10 Things to Do in Marseille on a Small Budget

Marseille has an efficient public transport system which includes a metro, buses, trams, bicycles and ferry boats. They’re the most economical ways of getting around the city. A single ticket is valid for 1 hour and cost less than €2. There are 24- and 72-hours passes available. If you plan to visit many museums and attractions, you should buy a City-Pass, which includes the use of all public transport and free access or discounts for most exhibitions in Marseille.

Settled in a complex that links the bygone Fort Saint-Jean to a modern cubic building just north of the Old Port, the aptly named Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations takes you for a journey through the rich history of the region. The entrance to Fort Saint-Jean is free, but it costs about €9.50 to get into the exhibition area (although it’s free on the first Sunday of each month). Do not miss the views of the city from the rooftop restaurant.

Fort Saint-Jean is a historic fortification that dates to 1660 and connects to a historical district and the first French national museum outside of Paris. Here you can walk the parapets that overlook the city and ocean and explore the structure that protected the city from invasion during the Middle Ages. It served as a military outpost and barracks up through the 20th century and played a critical role in World War II. With easy access to the neighbouring Le Panier historic district and the old harbour, it's an enchanting place to walk in the footsteps of history.

The Palais Longchamp is a stunning 19th-century edifice in the centre of Marseille. Listed as a Historic Monument, it hosts 2 museums and an elaborated fountain. Its large park features splendid gardens and the picturesque buildings of a former zoo, which closed in 1987. Renamed the Funny Zoo, colourful cement animals have replaced the live animals in the cages. It’s now a popular place for a stroll with the family.

L’Estaque is a village that has become a neighbourhood of Marseille, 9 km north of the Old Port. With a nice range of colours, from red rooftops to green vegetation to ochre hills to turquoise blue sea, it attracted many talented early-20th-century impressionist painters, including one of the most famed of them all: Paul Cézanne. Searching for Cézanne’s painting spots in L’Estaque will help you explore this quaint district of Marseille.

Le Panier is one of the oldest districts in Marseille, just north of the Old Port. It’s a lively, multicultural neighbourhood that hosts museums and quaint boutiques. Le Panier is famed for the splendid paintings that adorn many of its walls. Here, you’ll also find a good choice of affordable restaurants, such as Maison Geney on Rue Caisserie, Sur le Pouce Resto on Rue de la Joliette and Montréal Café on Rue Saint-Thomé.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde is the most iconic landmark in Marseille. Sat on a hill overlooking the Old Port, it’s also the best view point in the city. On foot, it takes roughly around 40 minutes to reach ‘La Bonne Mère’ – ‘the Good Mother’ as it’s called in Marseille – from the Old Port. You can also get up there on bus 60. Besides the breathtaking panoramic views, the interior of the basilica is worth the visit.

The Calanques is a National Park stretching for 16 km along the coast between Marseille and Cassis. Walking on narrow, rocky trails on the side of a limestone cliff can be challenging, but it’s really worth the effort. It’s obviously best to hire a guide, but you can make it by yourself with a good pair of shoes, sunscreen, water and snacks. Walking the whole track takes about 3 hours. It’s best to go early in the morning. Do not forget your camera as the landscapes are spectacular.

Also known as Noailles’s Market, the Marché des Capucins is a farmers’ market boasting the multicultural character of Marseille. Animated and noisy, the market hosts many fresh produces stalls, but also a good range of North African stands at which you can find spices, dried fruits and nuts. Freshly baked pizzas and other inexpensive street snacks can easily make your lunch, but keep your valuables safe when it gets crowded.

Musée Subaquatique de Marseille is an underwater art museum 100 metres from Plage des Catalans beach. A small but intriguing collection of 10 sandstone sculptures lies 5 metres below the surface, each covered in a thin film of sea moss.

Strong swimmers are welcome to explore the site for free at their own risk. Bring a snorkel, fins, and a wetsuit to Plage des Catalans, then swim west towards the bobbing yellow buoys. Alternatively, the museum organises paid snorkelling and diving trips throughout the warmer months. More than just an underwater marvel, the project raises funds to protect marine biodiversity in the region.