Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.
Introducing Marseille, France
All about Marseille travel: how to travel to Marseille, where to stay, the best things to do in the city, and the best places to visit near Marseille on day trips.
Where is Marseille? Where is Marseille located? Marseille is the capital of Provence, a bustling city bathed by the Mediterranean Sea with a colorful port, great historical sites, and delicious food. One of the most beautiful cities in Southern France, Marseille is also the main getaway in France to Corsica and the island of Sardinia in Italy.
Located in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in Southeast France, Marseille is a great destination for a European weekend getaway or longer holidays all year round.
Marseille is one of the host cities of the Rugby World Cup 2023 and the Summer Olympics 2024, so it’s the perfect excuse to discover or re-discover the city.
Wondering why Marseille is a favorite destination for a winter break for local and international tourists? With an average of 170 sunny days per year and 2,858 hours of sunshine, Marseille stands out as one of the sunniest cities in France. A local in Marseille thus enjoys 7h50 of sunshine per day on average, while in some places in Brittany, the average drops to no more than 4 hrs of sunshine per day.
Marseille in a Nutshell
Population: 870,321 (2020)
Department: Bouches-du-Rhône
Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, in Southern France
Average temperatures (max /min): January – 12C /4C; April – 18C / 10C; July – 28C / 19C; October – 20C / 13C.
Main attractions: Old Port, Basilica of Notre Dame, Panier Neighborhood, MuCEM, Marseille Cathedral.
Marseille Train Station: Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles. Find the latest deals on train tickets
Marseille Airport: Aéroport de Marseille Provence (MRS). Find the latest deals on flight tickets
Check out how to get to Marseille from Paris, France, and abroad
What to Do in Marseille, France
To help you organize your stay in Marseille, we have listed in this Marseille travel guide the best things to see and do in Marseille and the most popular tours.
More Marseille Day Trips and Tours
Old Port and Panier Guided Tour
Rent a Boat for a Day (with or without a skipper)
Parc National Calanques de Marseille – Cassis
Calanques Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Drinks
Frioul Archipelago Boat Tour with Swim
Food in Marseille
Marseille is an excellent place for tasting the Provençal cuisine. Actually, some of the most famous foods in Provence were born and perfected in Marseille! Here’s what to eat in Provence, with a couple of favorite dishes from Marseille.
One of the lesser-known French wine regions, Provence produces excellent wines. Due to the warm climate and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the wine of Provence has a wide range of excellent grapes that are often full-bodied and absolutely perfect table wine options. You can find red wines like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cinsault here, as well as whites like Grenache and Clairette and some absolutely fantastic rosés.
Because wine-tasting and driving are far from perfect partners, we recommend taking a wine day tour from Marseille with an expert guide.
Marseille Food & Wine Tours and Articles
All about Pastis, Marseille’s favorite apéritif
Marseille Walking Food Tour with Tastings
French Pastries and Chocolate Tour
Bandol and Cassis Wine Tour from Marseille
Check out the best wineries near Marseille offering guided tours with tastings
TIP: Read about the best wine regions in France (article with a wine map!).
Marseille & the Summer Olympics 2024
Marseille will be one of the host cities of the Paris Summer Olympics 2024. More precisely, Marseille will host some of the football matches at the Stade Vélodrome and the sailing competitions at the Marine de Marseille.
Moreover, Marseille will be the first stop of the Olympic Torch in France, on 8 May 2024, on its way to Paris.
Here are the dates of the football matches in Marseille – Stade Vélodrome for the Summer Olympics 2024. For all the Summer Olympics dates and competitions, check out the Paris 2024 schedule.
- Wednesday 24 July 2024, 7 pm (men)
- Thursday 25 July 2024, 9 pm (women)
- Saturday 27 July 2024, 3 pm (men)
- Sunday 28 July 2024, 5 pm (women)
- Tuesday 30 July 2024, 5 pm (men)
- Wednesday 31 July 2024, 9 pm (women)
- Friday 2 August 2024, 7 pm (men)
- Saturday 3 August 2024, 5 pm (women)
- Monday 5 August 2024, 9 pm (men)
- Tuesday 6 August 2024, 6 pm (women)
- Friday 9 August 2024, 3 pm (women, third position)
The teams that will play these matches are not known yet; keep clicking for the latest updates!
Where to Stay in Marseille
The second most populated city in France and a popular travel destination all year round, Marseille has a wide choice of accommodations for all kinds of travel and budgets. If the seafront is always a favorite, the Old Port seduces for its vibrant atmosphere and its wide choice of restaurants nearby. In the summer, hotels with a swimming pool sell out fast!
A Great Stop on Your French Road Trip
The beautiful city of Marseille is the starting point or one of the stops of some of our favorite French road trips. If this is your first time in France by car, check out our quick guide to driving in France. If you don’t have a car in France, click here for the best car rentals in Marseille and check out our best tips for renting a car in France.