Marseille is a must-see destination if you want to spend some time on the Côte d'Azur in summer. On the one hand, you benefit from the advantages of the big city, with its abundant cultural offerings, fascinating museums and a wide range of good places to have a drink, lunch or dinner. Marseille's other advantage is, of course, its exceptional location on the Mediterranean. Beaches and sublime calanques await vacationers for swimming and water sports under a generous sun. Here are 13 must-do activities in Marseille this summer.
1. Discover Marseille's calanques by kayak
The calanques of Marseille, one of the most beautiful spots on the Côte d'Azur, are a veritable jewel of nature. Environmentally-friendly kayaking is a gentle way to discover them. For example, from Les Goudes, supervised outings to the Parc national des Calanques are available. Half-day or full-day outings take in the beauty of Marseille's coastline from the water, before stopping off at the magnificent Morgiou or Sormiou creeks. This expedition offers spectacular views, between limestone cliffs and the turquoise sea, and also allows you to venture into faults and caves. There's also time for lunch and a swim.
- Available from age 7
- From 48€ for half a day
Click here to book your half-day kayak tour of the Côte Bleue calanques from Marseille.
2. Visit the Mucem exhibitions
In addition to its incredible seafront architecture, the Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée houses an incredible collection of objects, posters, photographs and prints. A must-see in Marseilles, the museum is in perpetual motion, and also hosts exciting temporary exhibitions. For example, from April 17 to September 23, 2024, the museum is hosting the exhibition Passion Partagées, De Basquiat à Edith Piaf, la Collection Lambert au Mucem, which brings the Lambert collection into dialogue with the Mucem collections. In the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France, Fort Saint-Jean will be hosting the exhibition Des exploits, des chefs-d'oeuvre from April 26 to September 8, a major event focusing on the links between art and sport.
- Mucem, Esplanade du J4, 13001 Marseille
- Full price €11, concessions €7.50
3. Spend a day on the Frioul Islands
With its limestone silhouette lying off the coast of Marseille, the Frioul archipelago is one of those must-see places on a summer vacation in Marseille. Some are determined to visit the Château d'If on the eponymous islet, a monument built in the 16th century by order of François1er. Others plan only to visit Ratonneau and Pomègues to enjoy their wild nature and translucent coves. Ratonneau is home to several restaurants in its harbor. For swimming and sunbathing, we recommend the Calanques de la Crine or de l'Escondelle in Poimmègues. They're among the most beautiful landscapes in the Mediterranean!
- Boarding at the Gare Maritime, Quai de la Fraternité, 13001 Marseille
- Full price €11.10, family price €8.30
Click here to book your boat tour of the Frioul Islands with swimming stop, departing from Marseille.
4. Embark on a cruise in the Calanques
When visiting Marseille in summer, with family or friends, a cruise is one of the best ways to discover the Calanques National Park. From the Vieux-Port, a 12-person eco-friendly ship offers a memorable day of cliff, pine and turquoise sea viewing. After lunch with a glass of rosé, we continue with a visit to the Riou archipelago and some of Marseille's most beautiful calanques, such as Sormiou, Morgiou and Sugiton. A trip along Marseille's coastline by boat includes swimming breaks in unspoilt spots, far from the crowds.
- Available from age 8
- From €120 per day
Book my catamaran cruise in the Calanques
5. What to do in Marseille this summer? Visit the Cité Radieuse
La Cité Radieuse - Le Corbusier is a true architectural icon in Marseille. Built between 1947 and 1952 by Swiss-born architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you're in Marseille for a weekend or a vacation of a week or more, if you're an architecture buff, you can't miss this visit. You enter a model apartment and discover in turn the lobby, the common areas, the3rd and4th streets and the roof terrace. A visit with a guide-lecturer gives a clearer idea of why this type of housing unit was totally revolutionary at the time.
- La Cité Radieuse 280 boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille
- Prices: from €15 for adults, €7 for children aged 6 to 11
6. Scoot around Marseille on an electric scooter
In Marseille, the streets go up and down in many neighborhoods. To make things easier, a number of service providers offer electric scooter rentals. For 2 or 4 hours, these eco-friendly scooters can be used to criss-cross the city, climbing up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, taking in the Cathedral de la Major, skirting the Corniche Kennedy to marvel at the sea views, or taking in the streets leading to the Cours Julien, with its countless works of street art. The good thing about these cars is that they're easy to handle. Summer is wedding season, so why not plan this activity for an EVJF?
