Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · France

Marseille

Give Marseille 2 nights: one for the Vieux-Port, Le Panier and Notre-Dame de la Garde, one for the Calanques or a boat to Château d'If. Skip it if you want Provence villages.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), and the mistral in winter
Airport
MRS
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  • France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
  • France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
  • France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
  • France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.

Marseille is France's second city and its biggest Mediterranean port, founded by Greeks around 600 BC and still a working, mixed, loud place rather than a postcard. Sights cluster around the Vieux-Port and Le Panier, with the sea cliffs of the Calanques to the south. Two nights covers the centre; add a third for the Calanques or a day trip.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Marseille, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at a counter€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or pizza slice€5–9 (≈ US$6–11)
  • Beerbar / supermarket€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro or tram single ride€1.70 (≈ US$2) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, 3-star hotel, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedDouble room, 3-star hotel, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €65 (≈ US$80) · Mid €120 (≈ US$140) · High €220 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Vieux-Port and the fish marketNotre-Dame de la GardeLe Panier old town and MucemCalanques National ParkBouillabaisse
Airports
MRS Marseille Provence (About 30 km northwest of the centre; shuttle bus to Gare Saint-Charles, roughly 25–30 min)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Marseille: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

12°C

4°C

6 rd

Feb

13°C

4°C

5 rd

Mar

16°C

7°C

5 rd

Apr

19°C

9°C

6 rd

May

24°C

13°C

5 rd

Jun

28°C

17°C

4 rd

Jul

31°C

20°C

2 rd

Aug

31°C

19°C

3 rd

Sep

26°C

16°C

5 rd

Oct

21°C

13°C

6 rd

Nov

16°C

8°C

7 rd

Dec

12°C

4°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

RTM runs two metro lines, three trams and buses; single tickets allow transfers for about an hour. Metro runs roughly 05:00–00:30, most buses stop around 21:00. The free ferry across the Vieux-Port is the shortest commercial boat ride in Europe. Driving in the centre is a bad idea: park and use transport.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Aix-en-Provence

go

Door to door: About 1 h

TER or TGV from Saint-Charles, about 40 min

Cours Mirabeau, markets and Cézanne sites; easy half day.

Cassis

go

Door to door: About 50 min

TER from Saint-Charles, about 25 min, then walk to the port

Gateway to the Calanques by boat or on foot.

Arles

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

TER or Intercités from Saint-Charles, about 50–60 min

Roman arena and amphitheatre; a full day.

La Ciotat

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

TER from Saint-Charles, about 35 min

Calanques and beaches; check train times, they are sparse.

Tarascon

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

TER from Saint-Charles, about 1 h 15 min

Castle and the Tarasque legend; combine with Beaucaire.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

caution

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Train to Avignon or Arles, then bus

Van Gogh sites and the Alpilles; car is easier.

Saint-Martin-de-Crau

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

TER from Saint-Charles, about 50 min

Only worth it for the Camargue-edge nature reserve.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Vieux-Port / Le Panier

Walk to the harbour, Mucem and the old town; noisier and pricier.

Gare Saint-Charles

Best for early trains and airport buses; a short uphill walk to the port.

Cours Julien / La Plaine

Bars, cafés and a market; 15–20 min walk from the Vieux-Port.

Prado / Castellane

Quieter, metro-connected, good for beaches and parking.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
€100–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
€180 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, 3-star hotel1 × 2 nights × €130€260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €120€480
Airport shuttle, both ways2 × €20 · check€40
RTM 24-hour ticket, one day2 × €5 · check€10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€82
Trip total≈ €226 per person per day, bed included€902≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in euros; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at a counter€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
Sandwich or pizza slice€5–9 (≈ US$6–11)
Bouillabaisse in a harbour restaurantOften priced per person with a minimum of two.€25–45 (≈ US$30–55) per person
Beer: bar / supermarket€5–8 (≈ US$6–10) / €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
Metro or tram single ride€1.70 (≈ US$2) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Marseille is fine for tourists who stay alert in the station area and on busy buses; the real annoyances are pickpockets, aggressive driving and the odd overcharging taxi. Avoid walking alone in the northern quarters at night.
  • Pickpockets around the station, the Canebière and crowded buses.
  • Some taxi drivers overcharge; note the driver number and complain at the tourist office.
  • The Calanques close to walkers on high fire-risk summer days: check the day before.
  • The mistral wind is cold and strong even in spring.

Emergency numbers

European emergency
112
Ambulance (SAMU)
15
Police
17
Fire
18

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MarseilleMarseille

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • European emergency112
  • Ambulance (SAMU)15
  • Police17
  • Fire18

Embassy

The US has a consulate-general in Marseille; other countries mostly work through their embassy in Paris (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MRS airport → Saint-Charles, shuttle bus: about €10 (≈ US$12) one way, 25–30 min (check)
  • MRS airport → Saint-Charles, taxi: about €50 (≈ US$60) day, €60 (≈ US$70) night (check)
  • Saint-Charles → Cassis, TER: about €6–8 (≈ US$7–10), 25 min (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
  • C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
  • Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART)
  • Où est le métro ? — Where is the metro? (oo ay luh may-TROH)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Marseille. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), and the mistral in winter · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MRS: shuttle and TER timings, taxi fallback, late arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Vieux-Port and Le Panier, Mucem and La Major, Notre-Dame de la Garde, Cours Julien and La Plaine.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Mucem, Notre-Dame de la Garde, Palais Longchamp, Château d'If) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Calanques access fixtures: boat, bus and closure days so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to France

Sources