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Marseille: Old port city in a new light
Under the vivid blue skies of southern Provence, Marseille is a city that blasts the senses with its rich history, cultural melting pot and bustling streets that proclaim its status as France’s second city – and its oldest. Marseille’s heritage, stretching back to 600BC, is evident in its myriad forts, castles and churches, while the constant influx of immigrants over the
centuries has created an eclectic atmosphere and diverse cuisine that give the city an intoxicating character. While it hasn’t always been a fixture on the tourist trail, a wave of renovations during its reign as European Capital of Culture 2013 has put Marseille up there with the best city-break destinations in Europe.
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24 hours in Marseille
08:00 a.m.: Wake up at Mama Shelter
3006 Marseille
France
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Vieux Port, or Old Port, is the tourist center of Marseille, and of course there are plenty of hotels there. But if you want to really get to know the city, it’s a good idea to stay in one of the surrounding districts. If you’re looking for an authentic Marseille experience, the Mama Shelter hotel, located in a residential area, is an excellent choice. By day, you can get the feel of ordinary life in Marseille, and in the early evening, when nearby Cours Julien bursts into life (see 10pm), you can live it up a little with the locals crowding the bars and restaurants around the square. And don’t worry about noise – the Mama Shelter is far enough away for you to get a good night’s sleep.
Just like its Parisian role model, the Mama Shelter in Marseille also boasts a mix of Philippe Starck design and bohemian atmosphere. However cool the interior design, outside on the terrace, flowerpots and colorfully striped walls dominate the scene, and spots illuminate the row of children’s swim rings above the bar. This clash of styles is intentional and prepares visitors for a city brimming with contrasts. No need to go out for breakfast because you won’t find a better buffet anywhere nearby. The mueslis are homemade and the espresso beans organically grown. Free Wi-Fi also part of the package, so planning your day online is a breeze.
10:00 a.m.: The Vieux Port area
13002 Marseille
France
Tel: +33 4 84 35 13 13
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Tel. +33-484/35 13 13
Those in the know have already arrived at the fish market by around half past seven in the morning to secure the best fish. Come at ten, and there’ll be less seafood to choose from, but just as much atmosphere – suntanned fishermen selling their catch from folding tables, some loudly vying for custom, others already tending to their nets again. This picturesque scene could almost be from another time – but star architects Norman Forster and Michel Desvigne’s fully mirrored L’Ombrière canopy right next door brings visitors right back to the present. Since 2013, when the city was a European Capital of Culture, great architectural advances have been made all around the Old Port. The waterfront promenade has had a facelift and makes a pleasant walk up to the ancient Fort Saint-Jean.
Continue from there across the sea on the breathtaking, 115-meter-long J4 pier as far as the manmade museum island. This is the site of the MuCEM, the Museum for the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean, which is encased in concrete tracery reminiscent of an outsized Moroccan window lattice, known as a mashrabiyya, and also of the Villa Méditerranée exhibition hall, which resembles a giant springboard. Our stroll ends at the black-and-white striped Cathédrale de la Major.
12:00 p.m.: Lunch with a view
9 Quai du Lazaret
13002 Marseille
France
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A restaurant inside a shopping mall is supposed to be a gourmet tip? Most certainly. Because at the Les Terrasses du Port, which opened in 2014, you get can enjoy the best sea view in the city while you eat. The spacious terrace on the second floor, 260 meters wide, gives onto the Mediterranean and the Cruise Port and accommodates a succession of restaurants resembling a string of pearls.
The best of these is the former court confectionery Dalloyau, where original French cuisine is served on the shadowy terrace – foie gras, salade niçoise and main course, magret de canard (duck breast). For dessert, you really should try a slice of Opéra, the exquisite chocolate cake invented in 1955 by Dalloyau employee Cyriaque Gavillon, which is a classic in all good confectioneries in France today.
03:00 p.m.: Les Catalans city beach
13007 Marseille
France
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The locals avoid the midday sun and only venture out of doors again at around 4pm. That’s why, if you go down to Les Catalans beach in the center of Marseilles in the early afternoon and spread out your towel on the sand, you’ll find it’s delightfully peaceful and deserted (but also very hot, of course). Compared with its big brother, Plage du Prado, this little beach is intimate and offers plenty of shadow thanks to the closely built streets that border it.
