Day 1 : City Sightseeing in Marseille: First Visit

Start in the Vieille Charité district and the Panier district with its winding stairs, and experience the charming Lenche square. Visit the former hospice and linger a while in one of its exhibitions, then head towards la Major. Take a peak at the Vieux-Port , where the little « Bonne Mère » train (from the quai des Belges) will drive you to Notre-Dame de la Garde, ( 162 meters high). Pace yourself as you walk down the hill through the Puget garden, then have a cool drink in one of the outside cafes on the place aux Huiles. Check out the charming Auffes Valley, and have lunch at the L’Epuisette for a gourmet break, or try the Pizzéria Jeannot for a simple snack. Back in the city center, stop at the Pharo Palace to admire the view and to take in the fresh air at Napoleon III’s former summer quarters.  Take a walk on the Canebière and go on a shopping spree at Saint-Ferréol street. Don’t deprive yourself of a detour to see the Bourse palace. Spend the night in one of the musical and lively bars of the cours Julien.

Show addresses of locations

• Lenche Square

• Hospice De La Vieille Charité

  Address: 2 rue de la Charité, Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 14 58 80

• Cathédrale De La Major

  Address: Place de la Major, Marseille
  

• Notre Dame De La Garde

• Puget Hill Garden

  Address: Rue Abbé Dassy, Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 55 25 51

• Place Aux Huiles

• Auffes Valley

• L’epuisette

  Address: 156, Rue Vallon des Auffes, Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 52 17 82

• Pizzéria Jeannot

  Address: 129, Rue Vallon des Auffes, Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 52 11 28

• Saint Ferréol Street

• Bourse Palace

  Address: 9 place du Général de Gaulle , Marseille
  

• Cours Julien

Day 2 : Visit to Monuments & Architecture in Marseille

Just after breakfast, discover the modern Marseille and visit Cité radieuse, where you will view a curious housing concept designed by the brilliant architect, Le Corbusier.  To discover other architectural jewels in Marseille, go to the Vélodrome stadium , (that is if you are a football fan). Head to the Estaque : an outer district that is a must see, since it inspired many of the artists who visited it. Bus 35 will take you there; On your way, stop at Joliette square to visit the docks. Take a gourmet break at  Restaurant du CAM, or choose the sobriety of the Petit Naples. While you are there, relax on the Corbières beach, or go back to the city center to take a rest on  Marseilles sand. Depending on the weather, you might prefer the tranquility of the Borély park.

Show addresses of locations

• Cité Radieuse

  Address: 580 boulevard Michelet, Marseille
  

• Vélodrome Stadium

  Address: 3 boulevard Michelet , Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 76 56 09

• The Docks

  Address: 12, rue Urbain V, Marseille
  

• L'estaque

• Restaurant Du Cam

  Address: 1, Plage de l'Estaque , Marseille
  Phone: +33 (0)4 91 03 60 77

• Petit Naples

  Address: 14 plage Estaque, Marseille
  Phone: +33 (0)4 91 46 05 11

• Borély Castle And Park

Day 3 : Excursions & Walks to Frioul

 You will experience a pleasant change of scenery if you go to the Frioul archipelago. A boat at  Belges bank (on the Old Port) will first take you to the island and then to the If castle. The strategic location was chosen by Francis 1st, and is an intriguing place to visit. You will then be able to go to Ratonneau island, where you will find the famous Caroline hospital. Check out Pomègues island; it used to be an anchorage port for quarantine boats. You can have a picnic on one of the pretty beaches, or wait until you are in Aix-en-Provence at Chez Gaby or at the Formal, which is more romantic.  Just 30 minutes away from Marseille,  you will be pleasantly confronted by water, and find many fountains that cool the air along with the old stones. The impressive Sainte-Victoire Mountain (which inspired Paul Cézanne) overlooks it. You can take a stroll between magnificent buildings, such as the city hall, the clock tower, Saint-Sauveur cathedral and the Vendôme pavilion. If you fancy a challenging walk, admire it from the top of this famous mountain. 

Show addresses of locations

• Frioul Archipelgo

• If Castle

• Chez Gaby

  Address: 42, Avenue Fortuné Ferrini, Marseille
  Phone: +33(0)4.42.26.23.29

• Aix En Provence

• Formal

  Address: 32, Rue Espariat, Marseille
  Phone: 04 42 27 08 31

Day 4 : Romance in Cassis: Romantic Getaways for couples

La Ciotat, well-known for having inspired the beginnings of  cinema, is a pretty area to stop off, and just 45 minutes from Marseille. Arrival by train at La Ciotat station is certainly the go.It is here that one of the first movies was made by the Lumière brothers. The Eden is actually the oldest existing cinemas in the world! Petanque was supposedly born here too. Through the Crètes road and the Canaille cape, you will get to Cassis, and see wonderful viewpoints on Europe’s highest cliffs! These magnificent sheer rock faces are protected and offer many possible activities such as hiking, rock climbing and scuba diving. Between July and mid September, it is forbidden to go there due to an abundance of fires. Once you get to the authentic village of Cassis, you can recover at Chez Gilbert or at the Escalier. If you decide to taste the nectars from the local vineyards, make sure you lie down on one of the beautiful beaches. You can also take a boat trip to the creeks (cruises all year round). Back in Marseille, you should go to the Goudes district to enjoy the lovely panorama. 

Show addresses of locations

• La Ciotat

• Cassis

• Chez Gilbert

  Address: 19 Quai des baux, Marseille
  Phone: +33 (0)4 42 01 71 36

• L’escalier

  Address: 4 rue Frederic Mistral, Marseille
  Phone: +33 (0)442323380

Alternatives in Marseille depending on the weather

Day 5 : On a blistering day

People are not usually aware, but you can have access to hotel swimming pools even if you are not staying there. Far from bustling crowds, you can enjoy flawless service along with invigorating baths. The price is reasonable: usually around €10. You can also choose to spend the day in the shade at Borély park or to take refuge in the tranquility of the Museum of Fine Arts or perhaps the Museum of Fashion. 

Show addresses of locations

• Borély Castle And Park

• Museum Of Fine Arts

  Address: Palais de Longchamp, Marseille
  Phone: +33 4 91 14 59 30

• Museum Of Fashion

  Address: 11 La Canebière, Marseille
  Phone: + 33 (0)4 96 17 06 00