Free, tip what you liked · ★ 9.6/10 (157 reviews) · on Civitatis
Quick answer
Yes. There is 1 free walking tour in Marseille listed here, bookable for free on Civitatis. It is Marseille Free Tour: it meets at The Vieux Port metro station (Line 1), lasts about 2h30 and is guided in English, rated 9.6/10 from 157 reviews.
Start times vary by date and are confirmed when you book.
Marseille began as a Greek trading post some 2,600 years ago, and the Vieux-Port, the old harbour, is still the centre of everything. On its north side rises Le Panier, the oldest quarter, a hill of stairways, small squares and painted shutters. At the harbour mouth the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean now connects by footbridge to the Mucem, the museum that changed the waterfront when it opened in 2013.
The free walking tour covers that side of the port in about two and a half hours. It starts at the old harbour with the story of the city's founding, climbs into Le Panier past the Hôtel-Dieu, and takes the Montée des Accoules up to Place des Moulins. After more of the Panier's lanes it ends near the Mucem and Fort Saint-Jean.
Plan your visit to Marseille
What to see in Marseille
The Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, is wrapped in a concrete lattice and linked to Fort Saint-Jean by a high footbridge; exhibitions and tickets are on the museum's official website. Next to it, the striped Cathédrale de la Major looks out over the docks.
Notre-Dame de la Garde crowns the highest hill and has the best view of the city. In Le Panier, the Vieille Charité is a 17th-century almshouse with a domed chapel in its courtyard, now a cultural centre. East of the city, the limestone inlets of the Calanques are a national park.
Getting around and when to go
The port and Le Panier are walked; metro, tram and bus cover the rest. May, June and September have warm weather without the crowds of August. High-speed trains reach Paris in a little over three hours, and Nice is further along the same coast. See the month-by-month guide for timing.
Good to know before you go
Le Panier is all slopes and steps. Wear shoes with grip, and in summer take a morning tour: there is little shade on the climb.
The mistral, the strong north wind, can blow hard for days, especially in winter and spring. A windproof layer helps even under a blue sky.
Notre-Dame de la Garde, the basilica on the hill that watches over the city, is not on the route. Go up by bus or on foot afterwards for the view of the port and the islands.
Boats to the Château d'If and the Frioul islands leave from the Vieux-Port, close to where the tour starts, and the fishermen sell their catch on the quay in the morning.
Rest those walking legs
Where to stay in Marseille
Well-reviewed stays from our partner Booking.com. Check rates and availability for your dates on their site.
Yes. The Marseille Free Tour on Civitatis covers the Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the Hôtel-Dieu, Place des Moulins and the area of the Mucem and Fort Saint-Jean with an English-speaking guide. You reserve for free and tip at the end.
Where does the Marseille free tour start?
At the Vieux-Port metro station (line 1), by the old harbour. The exact point and how to recognise the guide are confirmed in your booking.
How long is the free tour of Marseille?
About two and a half hours. It ends next to Fort Saint-Jean, at the mouth of the harbour.
Does the tour go inside the Mucem?
No. The museum and the fort are seen from outside. Walking around Fort Saint-Jean and across its footbridges is free; the Mucem exhibitions have their own ticket.
How much should I tip on a free tour in Marseille?
There is no fixed amount. At the end you give the guide what you think the tour was worth. Our tip calculator shows the usual range for France.
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