Day Trip to Marseille, France

As the second largest city and home to the oldest port in France, Marseille is a must-see in the South of France. I recently spent a beautiful and sunny Sunday in the city – in late October – and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This post is one of two that I’m doing on my vacation in France in October 2018. So look out for my other post on Provence soon. Now, back to Marseille… 🙂

Day Trip to Marseille

What we did:

We started our morning with brunch at Sofitel Marseille. The views of the port from the hotel are ahmazing and I definitely recommend it as a way to get some great views/shots while chomping down on some delicious sausages, croissants and crepes. My stomach was very happy and I could have stayed there for hours relaxing and watching the boats float along.

After getting our fill at brunch, we drove a short distance to the Habour where we checked out the Sunday Market along the harbour at the old port. While some of the stalls were a bit pricey, I was able to get a good bargain on some dried lavender buds…score!

We then took the Petit Train (Tourist train) Circuit 1 for a tour of the city. It costs 8 euro and goes along the Corniche up to the Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral.

Although it was late October, there was still a lot of tourists at the Cathedral. However, the views of the city did not disappoint.

When we returned from the cathedral, we walked around the old city (briefly) before grabbing some beverages at a little cafe and then heading home.

Related post: My first trip to Greece (Santorini and Athens)

Confession: I have a mild obsession with old doors and street art!

Of course, there’s a lot that could be done in a city but we were only there for a few hours, so we didn’t venture too far into the old Marseille.

Top Tips:

• For great views of the port, grab a meal (ideally brunch) at Sofitel on the deck. (NB: reservations ARE necessary if you’re not staying at the hotel!)
• Although it is “touristy”, take a Petit Train around the city. It’s particularly useful for getting to the Cathedral.
• While I didn’t try this myself, a ride in the wheel would also give you a different perspective of the harbour and city.

So, have you been to Marseille? Are you planning a visit? If so, be sure to pin this post for reference!