid-range; while accommodation and dining can be expensive in tourist hotspots, the city offers many affordable street food options and free public coastal access.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 318 curated attractions in and around Marseille, ranked by traveller ratings.
Notre-Dame de la Garde is the highest-rated place to visit in Marseille right now.
The largest category is temples, with 106 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Paris, Lyon, Lormont.
Explore more of France
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
