Marseille is a popular Mediterranean cruise destination, known as the city of 100 neighbourhoods! It’s the oldest city in France so expect history, culture and more. If you’re heading to Marseille on a cruise keep reading to discover some of the free things to do in Marseille on a cruise.
PLUS, we’ll also sharing some things we think are worth spending a small amount of money on.
We visited Marseille on a Mediterranean cruise on P&O Arvia and have to admit we were a bit worried we wouldn’t enjoy it. Before the cruise, we’d heard from other cruisers that it was dirty and unsafe so understandably we didn’t have high hopes.
Spoiler – we had a wonderful time in Marseille!
We always like to go to new places with an open mind and we found Marseille to be clean, relaxed and safe to walk around on our own.
How to get from the cruise port to Marseille
Most cruise ships dock outside of Marseille and so you’re probably going to need a shuttle bus from the cruise port.
Some cruise lines (like P&O Cruises) offer free shuttles but others, like MSC Cruises, charge passengers around €16 for a return journey.
If your cruise line charges for the shuttle bus to Marseille, the good news is that Marseille cruise port offers a free option if you’re willing to walk a little.
To find the free shuttle bus stop, follow the green line on the ground when you step off your ship. Walk between 5 and 12 minutes towards the exit of Gate 4 of the port until you reach the well-marked stop.
This free shuttle drops you in La Joliette district of Marseille, which is the same area as the P&O Cruises’ drop-off point.
It runs from 9.20am to 5.20pm and leaves every 20 minutes.
For further details visit the Marseille Tourism website.
Can you visit Marseille for free?
If you’re visiting Marseille on a cruise, you could easily spend a day exploring the city without spending any money. There are many free things to do in Marseille and others that are very affordable.
There are plenty of things to see as you walk around the city, such as the Old Port, Palais de Longchamps and the Cathedrale de Notre Dame.
We’re big advocates of supporting local businesses in cruise ports so we do visit local cafes, restaurants and attractions but you don’t need to spend lots of money to enjoy yourself.
Stroll around the Vieux Port: Easy Free Things to do in Marseille
The ‘old port’ is a great place for a leisurely stroll. There are plenty of little boats and yachts to stop and admire and it’s a pleasant place to spend time on a sunny day.
There’s a large pedestrian area around the port so we felt very safe to just wander at our own pace.
As it’s one of the main hubs it’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Marseille.
Admire Hôtel de Ville
Next to the port, you’ll pass the Hôtel de Ville de Marseille. It’s a grand building built in 1656, with architecture from the late 17th century. Surprisingly, Marseille’s council has met here since the Middle Ages. Today, it is used as the Town Hall.
We stopped to admire it during our walk around the port but unfortunately, you cannot go inside as it’s used for council business.
Walk on the ceiling at L’Ombrière de Norman Foster
Also known as the Vieux Port Canopy, this is a quirky spot where people walk on the ceiling!
We had some fun walking underneath the canopy to see everyone reflected in the huge stainless steel structure that acts like a giant mirror. It’s quite cool to stop for a few moments and look up.
This structure was built in 2013 and was designed by the British architect, Norman Foster who is more famous for designing the Gherkin and Millennium Bridge in London as well as the Hearst Tower in New York.
The mirrored ceiling measuring 22 metres by 48 metres so we couldn’t miss it as we walked around the port.
Visit the Abbey of Saint-Victor for free
This monument is located on the far side of Vieux Port (south bank) and has free entry, with an extra fee to visit the crypts (€2) and tower. It’s shaped the history of Marseille and showcases early Christian art.
As it’s small it doesn’t take long to look around but those who have visited recommend paying the small fee to see the crypts.
‘Don’t hesitate to spend 2 Euros to see the crypt. It is definitely worth it. Very old and impressive. The rest of the abbey is free and you also get some great views from just outside…’
Trip advisor review, 2023
The Cathedrale de Notre Dame
This cathedral is the main tourist attraction for cruise passengers in Marseille. Almost everyone we spoke to from our cruise ship visited – so expect it to be busy!
The cathedral is free to visit but the view of Marseille from outside is equally spectacular.
