11 Best Places to Go Shopping in Marseille

Situated at the foot of the Canebière, the Old Port of Marseille has been the beating heart of the city for centuries. The temporary markets and souvenir shops nearby are great places to find typical Marseille gifts like its essential soap and delicious olive oil.

The tourist office shop is worth a special mention for offering a wide range of unique items proudly bearing the colours of the city: jewellery, accessories, t-shirts for the whole family, but also the famous Tarot de Marseilles, guides and tourist maps so you don't get lost in the rocky inlets. Want to watch a concert or a show? The shop also acts as a ticket office for Olympique de Marseille, theatres and other museums in the city.

Rue Saint-Férréol is a pedestrian street that has become very popular with shopaholics. Affectionately nicknamed "St Fé", it stretches between Marseille's 1st and 6th districts, more specifically from Place Félix-Baret to La Canebière, marking out the famous golden shopping triangle.

All the best-known fashion labels can be found here as well as jewellers, trendy shops and leisure shops. The young people of Marseille like to meet here on a Saturday afternoon. It's the place to be if you want to be seen, meet new people or go window shopping before visiting the shops and restaurants at the Centre Bourse just a stone's throw away.

Rue de Rome is one of the city centre's main streets, covering over 1.2 km through Marseille's 1st and 6th districts. A beautiful tram runs along the length of the street - a winner when your hands are full of shopping!

The street's stores are packed with all sorts of fashion items for great prices. But don't forget to stop by the traditional names of the city, like Le Père Blaize (Father Blaize), the famous herb pharmacy established in 1815 found down a side street.

Rue Paradis, the Marseille mecca for high-end shopping, is the second-longest street in the city. It runs through the 1st, 6th and 8th districts to join Place du Général-de-Gaulle to Avenue du Prado. Its 2,870 metres are home to some of the most prestigious labels and the trendiest of shops. Names like Sandro, Lacoste and Kenzo share the street with smaller designers offering exciting pieces.

Extend this luxurious, enchanting break by exploring further into Rue Grignan, just off Rue Paradis. You'll soon be won over by its high-end decoration, clothes and designer accessory shops, as well as several other enticing, elegant offerings.

Known by some as the Montmartre of Marseilles, Le Panier, in the 2nd district, is the oldest neighbourhood in the city. Its narrow lanes lead you to painters, ceramicists, sculptors and craftspeople who welcome you into their workshops with open arms. Although traditional santons (nativity scenes), pottery, knives and olive wood objects figure prominently, food artisans are not to be outdone.

Treat yourself to chocolate, delicious navettes (biscuits) flavoured with orange blossom water and distinctive Marseillotes (sweets). These are made of anise-flavoured nougat with almonds, candied orange peel and honey, coated in a delicious layer of cocoa.

Cours Julien is the place to find the city's artists, bohos and musicians. In addition to second-hand clothes, books shops and artists' workshops, this unusual neighbourhood at the heart of La Plaine, in Marseilles' 6th district, is also loved for its markets.

The Wednesday market brings together some 30 local farmers and producers to offer products of unequalled freshness and quality. By signing a charter, they commit to respecting the environment when growing their produce. This market brings together all the best fair trade producers in Marseille, with fresh and dried fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread, seafood, meat, eggs, honey and other edible plants and flowers available.

The Marché des Capucins (Capuchin Market) owes its name to its location: the site of the old monastery of the Capuchin monks, opposite the Gare de l'Est train station. Every day except Sunday, around 30 stalls heavy with fruit, vegetables and fresh herbs and spices fill Rue Longue-des-Capucins.

The street itself has many shops – mostly grocers, butchers, bakers and, of course, fishmongers. Come and take a wander around the stores and market stalls and take advantage of some of the lowest prices for food in the city centre.

The Marché aux Puces de Marseille (Marseille Flea Market) attracts crowds of around 100,000 people each week. There have been about 300 stallholders and around 100 bric-a-brac traders and loft clearers every weekend for over 20 years.

Forty or so antiques dealers are gathered together in a gallery next to a 1,300-square-metre second-hand shop. Antique shops are open Tuesday–Sunday. The shopping centre contains 300 shops that are open all year round.

The fish market is the Old Port of Marseille is a historical institution in this port city. Fishermen come to the seafront every morning to sell their catch from the night before. The fish market in the Vieux-Port (Old Port of Marseilles) is one of the remaining places where you can find fresh, quality seafood and is very popular with local restaurant owners.

Get up at dawn and soak up its authentic and unique atmosphere. Take the time to appreciate the work of these people who brave the raging seas to treat you to red mullet, sea bream and other bass, which they weigh, gut and scale in front of you with disconcerting speed and precision.

Rue de la Tour is a shopping hot spot that includes the trendiest shops, the biggest names and designer labels. It's found in the neighbourhood of L'Opéra, just a stone's throw away from Centre Bourse.

One of its high-profile brands is Maison Casablanca, a well-known label from Marseille established in 1985 by Hélène Racine, a women's ready-to-wear designer. Notably, every piece in her collection is designed and made in the very heart of Marseille.

The Galeries Lafayette Marseille Bourse is an upscale French department store and the ultimate place to indulge in retail therapy. Spanning 14,000 square metres in the Centre Commercial Bourse retail complex in the heart of Marseille, the 3-level retail space features fashionable clothing, shoes, health and beauty products, perfumes, leather goods and more.

Set near the Old Port, the Galeries Lafayette Marseille Bourse is hard to miss, with a modern glass and metal facade designed by the architectural firm Moatti-Riviere. The department store boasts French and well-known international brands that shoppers will appreciate.