Five Places to Visit in Marseille

Any time I talk about the city of Marseille, I hear the words “dangerous” and “ghetto” thrown around – but this is often said by people who’ve never even stepped foot in the city. Marseille is located in the south of France. It serves as the setting to one of my favorite movies of all time, The Count of Monte Cristo and is home to my favorite Indian restaurant. It’s a city of beautiful diversity with a blend of city on the interior and nature on the exterior. This city offers unique sites, fine cuisine, and excellent shopping. There are many options and things to experience in the city of Marseille.

1. Vieux Port

This is the heart of Marseille. So much happens and is situated around the port. There are boats docked, sailing in and out all day. There are restaurants and a mall with underground parking nearby. There’s a huge Ferris wheel and during Christmas there’s a lovely little Christmas market situated right underneath the Grand Roue de Marseille that serves the best mulled wine. There’s also a lovely Merry-go-Round nearby. This place is busy and calming at the same time. You can join in on the activities around the port, book a tour via boat to nearby Chateau D’If, or you can just sit and enjoy the calming water and the view.

2. The Calanques

The Calanques is a huge national park that is situated on the outskirts of Marseille and Cassis. It’s actually really easy to get there via car or bus. Once there, you can go for a hike or swim in the water surrounding the park. It’s a great way to be in nature and it’s just right outside of the city. However, the Calanques is huge, so until you’re familiar with it, it’s probably best to take a tour or have someone that is familiar with the park go with you.

3. Cours Julien

This street is for the adults. There’s cute little shops, restaurants, and cafés that align this main street and the alleyways surrounding the street. There’s tattoo parlors, boutiques and specialty shops as well. When you look up you’ll see cute little lights adorning the buildings saying words like “love.” It’s a great place to go in the nighttime with friends or lovers alike. As small and quaint as this particular area is, there’s always some new discovery or place that I find every time I go there, making it the perfect tourist spot. This place is a real gem.

4. Chateau D’If

There are several boat tours to Chateau D’If from Vieux Port. This old fort is one of the settings in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It was used as a prison previously but closed in the 19^th century. It became open to the public in 1890. This is a great way to cruise the port but also take in a bit of the history of Marseille.

5. Notre Dame Basilica

You can drive up to this church or you can hike up a long steep hill and get a workout in on the way up there (but it would be a bit of a hike). The church is an interesting site and it’s not too big or too small to wander through. However, the part I found most intriguing were the views. You can oversee so much of Marseille and the water surrounding the city – it’s akin to looking at Paris from the Eiffel Tower. Absolutely gorgeous and you don’t need a tour to enjoy it.