Are you wondering about how to spend one day in Marseille from the cruise ship? Then I’ve got you covered!
Marseille is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean Sea in the South of France that has a lot to offer. Especially in summer, it is a one-of-a-kind stop.
There is so much to do that it can be extremely hard to choose what to do on your cruise day. It is also the second-largest city in France – so it can be hard to find your way around without a guide.
Luckily for you, I have just returned from my cruise on the MSC Divina. And we had an absolutely amazing day in Marseille.
Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know before your shore day in Marseille.
One Day in Marseille From Cruise Ship – In Short
When docking in Marseille with your cruise ship you’ll have a couple of options.
This post will mainly focus on exploring the city itself, but there are alternatives for cruise passengers.
Here is what you can do in one day in Marseille from the cruise ship:
- Visit Marseille on foot and see all the highlights
- See the Calanques National Park
- Explore Cassis, Aix-en-Provence, or La Ciotat on a day trip
- See Luberon village on a half-day trip
- Do a wine tour through Provence
My advice: we opted to see Marseille itself and do the walking tour because the weather was not great (fall). On a beautiful summer day, I suggest doing a different excursion instead, where you can see some of the beautiful nature.
One Day in Marseille – Walking Tour Itinerary
Distance: 8,5 km (5 miles)
Time: 2 hours walking / 6 hours with sightseeing
- Abbaye Saint-Victor
- Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde
- Opera de Marseille
- Marseille History Museum
- Old Port
- Église Saint-Laurent / Fort Saint-Jean
- Old Charity Center
- Porte d’Aix
- Église Saint Vincent de Paul
- Palais Longchamp
The Marseille Cruise Port
Distance From City: 8 km (5 miles) – about 25 minutes by car
Taxi Cost Cruise Port – Old Town: EUR 25 per ride
Rental Cars: not available
Distance to Marseille Provence Airport: 25 Minutes by bus (no direct metro connection)
Abbaye Saint-Victor
The first stop on our one-day in Marseille walking tour is the Abbaye Saint-Victor.
The Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille is a historic monument known for its ancient crypts and religious significance. Founded in the 5th century, it’s one of the oldest places of Christian worship in France.
The abbey is famous for its beautiful architecture and its role in the spread of Christianity in the Mediterranean.
You can either go inside or enjoy the stunning view from the outside.
Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, also known as “La Bonne Mère,” is a famous symbol of Marseille. This is one of the spots you must see on your shore day in Marseille.
You can find the cathedral sitting on top of a limestone hill, and it is quite a hike to reach it. But the views are well worth it, in my opinion.
The 19th-century Neo-Byzantine cathedral offers beautiful mosaics, marble, and a stunning gold-leaf statue of the Virgin Mary on its bell tower.
Opéra de Marseille
Our walk through Marseille leads us through the beautiful quarters around the Opéra de Marseille. This area is home to beautiful buildings, cute restaurants, and a shopping center.
The Opéra de Marseille is not only pretty from the outside, but it also has a rich history.
Established in 1787, the original building was destroyed by fire in 1919 and later rebuilt in the Art Deco style.
It’s home to the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille and the Ballet National de Marseille. Even if you don’t see a performance, the building is nice to see.
Lunch Break
After all that walking, it is probably time for a lunch break. There are lots of cute restaurants along the sides of the Old Port (Vieux Port).
We chose to eat at Brasserie L’OM Cafe. They had awesome steaks and seafood dishes for a great lunch menu price.
Visitors must try the bouillabaisse, the most famous dish in the area.
There are also lots of cute restaurants with flower decorations, which I adored for a coffee.
Old Port of Marseille (Vieux Port)
The Old Port of Marseille, known as Vieux-Port in French, is the historic heart of the city. It is my favorite part of the city.
Dating back to 600 BC, it has been the center of maritime activity in Marseille. The old port is surrounded by beautiful quays and lined with charming cafés, restaurants, and shops.
You can take a walk around and enjoy the views of the boats and yachts. The port is guarded by two forts on both sides: Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean. That makes it look extra cool.
Église Saint-Laurent / Fort Saint Jean
Next, our Marseille walking tour will lead us to the Eglise Saint Laurent and the Fort Saint-Jean, which are right next to each other.
Eglise Saint-Laurent is a medieval church dating back to the 12th century, primarily built in the Provençal Romanesque style. It is a religious place, especially for fishermen. It is nice to see, even if you don’t go inside.
Fort Saint-Jean is a fortress that was constructed in the 17th century to protect the city and its port from potential invaders.
It is quite impressive to see. If you are interested, you can hop into the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (they are connected.
Old Charity Center
The Old Charity Center, known as “La Vieille Charité” in French, is a beautiful building you should see, located in the Panier district of Marseille.
It was built in the 17th century as a shelter for the poor and homeless. I found the courtyard the most beautiful feature; make sure to head in there.
Today, it houses some cool museums, like the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Museum of African, Oceanian, and Amerindian Arts.
Église Saint Vincent de Paul
After a bit of a walk, we’ll reach the Église Saint Vincent de Paul, another super stunning building. On the way, we’ll pass by the Porte d’Aix, another cool landmark.
Eglise Saint-Vincent de Paul, also known as Les Réformés, is a beautiful church located at the top of the Canebière, the main street in Marseille.
That street is super busy, but you can do some cool shopping on the way. Honestly, the walk was not so nice because of the masses of people. If you wanna grab a cab, go right ahead.
The façade is decorated with statues of saints and biblical figures, so make sure to walk up close.
Palais Longchamp
The last and most impressive stop on our one-day in Marseille itinerary is the Palais Longchamp.
The Palais Longchamp consists of a central building flanked by two wings, each housing a museum. On one side is the Musée des Beaux-Arts, showcasing a collection of fine art, and on the other is the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, dedicated to natural history.
My favorite part is the stunning water fountain in the middle. The palace was built to celebrate the importance of water to the city, so it is really fitting.
From here, you’ll probably want to take a cab back to the cruise ship. This is the perfect end to one day in Marseille from the cruise ship.
Our Take On Marseille
On our 10-day Western Mediterranean cruise, Marseille was our least favorite stop. Don’t get me wrong, the city was beautiful, and we loved seeing the monuments.
But we thought the locals were not too friendly, and there were a lot of homeless people and people on drugs making us feel uneasy.
We had a great time on our walking tour, but especially on a nicer day, we would have opted for a tour through Provence or the National Park to see the limestone cliffs instead for sure.
We did buy some authentic Marseille soap, which I still cherish!
Conclusion: One Day in Marseille From Cruise Ship
To sum it up, our day in Marseille from the cruise ship is best spent on a walking tour. As mentioned, you can also book one of the stunning nature excursions alternatively.
I suggest seeing the city if the weather is not awesome. For hot summer days, I would pick a different excursion, for example through the Calanques National Park.
We enjoyed our walking tour, even though Marseille was not our favorite stop on this cruise. The tour led us past stunning churches and forts, and of course alongside the Old Port.
I hope you’ll have a beautiful day in Marseille, just like we did.
About the Author
Hi friend, I am Sabrina, a passionate travel blogger and photographer from Austria.
I love capturing the world through the lens of the seasons, chasing soft spring blooms, golden autumn light, and cozy winter moments along the way. My goal is to help you discover destinations at their most magical moments.
