What to do in marseille from cruise port ?

Your cruise ship is stopping in Marseille for the day? Good choice of itinerary. The only problem is that one day is nowhere near enough to discover Marseille and the surrounding Provence.

Still, no need to panic. Whether you are drawn to lively city streets, seaside scenery, local wines or picture-perfect Provençal landscapes, your stopover can give you a wonderful taste of our beautiful region.

To help you make the most of your time ashore, we have gathered the different ways you can spend your day from Marseille cruise port. The hardest part may simply be choosing.

A Full Day in Marseille City : what to see and doo

How to Get from Marseille Cruise Port to the City Centre

Most large cruise ships dock at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, which is located outside the historic city center. On days when cruise ships are in port, a free shuttle connects the terminal area to La Joliette, one of the best starting points for exploring Marseille.

From your ship, you will need to follow the marked path to the shuttle stop, which can take around 5 to 12 minutes depending on where your ship is docked. Once in La Joliette, you are already close to the Cathédrale de la Major and the MuCEM.

If you want to make the most of your limited time ashore, taking a taxi directly from the terminal can also be a convenient option, especially if you plan to start with visiting sights further from the city center, such as Notre-Dame de la Garde or the Corniche.

Marseille itinerary by foot

If you enjoy discovering a city at your own pace, Marseille is easy to explore on foot once you have reached La Joliette.

Start with the Cathédrale de la Major, an impressive striped cathedral overlooking the waterfront. Just a few steps away, the MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean offer a beautiful introduction to Marseille, with contemporary architecture, historic walls and open views over the Mediterranean.

From there, continue into Le Panier, Marseille’s oldest district, with its narrow streets, colourful façades and small shops. Don’t miss Les Navettes des Accoules to bring back Marseille’s traditional dry biscuit, easy to carry in your suitcase, and La Boule Bleue to discover one of the city’s favourite pastimes: pétanque.

From Le Panier, you can easily make your way down to the Old Port, the historic heart of Marseille, where fishing boats, cafés and views of Notre-Dame de la Garde capture the city’s lively Mediterranean atmosphere. It is also a good place to stop for lunch before continuing your day ashore.

If you still have time in the afternoon, you can continue exploring the city centre with this short walk through Marseille’s antiques district. If you are a strong walker and feel like climbing a little higher, you can also head up to Notre-Dame de la Garde for one of the best views over the city, before taking a taxi back to the cruise port.

And if you would rather see more of Marseille without turning your stopover into a walking marathon, we have another option for you.

Marseille in 2h by side car

Our alternative is a little more unusual: hop into one of our vintage side-cars and let us show you around.

With our two hour Marseille private tour, we take you from Le Panier and the Old Port up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, without rushing or feeling exhausted halfway up the hill. And we still have time to show you more: the Corniche, with the Mediterranean right beside you, and Les Goudes, a small traditional fishing port.

Your meeting point is in front of the teddy bear statue at the MuCEM, 10 minutes walk from cruise shuttle stop or reachable by taxi. From there, just follow your local guide.

Take a Shore Excursion to Cassis and Its Vineyards

Why Visit Cassis During a Cruise Stop in Marseille?

Marseille’s city centre is a wonderful place to spend your day, but the surroundings are just as tempting. A short drive away, Cassis offers a very different side of the region: a charming fishing village, limestone cliffs, coastal roads and vineyards facing the Mediterranean.

And the journey is part of the experience. Leaving Marseille, the road follows the sea towards Les Goudes before climbing above the coast, with beautiful viewpoints along the way. By the time you reach Cassis, you have already seen another face of Provence.

Cassis is also a great choice if you enjoy discovering local terroir. Its vineyards cover 215 hectares, with 85% of the vines either organic or in conversion, shaped by the Mediterranean, limestone soils and plenty of sun. 

How to Visit Cassis During a Cruise Stop in Marseille?

There are several ways to reach Cassis from Marseille, depending on how much time you have and how much you want to organise yourself.

Public transport is possible, but not always the easiest option during a cruise stop. You can take a train from Marseille to Cassis, but Cassis train station is located outside the village centre, so you will still need a shuttle, taxi or extra walking time once you arrive. There is also a bus connection from Marseille to Cassis, but again, you first need to reach the departure point from the cruise port.

That’s why many cruise passengers prefer booking a shore excursion by minivan. This makes it easier to include Cassis village, scenic viewpoints and enough time to return to the ship without constantly checking the clock.

Our favourite way? By our vintage side-car, of course. Our Cassis shore excursion lets you enjoy the road as much as the destination, with stops in the vineyards to taste the wines that make this little corner of Provence so special.

Calanques National Park by Sea 

If you are drawn to natural beauty, the Calanques National Park is definitely an option to consider during a cruise stop in Marseille. It is one of the most spectacular natural sites in the region.

From the deck, you may catch a glimpse of Marseille’s coastline. But the Calanques are best experienced up close, where the cliffs, coves and colours really come into view. These narrow inlets are protected, and cruise ships do not navigate into them. To get closer, you will need to choose another way to explore them.

You arrived in Marseille by sea. You may as well keep going. The Calanques offer a more intimate version of that experience: closer to the cliffs, the coves, the islands and the changing colours of the Mediterranean.

Depending on your pace and budget, different options are available. A private boat trip with Noctilio is the most exclusive choice, especially if you want a slower and more flexible experience. A small-group boat tour, with Bleu Evasion for example, is a good middle ground, with beautiful views of the coastline and, when conditions allow, sometimes a swimming stop along the way.

For a more active version, you can also look at guided kayak outings, especially around the Calanques de Cassis. You move more slowly, closer to the rock and the water, and the experience feels much more immersive.

‍

Of course, Marseille cruise port can also be a starting point for other Provence day trips. If your stopover is long enough, you may consider Aix-en-Provence for its elegant streets, markets and fountains, or even the lavender fields from Marseille in summer if the season and timing are right. But for most cruise passengers, the best choices remain the ones that make the most of the coast without turning the day into a race: exploring Marseille itself, heading to Cassis and its vineyards, or discovering the Calanques from the sea.