Marseille travel guide
Marseille Tourism | Marseille Guide
You're Going to Love Marseille
With a population of 794 811, Marseille is a must-see destination in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Marseille deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
When to visit Marseille
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Marseille in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 3.5″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Marseille, with an average rainfall of 0.4″.
How to Get to Marseille
Plane
When flying to Marseille, you’ll arrive at Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), which is located 20 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Marseille from the United States departs from Miami and takes around 11h 20m.
Train
SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving Marseille, followed by Renfe. The train journey from Marseille to Toulon takes 0h 53m and costs around $16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Montpellier, expect to pay about $13 for a 1h 32m trip. Located 0.4 km from the city center, Marseille Saint-Charles is the busiest station in Marseille. Another popular train station is Marseille Saint-Antoine, located 8 km from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Marseille is to pick up a car rental from Nice, which is about 159 km from Marseille. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Avis, among others, in Nice.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Marseille, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Union Ivkoni. From Nimes, the bus ride to Marseille takes 153 km and will cost you around $17. From Montpellier, the ticket costs about $8 for a journey of 201 km. The most popular bus station is Marseille Blancarde, located 2.4 km from downtown Marseille. Marseille Reggio is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Marseille
Where to stay in Marseille
From 5-star hotels such as the Hotel C2 to great affordable options like the Le Rhul, Marseille offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $114 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $223 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include B&B HOTEL Marseille Estaque and B&B HOTEL Marseille Parc Chanot. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Marseille, with prices from $38 to $496 per night. 1st arrondissement is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Marseille are about 28% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Marseille
Most booked hotels in Marseille
Renting a car in Marseille
Renting a car in Marseille costs $56 per day, on average, or $111 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 4% more expensive than at Marseille.
Expect to pay $7.61 per gallon in Marseille (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $91.30 and $121.74. The most frequently booked car type in Marseille is Economy (Renault Clio or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Volkswagen Jetta or similar) are, on average, 72% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.