The short version
- The TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon reaches Marseille Saint-Charles in 3 hours 3 minutes at the fastest, with about 25 direct trains a day and fares from €19.
- From the airport, the A1 bus to Saint-Charles costs €15 and takes 30 to 50 minutes.
- Notre-Dame de la Garde, the basilica on the hill above the city, is free and open every day from 7:00 to 18:00. Bus 60 goes up from the Vieux-Port.
- The MuCEM is €11, closed Tuesday, and free on the first Sunday of the month. The outdoor areas and Fort Saint-Jean are free.
- The city museums, including the Vieille Charité and the Beaux-Arts, are closed on Monday, and their permanent collections are free.
- Boats from the Vieux-Port go to the Château d’If and the Frioul islands. The If and Frioul return is €26, and the château does not open in bad weather.
What to see
Start at the Vieux-Port, the old harbor. The fishermen sell their catch on the Quai des Belges every morning from 7:30 to 12:30, under Norman Foster’s mirrored canopy.
Walk up into Le Panier, the oldest quarter, a few minutes from the port. At the top is the Vieille Charité, a 17th-century almshouse that now holds two museums, open Tuesday to Sunday.
Cross the footbridge from Fort Saint-Jean to the MuCEM, the museum of Mediterranean civilizations. Next door, Cosquer Méditerranée is a full-size copy of an underwater painted cave; it is €18, takes about two hours, and you book online.
Take bus 60 up to Notre-Dame de la Garde for the view over the city and the islands. The gilded Virgin on top is more than 11 meters tall. The basilica is closed to visitors during Mass.
Take the boat to the Château d’If, the island prison of The Count of Monte Cristo. Entry is €7, free under 18. From September 28 to March 31 it is closed on Monday.
For architecture, Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse of 1952 lets visitors into its inner shopping streets and onto the roof terrace.
Getting there and around
TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains run from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille Saint-Charles, and some leave from Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy.
Besides the A1 bus, a shuttle runs from the airport to Vitrolles station in 5 minutes for €1.20, with trains into Marseille all day.
Marseille has two metro lines, trams and buses. A ticket covers an hour of travel, and you can tap a contactless bank card on the reader.
For the Calanques, take bus B1 to Luminy and walk about 45 minutes to Sugiton, or go to Cassis for the boats. Our Cassis and the Calanques page has the access rules.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons. July averages a high of about 31°C, and strong winds, mostly the mistral, blow seven to ten days a month, most often from February to April.
September to November is the wettest stretch. The Calanques have fire-risk rules from June 1 to September 30, and on red days the trails close.
The santons fair, with the little clay nativity figures of Provence, fills the Quai du Port from November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Entry is free.
Plan around the closures: city museums on Monday, the MuCEM on Tuesday, and the Château d’If on Monday in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Paris to Marseille?
The fastest TGV takes 3 hours 3 minutes from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille Saint-Charles. There are about 25 direct trains a day, with fares from €19 when booked early.
How do I get from Marseille airport to the city?
Take the A1 bus to Saint-Charles station, €15, 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. Or take the €1.20 shuttle to Vitrolles station and the train.
How many days do you need in Marseille?
Two. Spend one on the Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the MuCEM and Notre-Dame de la Garde. Spend the other on the boat to the Château d’If and the Frioul islands, or walking in the Calanques.
Can you visit the Calanques from Marseille?
Yes. City buses go to the trailheads for Sugiton, Sormiou and Morgiou, then you walk 45 minutes to an hour. From June 1 to September 30, check the fire-risk level the evening before; on red days the trails are closed. See our Cassis and the Calanques page.
Is there a tour I can add?
In July, yes. Our Provence lavender tour runs July 6 to 25 from the Avignon tourist office: Sault, the lavender fields at Sénanque Abbey, Gordes and a Provençal market, with eight guests at most.
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