Marseille City Guide
Marseille is France's oldest and second-largest city – rough, sunny and Mediterranean: a bustling old harbour, striped cathedrals, the clifftop sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Calanques on the doorstep. Around 870,000 people live here.
🗺️ Open Marseille interactively – map & navigationOur walking tour of Marseille
The route starts at the Vieux-Port, leads through street-art quarters and the old town to the fortress by the water, up to the basilica and out to sea by ferry. The highlights:
Vieux-Port (Old Harbour)
The centre of Marseille for 2,600 years: a forest of boat masts, the morning fish market on the Quai des Belges and L'Ombrière, Norman Foster's mirrored shade canopy. The Calanques boat trips set off from here.
Le Panier & Cathédrale de la Major
The oldest quarter with steep lanes, colourful façades and street art on every corner. By the water rises the vast Cathédrale de la Major with its green-and-white striped domes.
MuCEM & Fort Saint-Jean
Marseille's modern landmark – a dark concrete cube in a filigree net, linked by a footbridge to the old Fort Saint-Jean. Great rooftop terrace with sea views.
Notre-Dame de la Garde
The basilica with its gilded statue of the Virgin crowns the highest point of the city – mosaics and ship models inside, and outside the most spectacular panorama over all of Marseille and the sea.
Cours Julien & Palais Longchamp
The alternative artists' quarter of Cours Julien is Marseille's street-art mecca and nightlife hub; the monumental Palais Longchamp crowns the end of an aqueduct with fountains and colonnades.
Vallon des Auffes & Frioul Islands
A tiny fishing harbour under a bridge on the Corniche – and by ferry the barren Frioul Islands with the Château d'If, the fortress from 'The Count of Monte Cristo'.