You will only enjoy yourself here if you don’t mind plenty of comings and goings. Many residents come down in their bathing suits with a towel under their arm for a refreshing dip and head straight back home again, barely dry. Swim out far enough and you can see the boats sailing into the Old Port.
08:00 p.m.: Fish dinner at Michel’s
13007 Marseille
France
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You won’t get far here without a reservation. The fish restaurant Chez Michel across from Les Catalans beach is an institution in Marseille and accordingly well frequented. Unremarkable on the outside, rustic interior – and very popular with the locals. Service begins at 8pm – we are, after all, in the south here.
But the food is well worth the wait because here they serve genuine Marseille bouillabaisse, grilled fish, fish soup, and all manner of shellfish, of course – but there are other local specialties on the menu, too, if fish is not your thing.
10:00 p.m.: Nightcap on busy Cours Julien
13006 Marseille
Frankreich
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Cours Julien is cool – on two counts: In the middle of this rectangular square surrounded by the graffiti-covered walls of apartment houses, there’s a large water garden with fountains that send random fine jets of water wafting across the terraces of bars and restaurants, leaving customers refreshed.
For a cocktail, head to oogie!, the city’s first concept store, which is recognizable by its colorful chairs and appreciated for its opening hours – you can shop there till midnight.
Flight and accommodation
Top 10 sights in Marseille

Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
13281 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 9113 4080
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Opening times:
Daily 0700-1900 (Oct-Mar)
Daily 0700-2000 (Apr-Sep)
It’s been 800 years since the first chapel was built on this hill offering sweeping views over the city. Dating from 1853, the present basilica is a symbol of Marseille.
Vieux Port
13001 Marseille
France
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The beating heart of the city, Marseille’s port has been recently renovated, with its historic buildings offset by Norman Foster’s ultra-modern mirrored Ombrière structure.
Saint-Victor Abbey
13007 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 9611 2260
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Opening times:
Daily 0900-1900
This beautiful fifth-century monastery was originally outside the city walls but through the centuries has seen the metropolis grow around it.
Le Panier (Old Town)
France
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Despite widespread destruction during WWII, Marseille’s Old Town remains a vibrant district housing cafés, artisan shops, narrow houses and cobbled alleyways.
Cathedral Sainte-Marie-Majeur
13002 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 9190 5287
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1800 (winter)
1000-1900 (summer)
This vast 19th-century cathedral (often called La Major) evokes the rich diversity of Marseille with its exotic Middle Eastern interior decoration and domed towers modelled on those in Istanbul.
Fort Saint-Nicholas
13007 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 91 13 89 00
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Opening times:
By arrangement
Built in a distinctive star shape, this 17th-century fort on the south bank of the old port aimed to protect the city from invasion. You can arrange visits through the tourist office.
Musée des Beaux-Arts
7 rue Edouard Stephan
13004 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 9114 5930
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1800
Housed in the 19th-century Palais Longchamp along with the Natural History Museum, the city’s Fine Arts Museum contains gems from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Mediterranée (MuCEM)
13002 Marseille
France
Tel: +33 4 84 35 13 13
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Opening times:
Daily 1100-1800 (Nov-Apr)
Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 1100-1900
Fri 1100-2200 (May-Jun and Sep-Oct)
Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 0900-2000
Fri 0900-2200 (Jul-Aug)
Opened during Marseille’s time as European Capital of Culture 2013, MuCEM’s vast collection, spread over three sites including the historic Fort Saint-Jean, showcases the diverse nature of the Mediterranean region.
La Vieille Charité
13002 Marseille
France
Tel: 04 9114 5880
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1800
This remarkable galleried building, designed by Marseille architect Pierre Puget in the 17th century, was originally a poorhouse. It now stages temporary exhibitions, but it’s worth visiting for the building alone.
