Marseille itinerary in 1 day

You only have one day or just time for a stopover to visit Marseille, so here are my tips.

I share with you a walking route to follow on Google Map.

It is a tourist circuit which allows you to discover the must-see attractions of Marseille on foot.

And in addition to visiting tips, I also give you my good little gourmet addresses.

How to visit Marseille in 1 day?

To discover the city of Marseille in just 1 day, you have 4 options depending on your desires:

Visit Marseille for a stopover

If you are on a cruise, you will visit Marseille during your stopover. Then my itinerary is perfect for you.

In fact, you will dock at J4 in La Joliette, the district from where my walking tour leaves. A few minutes walk to reach the starting point of the route (Terrasses du Port).

Program and itinerary for your day in Marseille

Marseille is a large city very rich in heritage and landscapes. So, we're not going to lie: visiting Marseille in one day requires you to make choices.

For the tourist circuit proposed below, the visits only concern the most emblematic sites of Marseille.

I organized them to do a nice walking tour to optimize the time.

Here is the program for your day's visit to Marseille following this walking route:

  • Morning visits:
    • Departure from the Terrasses du Port
    • La Major Cathedral
    • MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations)
    • Saint Laurent Church
    • Fort Saint-Jean
    • Old Port of Marseille
  • Lunch break at noon at the restaurant Le 29 Place aux Huiles
  • Afternoon tours
    • The garden of the Puget hill
    • Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde
  • Evening at the Restaurant L’épinette

Self-guided tour to visit Marseille on foot

Here is the route to follow on Google Maps to visit Marseille on foot in one day:

This circuit represents 5,2 km of walking over the whole day which is very easily achievable given that you will take breaks for the visits and the restaurant at midday.

The departure for this walking tour is at the Terrasses du Port (The shopping center offers a terrace which opens onto an exceptional view) or directly from your NH Collection hotel (next door) for a short 12-minute walk.

Morning tour schedule

From the Terrasses du Port, it will take a 15-minute walk to reach the 1st stage of my tour to visit Marseille on foot: The beautiful Cathedral of the Major.

La Major Cathedral

The Cathedral of La Major is made up of two churches which have been superimposed: the old and the new Major. It is located on an esplanade between the districts of Vieux Port, Panier, Joliette and 2 steps from MuCEM and Fort Saint Jean.

stop at La Major Cathedral

MuCEM

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations is a brand new museum in Marseille. It opened its doors on June 7, 2013. It is more than 40 m² dedicated to exhibitions around the Mediterranean world in all its diversity.

Marseille walking tour MuCEM visit

Its location is very well thought out for tourists to visit it. Indeed, it is located between Fort Saint Jean and the Cathedral of the Major. A footbridge connects it to Fort Saint Jean, a fortress inseparable from the history of Marseille. While a second 70-meter footbridge connects with the Saint Laurent church.

Fort Saint-Jean

Access is via the MuCEM footbridge. This fort is the former commandery of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in the 12th century. During the Crusades, Fort Saint Jean was the departure point for troops towards the Holy Land. It consists of a chapel, a church, a hospital, as well as the commander's palace.

Fort Saint Jean for my Marseille tour in 1 day

Saint Laurent Church

The Saint Laurent church dominates the Vieux Port pass. Dating from 12nd century, it is one of the oldest churches in Marseille which deserves a little visit.

Old Port of Marseille

The old port of Marseille is certainly, along with the Bonne Mère, the best-known site in Marseille. You have to feel its atmosphere by strolling along the quays and discovering its fish market. If you go there on the weekend, don't miss its small traditional Provençal market. Lavender, figurines, Marseille soaps and other regional products are offered to tourists looking for souvenirs.

Old port of Marseille, a must-see stop

Which restaurant for this walking tour?

For noon or 13 p.m., my walking tour takes you to Place aux Huiles. This is where I suggest you take a lunch break or if you have already done so, have a little coffee or a good ice cream on the terrace before continuing your day of visiting Marseille.

If you want to avoid "tourist restaurants", I advise you to discover The 29 Place aux Oils. You can taste Provençal specialties made with fresh market produce. The setting is rather trendy but retains character with its stone walls and exposed beams.

Afternoon tour program

After your lunch break, my walking tour will take you to Notre Dame de la Garde. But, you will take a very nice route which allows you to pass through the Puget hill garden.  

The garden of the Puget hill

This pretty garden is located, as its name suggests, at the top of a hill overlooking the Old Port. After some effort to climb this hill, the reward awaits you: A splendid view of the city of Marseille which is worth the photo…

The garden of the Puget hill

Once at the top, you will have to continue your efforts to reach the Basilica of Notre Dame de La Garde which is not very far away. Courage !

Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde

From the top of its 160 meters, the Bonne Mère, as the Marseillais affectionately call it, offers a panoramic view of all of Marseille, the Old Port, the fort
Saint-Jean and even as far as the archipelago of Frioul.

Marseille walking tour - Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica

Program for your evening

If you want to have an exceptional evening, I advise you to book the gourmet restaurant well in advance The Net. Its chef Guillaume SOURRIEU knows how to prepare delicious dishes around fish and the site is simply magical on the Corniche facing the sea. http://www.l-epuisette.fr/

Where to stay to visit Marseille on foot?

Far from dangerous neighborhoods of Marseille, I recommend that you stay at NH Collection Marseille.

Right in the city center, a 15-minute walk from Gare Saint Charles and next to La Joliette metro station, its location is also interesting for shopping lovers. In fact, it is exactly 8 minutes from the large and beautiful Les terrasses du Port shopping center. Now this is where my self-guided walking tour starts to visit Marseille.

If you are staying more than 1 day in Marseille, you may prefer to stay in an apartment. So I advise you to choose a hotel residence. In the heart of the Old Port, right next to the Muceum and the Major, I recommend a very good plan for its value for money and its location:

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5 thoughts on “Marseille itinerary in 1 day”

  1. All we need to do is to follow the full route of 1 day in Marselha and go ahead!! Said from Aix-en Provence this time and it was flying no time before 17:11 p.m. Almoçamos no Le Bouchon Provençal, na Place Aux Huilles: delicious! Obrigada!!

    1. Obrigado pelo vosso positive feedback. Também publiquei um artigo com um passeio a pé por Aix en Provence.
      Desfrute da sua estadia em Français!

    2. Hello my number is Marta Urruti, arrived in a crucero by the dia. If you don't remember it for a day, you don't have to worry about it.
      My Mail is – marta urruti15@gmail.com
      Appreciation that I contest
      Best regards
      Marta Urruti
      Dia de llegada – November 15, 2024

  2. Oh. Parabens! seus posts são muito bons! Estou tentando montar um roteiro para 3 dias, saindo de Lyon no dia 3/3 e chegando a Valmorel dia 6/3. .O que você me aconselha?O clima nessa época prejudica uma viagem rápida a Marselha?Vale a pena? Or seria melhor passear pelos castelos e cidades da região ao norte de Lyon, nesta época? Por favor me ajude.Aguardo seu retorno e agradeço.

    1. Mesmo que o tempo esteja bastante bom em Marselha no Inverno, think that é melhor visitar esta cidade na Primavera ou no Verão para desfrutar de nadar our creeks and para que todas as atracções estejam abertas.
      Perto de Lyon, you can discover a beautiful city of Annecy com o seu belo lago Or fazer a Beaujolais wine rota.
      In all cases, desejo-vos uma boa estadia em França!

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