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Marseilles

Marseilles is located in the southeastern part of France and has now become one of France’s largest cities – the second behind Paris. It is a very metropolitan city that also has a rich history. Marseilles is also a city with tons of nightlife, great restaurants, theaters, museums, and even an international soccer stadium. Many say that Marseilles is not the kind of city you will fall in love with as it is also a bit industrial, and compared to other places in France such as Paris there are not a lot of “things to do”. However, it does have colorful markets, and tons of fabulous restaurants and cafes.

Costs in Marseilles

• Hostel Prices: Dorm rooms average around 22 Euro per night while private rooms are around 50 Euros per night
• Budget Hotel Prices: One or two star hotels cost around 60 Euro per night for two people.
• Average Cost of Food: Buying your own food can be very cheap. There are many bread, cheese, and meat shops around. It’s common to pick up some ingredients and have a picnic in one of France’s many parks or gardens. Moreover, eating a pre-made sandwich from these places will cost about 4-5 Euros and fast food costs around 6 Euros. Eating at a restaurant will cost 20-30 Euros, including a glass of wine. Marseilles has a lot of high end restaurants where a meal can cost 50 Euros or more.
• Cost of internet: The internet 5 Euros for half an hour though many hostels have free internet.
• Transportation Costs: Taxis cost between €20 – €40 for a trip around the city. The tickets for bus and the metro can be bought in the cafes, at the subway stations, or on the bus. It is best to buy groups of tickets at € 7.10 (6 voyages) or € 13 (11 voyages), which are not sold on the buses. A daily ticket costs €4.60.

Things to Do in Marseilles

• Le Vieux Port – An old port where you can watch the fisherman sell their stock by auction, have great seafood, or hire a boat for the day. Or simply just sit and gaze at all the expensive yachts of the world’s rich.
• Notre Dame de la Garde – Known as the big church, this church overlooks the city as well as one of the best views to take in or to photograph. Old fisherman used to have their boats blessed in this church.
• Le Cours Julien and La Plaine – This is known as the trendy part of Marseilles and is full of bookstores, cafes, fountains, and tons of walking space. Every Thursday and Saturday morning the Plaine market is here and offers the best time to shop for bargains.
• Borely Park - A beautiful park only about 300 meters from the ocean. You can go there to have a nap, meditation, picnic, play some sports, or venture down for an afternoon drink in any of the numerous restaurants or bars on the beach.
• Le Panier – This is the oldest area in Marseilles and in French its name means “the basket.” While you are here, be sure to gaze at the Vielle Charite, an old monument that now has museums and exhibitions.
• The Château d’If (If Castle) - This small island off the city was a penal colony. It is famous from the novel of Alexandre Dumas, the Comte de Monte-Cristo. Tourist boats leave from the Old harbor.
• La Place Castellane – This roundabout has a magnificent fountain surrounded in columns and sculptures. On the street are excellent cinemas and cafes. This is a pretty neat place to check out.
• Mazargues War Cemetry – On the way to Luminy, you’ll come across this cemetery, which is dedicated to martyrs from the WWI and WWII Allies. This place is very serene—perfect for reflection and some down time.
• Palais de Longchamp – This is a quiet, public garden in the center of Marseille, that dates back to the Mid-19th century. There is a stunning fountain here, and the Durance river is nearby. There are gorgeous symbolic figures everywhere.
• Vieille Charite – Now host to a museum, this building was originally built in the 17th century as a place for the homeless, sick, and old people. The architecture is amazing—there is a pantheon like church and a 3 story high building.
• Fort St. Nicolas – Built between 1660-1664, this fort was used to aid in the protection of the port of Marseille. Today it is separated into two parts. Beyond the fort, to the northwest, is the Park of the Pharo.

Budget Tips for Marseilles

• Hike and Picnic: If you like hiking, stop by the market for a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine and head to the Calanques Massif . There you will have 20 km of trails. This is a fun cheap way to spend a day.

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