Château d’If
13001 Marseille
France
Tel: 06 0306 2526
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 0930-1645 (mid-Sep to Mar)
Daily 0930-1645 (Apr to mid-May)
Daily 0930-1810 (mid-May to mid-Sep)
This 16th-century fortress-turned-prison on an offshore island was where Alexandre Dumas’ fictional Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned. Now open to the public, it’s accessible from the mainland via a regular ferry service.
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Country information
Country overview
You could spend a lifetime’s worth of holidays in France and still not feel as though you’d done the country justice. It remains the planet’s most visited tourist destination, meriting this lofty standing with an almost overwhelming mass of historical treasures, storybook landscapes and cultural idiosyncrasies. The teeming glam of Paris makes for one hell of a centrepiece, matching any city on the planet for ambiance, individuality and set-piece sights.
But the real beauty of France, in many ways, lies in the seemingly endless list of travel treats elsewhere. The country’s natural gifts are striking, with white sands, hulking mountains and fecund swathes of rolling countryside. It’s a land that has inspired dreamers and drinkers, revolutionaries and artists, gastronomes and geniuses.
Geography
France, the largest country in Western Europe, is bordered to the northwest by the English Channel (La Manche), to the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, to the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, to the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), to the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The country’s loose six-sided shape means it often gets referred to by the informal nickname “L’Hexagone”.
The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two départements. France is home to an astonishing range of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrenees to the attractive river valleys of the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne, and the flatter countryside of Normandy and the Atlantic coast.
The country has some 2,900km (1,800 miles) of coastline.
Away from the mainland and Corsica, there are a number of French-administered overseas departments and regions outside of Europe. These include Guadeloupe (an island in the Caribbean), Réunion Island (located in the Indian Ocean just east of Madagascar), French Guiana (on the northeastern coast of South America), Martinique (another island in the Caribbean) and Mayotte (an island in the Mozambique Channel).
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 66,3 millions
Population Density (per sq km): 114
Capital: Paris.
Language
French is the official language. There are many regional dialects, but these are rapidly declining, with the exception of Basque, which is spoken as a first language by some people in the southwest, and Breton,which is spoken by some in Brittany. Many people speak at least some English.
Currency
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.
General business opening hours
Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1200, 1400-1800.
Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2018 – December 2019 period.
Note
Not all Public Holidays are observed throughout France.
2018
Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2018
Vendredi Saint (Good Friday): 30 March 2018
Pâques (Easter Sunday): 1 April 2018
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday): 2 April 2018
Fête du Travail (Labour Day): 1 May 2018
Fête de la Victoire (Victory Day 1945): 8 May 2018
Ascension (Ascension Day): 10 May 2018
Pentecôte: (Whitsunday):20 May 2018
Lundi de Pentecôte (Whitmonday): 21 May 2018
Fête Nationale de la France (Republic Day): 14 July 2018
Assomption (Assumption Day): 15 August 2018
Toussaint (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2018
Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day 1918):
11 November 2018
Noël (Christmas Day): 25 December 2018
2019
Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2019
Vendredi Saint (Good Friday): 19 April 2019
Pâques (Easter Sunday): 21 April 2019
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday): 22 April 2019
Fête du Travail (Labour Day): 1 May 2019
Fête de la Victoire (Victory Day 1945): 8 May 2019
Ascension (Ascension Day): 30 May 2019
Pentecôte: (Whitsunday): 9 June 2019
Lundi de Pentecôte (Whitmonday): 10 June 2019
Fête Nationale de la France (Republic Day): 14 July 2019
Assomption (Assumption Day): 15 August 2019
Toussaint (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2019
Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day 1918):
11 November 2019
Noël (Christmas Day): 25 December 2019
All information subject to change.
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Marseille
Loud and lively, Marseille knows how to put on a good night out.
There are plenty of bars clustered around the Vieux Port, in Le Panier and in beach area Escale Borély.
Au Petit Nice
13001 Marseille
France
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Try local tipple pastis at this convivial bar in the Plaine area of town.
Le Bar de la Marine
13007 Marseille
France
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Start your night with an aperitif on the large terrace of this 1930s-style bar in the Vieux Port.
Le Trolleybus
13007 Marseille
France
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This popular Marseille club has four different bars, each with a different music style.