- Activity available from age 12
- From €25 for 2 hours
7. Enjoy Marseille's most beautiful beaches
Of course, in summer, it's hard to resist spending some time at the beach in Marseille. There are several options for this. In one of France's sunniest cities, you can visit the must-visit beaches of Le Prophète, Les Catalans, Prado and Pointe Rouge. Even further east, towards the entrance to the Parc National des Calanques, you'll find little nuggets like Plage de la Bonne Brise and Plage de l'Abri Côtier. These sandy beaches aren't very wide, but they're incredibly charming and are bordered by a crystal-clear sea.
8. Spend an evening at the Terrasses du Port Rooftop
In summer, Marseille is a lively place. On a Marseille weekend or extended vacation, what better way to end the day than with a drink, music and a view? Les Terrasses du Port is the place to be. A 1250m2 rooftop terrace that's particularly pleasant at sunset. As soon as the warmer weather returns, the place comes alive in the evening with exceptional DJ sets. Rock, electro, house... Something for everyone. There's also a generous menu of cocktails and gourmet platters.
- Les Terrasses du Port, 9 Quai du Lazaret, 13002 Marseille
- Afterwork, free access before 9pm. Some evenings are chargeable, see program
9. Push the doors of Friche La Belle de Mai
La Friche La Belle de Mai is the cultural spot not to be missed in summer, and indeed all year round. You can come here to eat in the restaurant, have a drink with friends, see an exhibition, play with the kids in the games car or relax in the bookshop. The agenda is rich in events, with art exhibitions of course, but also a farmers' market, cinema, workshops, concerts, DJ sets and literary events. The best thing to do is visit the website.
- Friche La Belle de Mai, 41 rue Jobin - 13003 Marseille
- Open 7 days a week from 8am. Online ticketing available for workshops and events
10. Hook-walking, a must in Marseille in summer
A fun activity for all the family. In the hills above Marseille, 8 accrobranche courses await adults and children aged 4 and over. There's something for every level, with walkways, bridges, barrels and other zip lines. There's even a special area for toddlers aged 2 to 4. Tree climbing is perfectly safe. Everyone can have fun in complete safety. The courses take place in a forest that smells of Mediterranean vegetation.
- Ecopark Adventures de Marseille Saint-Jérôme, 20 Boulevard Madeleine Rémusat, 13013 Marseille, France
- Rates: €24 for ages 13 and over, €5 to €21 for children aged 2 to 12
Book my ticket for the Adventures Marseille ecopark
11. Set sail for the Apéros du Bateau
Here's a concept that should appeal to groups of friends visiting Marseille for the summer vacations. After joining the Quai des Belges in front of the Samaritaine at 7pm, we board the Ilienne boat for a sunset aperitif on the open sea. On board, the 200 guests enjoy cocktails, wines and softs, as well as fine food. And that's not all: the cruise is enlivened by the sound of a DJ, and participants can dance the night away. Return to the port at 10:30pm. Everyone is free to continue the evening as they please. This summer's program includes DJ James (NTM) and DJ Daz.
- Price: from €24.90
12. Follow the events of L'été marseillais
During the summer months, Marseille is alive with festivals and other major cultural programs. L'été marseillais returns for a 5th edition, synonymous with cultural, sportingand leisureactivitiesthat are entirely free and accessible to all throughout the summer. Among the highlights: a craft market on the Old Port; children's activities in parks and gardens on Wednesdays; free visits to temporary exhibitions in museums on Thursdays, as well as karaoke, popular dances and tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. Other highlights take place on the floating stage in the Old Port, with numerous shows and concerts. The line-up for Summer 2024 includes Dj Bens - Warend, Soso Maness, Véronique Sanson and Massilia Soud System.
- Summer in Marseille, July 5 - September 1, 2024
13. Take the Côte Bleue train
The train line from Marseille to Miramas is a sight to behold. Following the coastline, it unveils breathtaking marine panoramas and passes over viaducts. The stations it serves offer their share of experiences. Niolon is enchanting, with its picturesque port and coastal path, while Ensuès-la-Redonne offers the chance to photograph typical cabanons and cool off in heavenly calanques. There's also Carry-le-Rouet to visit. This seaside resort boasts excellent restaurants and beaches that are perfect for a family day out.
Finally, while you're in Marseille, don't miss out on the must-sees in neighboring Cassis!
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