Marseille has long been a grand escape into France’s paradisal Côte d’Azur, but what piqued my interest in booking a trip here was famed chef and world traveler Anthony Bourdain’s glowing reviews of the place years ago.
That’s always stuck with me how someone who has seen most of world narrowed down Marseille as a retirement haven, and after visiting I can clearly see why.
The Old Port may be this vibrant city’s claim to fame, but Marseille is actually one of the most cultural destinations in France with 111 designated districts to explore, including the ‘coolest neighborhood in the world’.
Perhaps most surprising was the city’s sheer expansiveness, yet easily navigable by cheap metro passes with ferries setting sail to a handful of secret islands.
Turns out island-hopping isn’t exclusive to Greece and Spain!
The food was divine, accommodations cheap, and the glowing streets beyond the touristy ‘Port’ conquered my ADD for hours on end.
$5 Covers So Much Ground!
It’s always a tough challenge to cover everything you want to see at any given destination.
Tourists in Paris may gawk at the Eiffel Tower while missing out on hidden gems nestled between the endless sidewalk cafes and astounding architectural marvels. The same goes for Marseille, where too many visitors spend their time looping around the scenic Old Port while missing out on so many incredible streets tucked away from the action.
The best way to see the city is by Metro. Depending on the length of your stay, you’ll have to do the math.
Single trips costs about $2 but the best value are 10-trip cards for $16 and day passes (my preference) for about $5.60 (for full details, click here.)
Better yet, ferries run from the Old Port to Pointe Rouge and les Goudes, a pair of stunning beaches away from the city center’s touristy vibes for just $5.60.
Here, you’ll discover picture-perfect French Riviera beaches. Just keep in mind that ferry operations depend on the weather.
Good news is Marseille is one of the sunniest cities in France year-round! Between trendy neighborhoods, the famous Old Port, and postcard beaches, Marseille couldn’t be easier to get around to max out your time.
Marseille’s Secret Islands
Wandering the gleaming cityscape through a maze of dozens of districts is a great way to experience Marseille’s delights.
While it doesn’t hold a candle to Paris’ sidewalk cafes there are still plenty to stop for a $3 cappuccino to people-watch.
But one enticing aspect of Marseille goes overlooked by most tourists. I even asked a local how to visit the islands and his response was, “huh?”.
Nope – not a translation issue. Like me, he just didn’t know about them.
Marseille’s Frioul Islands are an archipelago of 4 beautiful islands easy to reach from the Old Port. Simply look for the name on the side of the boat and follow the signs.
The 4 islands consist of:
- Pomègue
- Ratonneau
- Tiboulen
- If
One of the most noteworthy visits is Château d’If, a staggering 1500s fortress facing back at the city.
Tickets cost $35 for entry.
Ratonneau is the best for warm-water swims and scuba diving crystal clear waters, especially if you want check out historic wreckage of a WW2 German bomber.
Only about 100 people live on the island, so there are a few places to grab a bite to eat or drink as well.
Check Out The World’s ‘Coolest Neighborhood’
TimeOut recently crowned Marseille with the coolest neighborhood in the world, so of course, I had to visit!
Living up to Marseille’s gritty vibes, somehow, Notre-Dame-du-Mont has turned what would be off-putting in most cities into its own unique flair.
Look at Athens, for example, a city lined with graffiti eyesores and back alley side-eyes. Here, however, it feels more like you’ve immersed yourself in an outdoor art gallery despite the few empty walls left as blank canvases.
Lined with trendy bars and breezy courtyard seating, it was one of the best places to explore and felt surprisingly safe.
This neighborhood was also the best to enjoy pizza. If you didn’t know Marseille is one of the pizza food truck capitals of the world, which isn’t totally shocking given its location within a few hours from Italy.
Definitely eat at Papa Fredo, but avoid the wine bar Caterine as they gave us the anti-tourist treatment shall we say.
Travel Tip: For another unique neighborhood, check out Noailles. It feels like mini Marrakesh lined with spice shops, cafes, and savory North African cuisine.
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