Marseilles City Highlights

Uncover the intriguing highlights of Marseille on this survey of the dazzling maritime city with time on your own. Drive through the colorful Old Port, where the city’s Greek founders landed in 600 BC, and delight in the typically French sidewalk cafés, thriving markets and picturesque fishing boats bobbing in the harbor. As you continue along the coast, notice the impressive bluffs of the Massif de Marseilleveyre and the scenic islands lying just offshore. Make your way to Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, a 19th-century wonder built atop a limestone outcrop that towers over Marseille. Gaze in awe at this neo-Byzantine church, a green-and-white-striped sanctuary whose belfry soars nearly 200 feet and is topped with a titanic gold-leafed statue of the Madonna and Child. You’ll stop for photos at the Palais Longchamp, a wonderfully ornate 19th-century complex of stately museums, elegant fountains and an expansive park guarded by four impressive lion sculptures. Return to the Old Port for approximately one hour of free time in this compact waterfront area, whose inviting, mostly pedestrian-only streets perfectly capture this charming city’s élan.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.