In the Vieux Port you’ll come across the Petit Train that takes you the Cathedral de Notre Dame. It’s around €10 per person BUT you can catch the no. 60 bus from outside the Vieux Port Metro Station for just €2 each way.
The journey is nearly two miles from Vieux Port so you can always walk if you’re feeling energetic (it’s uphill on the way). If not, let the bus/land train take the strain!
Visit Palais Longchamp: one of the best free things to do in Marseille
The main thing we wanted to do during our day in Marseille was visit Palais Longchamp. It’s a landmark you’ve probably seen in photos of Marseille and it’s impressive in real life.
For this reason, we expected it to be a busy tourist spot but we couldn’t have been more wrong. When we arrived it was almost deserted – it felt like a hidden secret!
The Palais Longchamp is a must-see in Marseille and we were really shocked how quiet it was during our visit. Even on the day we visit with three big cruise ships in port, this landmark was so peaceful.
The historical monument was built to bring water to the city and has spectacular fountains and water features to show it off.
It’s free admission and we spent some time admiring the statues and water fountains before heading through to the park behind. In fairness, the park is a park and nothing to shout about, but if you’re looking for a quiet spot to enjoy some shade or have a picnic, it’s an option.
Apparently the park used to be a zoo and there are so old enclosures still there but we never spotted any during our visit.
To get to Palais Longchamp from the Vieux Port it’s a 30 minute walk but we decided to try the Metro and surprisingly it was very easy and we felt safe.
Marseille is busy but its Metro stations aren’t and it was very straightforward to buy a ticket from the machine as we entered. You can choose English on the screen and order your tickets. We noticed that the maps seemed much easier to navigate than the London Tube too.
Return tickets were approximately €4 return and we thought it was certainly worth it to save our legs and to experience the Metro.
Stroll through Le Panier Quarter
This is the oldest area of Marseille, dating back to 600 BCE. Today, Le Panier is a charming maze of tiny streets with artisan shops and street cafes found around every corner.
This is miles away from the dirty, grubby streets we were told about by other cruise passengers. It has cobblestone streets, colourful buildings and little squares with cafes and people dining al fresco. There are little boutique shops selling local items such as soap.
Don’t forget to look up as you wander through the tiny streets to admire the window boxes, filled with flowers.
It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Vieux Port and discover some of Marseille’s finest street art.
Cathedral La Major
This cathedral is free to enter and is worth a look inside to admire its intricate details, like the mosaic floor and painted ceiling. The cathedral was built in the 1800s and can seat 3000 people, making it one of the largest cathedrals in France.
Key features of the cathedral include its grand exterior, with alternating stripes of white and green sandstone, inspired by the Byzantine style, and its striking domed roof. Notably, the cathedral’s large nave and spacious chapels contribute to a serene and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
It’s also a cool place to visit for on a hot day!
Overall thoughts on the best free things to do in Marseille
Despite hearing mixed reviews about Marseille before we visited, we had a really pleasant day. It’s clear that this city has much to offer and you can enjoy plenty for free (or for a small fee).
We were so glad we decided to visit Palais de Longchamp and it definitely lived up to expectations. What did surprise us the most was how quiet this major tourist attraction was during our day in Marseille. This would be our recommendation for a low cost activity, away from the crowds.
If we had more time in Marseille, we would definitely like to spend more time in Le Panier district. It had a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and spending time in the little street cafes, soaking up French cafe culture is very appealing.
Watch our full video about exploring Mediterranean cruise ports on P&O Arvia, including Marseille.
Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food.
Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados
Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!
Find me on: Twitter/X
Marseille was a surprise. We planned to take the land train but the queue was so long. We took the bus to Notre Dame instead. There was a ticket machine at the bus stop which a young woman showed me how to use. Turned out to be very simple. Much cheaper than the land train and we only waited a few minutes for the bus. Well worth making the effort. Thank you for the great ideas which we can try if we find ourselves back in Marseille one day.
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We thought Marseille was much nicer than people had lead us to believe so it was a pleasant surprise. The bus is an excellent alternative to the land train, especially as it can get very busy with cruise passengers all wanting to go to the cathedral. Thank you for sharing your experience 😁