Marseille attractions

Experience the faded grandeur of Marseille’s famous boulevard, La Canabière, and explore the many layers of history and commerce that make up this vibrant city.

Once an almshouse and now a museum, the Centre de la Vieille Charité in Marseille is home to a number of museums and also hosts cultural events covering a wide range of themes.

The Îles du Frioul is a collection of four small islands just off the coast of Marseille. In their long history, the islands have been used as the site of a fortress and prison, and a quarantine zone for people suspected of carrying the plague cholera. Nowadays visitors come to hike the islands and visit the famous Chateau d’If.

For some of the best views of the Mediterranean, head to France's highest sea cliff: Cap Canaille. Standing at just under 1,300 feet (396 meters), this headland in the Calanque National Park is nothing if not dramatic, offering great views of neighboring cliffs, beaches, and communities, particularly on clear days.

The Chateau d’If, situated just off the coast of Marseille, is a former French naval base and prison that was immortalized by Alexandre Dumas in the novelThe Count of Monte Cristo. Visit the island fortress to see its jail cells and enjoy panoramic views of the city of Marseille.

Within the Camargue region in the South of France, Les Saintes Maries de la Mer is located where the Rhône river meets the Mediterranean Sea. This popular summertime beach destination is a great base from which to explore the outstanding natural beauty of the coastline and natural reserve.

The grand 17th-century Vieille Charité in the heart of Old Town Marseille houses not one, but two museums – the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art (Musée d'Arts Africains, Océaniens et Amérindiens) and the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology (Musée d'Archéologie Méditerranéenne). The archaeology museum focuses on the history of Marseille and its immediate surroundings.

Calanque is the French word for “cove,” and Calanque d’En-Vau is one of the country’s many Mediterranean pockets. It's no wide, sandy crescent—instead, picture a small fjord, with towering white cliffs and sparkling, turquoise waters. Stony and gnarled, this serene spot between Cassis and Marseilles is an escape from the urban Riviera.

At the Old Port in Marseilles, the L-shaped Place aux Huiles is where boats filled with barrels of olive oil would float up a canal once here. Now paved over to make a wide avenue, the relaxing pedestrian-only square is lined with some of the best restaurants and bars in town.

The Orange Velodrome Stadium, a symbol of Marseille since 1937, which once featured cycling competitions, has undergone three major renovations and now serves as a premier sports and music venue with a 67,000-seat capacity. The host of major tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, the UEFA European Football Championship, and matches during the 2024 Summer Olympics as well, the arena draws visitors for both events and behind-the-scenes tours.

One of Marseille's main museums, this massive institution houses a permanent collection of paintings and sculptures by French, Italian, Dutch, and Flemish artists, primarily from the 16th through the 19th centuries. It was established in 1801 and moved into the elegant Palais Longchamp upon the building's completion in 1869.

Housed in a 17th-century private mansion in the center of Marseille, the Cantini Museum focuses on modern art, most of which dates between 1900 and 1960. Many works here are by surrealist, abstract, cubist, and Fauve artists. Expect to see works by Le Corbusier, André Derain, and Raoul Dufy, among others.

Occupying a wing of the ornate 19th-century Palais Longchamp, the Marseille Museum of Natural History houses an incredible collection of specimens that collectively provide insight into the wonders of our natural world. Many of these items are on display across the museum's permanent exhibits.

Located in Marseille’s 2nd Arrondissement, between the City Hall and the Cathedral, and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman warehouse discovered in 1947, the Roman Docks Museum features, as its name states, exhibits based on the 20 Roman shipwrecks that have been found nearby. The museum opened in 1963, and was renovated in 1987. It is one of the only still-used today commercial warehouses from the Roman era in all of France, and is considered a Historic Monument. Fernand Benoit, a world-renowned archaeologist and historian, helped preserve some of the site’s relics including 30 large jars dating back from the Roman Empire, and walls and wells from medieval homes.

Housed in the Palais de la Bourse, the former Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the enchanting Maritime and Commercial Museum of Marseille focuses on the city’s modern maritime history, which spans the last 500 years or so, and provides a fascinating look into what has made Marseille a major player in the worldwide maritime economy.

Marseille's Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) features paintings sculpture, video and other installations. from the mid-20th century to the present, with frequent temporary exhibitions highlighting the work of new and emerging artists from around the world. With an emphasis on French artists, come here to catch up on the current arts scene.

The central focus of Marseille’s Place Castellane, the Fontaine Castellane (Castellane Fountain) with its central column is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

With its ancient roots as the oldest city in France, Marseille is the perfect city to host the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art. Housed the Baroque-style Vieille Charité, originally a poorhouse dating back to the late 17th century, the museum features striking ethnographic pieces and ancient artifacts. Also inside the building is the excellent Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology.

Housed in a revamped 19th-century warehouse that once played an important role in Marseille’s bustling port, Les Docks Village brings together the city’s maritime past and its dynamic present. Designed to resemble a Mediterranean agora, with its airy courtyards and shopping arcades, this vibrant creative and retail center is home to a range of boutiques, restaurants, and pop-ups.