La Dame Noir
13006 Marseille
France
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Dance the night away at this small club which welcomes local and international DJs.
La Caravelle
13002 Marseille
France
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This atmospheric bar stages regular live jazz nights and has a superb terrace overlooking the harbour.
U.Percut
13007 Marseille
France
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Tuesdays through Saturdays, this hot artists’ club resounds mostly to strains of live jazz music – but jazz that’s not a million miles from noise, electronic and hip-hop. Some amazing sounds come together on its small stage, which is also home to modern theater and experimental art. Admission is moderate and the audience mostly young.
Flight and accommodation
Restaurants in Marseille
Influenced by the Mediterranean and infused with the flavours of North Africa and Italy, Marseille’s restaurant scene is exciting and diverse.
Sample local speciality bouillabaisse, a flavour-packed Provençal fish soup.
L’Epuisette
13007 Marseille
France
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Price: Expensive
Located right on the coast, the sublime fish dishes served in this Michelin-starred restaurant are super fresh.
Chez Michel
13007 Marseille
France
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Price: Expensive
An upmarket brasserie serving some of the best bouillabaisse in town.
Le Café des Épices
13002 Marseille
France
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Price: Moderate
This great little place near the old port has a lovely outdoor terrace.
Le Goût des Choses
13006 Marseille
France
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Price: Moderate
A good value bistro serving both Provençal classics and dishes influenced by the wider Mediterranean.
Sahtein
13001 Marseille
France
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Price: Cheap
Ideal for a quick lunch, this relaxed Lebanese restaurant serves delicious falafel, hummus and baklava.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
Fête de la Chandeleur
2 February 2018
Venue: Abbaye de St Victor
Candelmas celebrations ushering in the beginning of spring. The holiday is otherwise known as jour des crêpes (pancakes day) – tradition has it that if you hold a coin in your hand while successfully flipping a pancake, the upcoming year will be a prosperous one.
Fête de la Musique
21 June 2018
Website
Venue: Throughout the city
Since being launched by the French Ministry for Culture in 1982, the Fête de la Musique has extended into more than 100 countries around the world. It takes place annually on the 21 June summer solstice and consists of a number of free concerts. Marseille embraces the occasion.
Festival de Marseille
June – July 2018
Website
Venue: Various venues around Marseille
Celebrating the worlds of dance, music, theatre and cinema, this three-week event draws on the multicultural society that characterises Marseille. Visitors can expect to experience spectacular events ranging from cutting-edge theatre productions and film screenings to contemporary dance and music performances. While the popularity and stature of artists performing here grows each year, it strives to remain accessible to all by keeping the ticket prices low.
Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque
July 2018
Website
Venue: Throughout Marseille
There are few pursuits that sit within the French stereotype as comfortably as pétanque. Each July sees the largest tournament in the regional calendar, with thousands of competitors from France and overseas converging on the city.
Marseille Lesbian and Gay Pride
7 July 2018
Venue: Various venues around Marseille
One of the largest lesbian and gay prides in the south of France, this event attracts thousands of brightly dressed, whistle-blowing folk who flock to Marseille to be a part of this great street party. The pride march usually starts at Parc du 26e Centenaire and ends at the Vieux Port. Later in the evening, the fun really gets underway at a series of parties.
FIDMarseille
10 – 16 July 2018
Website
Venue: Various venues around Marseille
Showcasing the very best in documentary films from around the world, FIDMarseille is one of the biggest European events on the filmmaking calendar. The festival also screens a small selection of fiction films. Featured films are often followed by Q and A sessions with directors.
Bastille Day
14 July 2018
Venue: Vieux Port
Celebration of the French revolution and national democracy with a grand fireworks display over the Vieux Port. Marseille’s key role in France’s history (its citizens provided the inspiration for La Marseillaise, the national anthem) means the event remains a significant one.
Fiesta des Suds
October 2018
Website
Venue: Docks des Suds
Fiesta des Suds is a festival of world music, with high-profile performers from around the world taking turns to entertain the crowds at the popular Dock des Suds in Marseille. There are several concerts taking place each day, and the festival attracts thousands of revellers every year.
Foire aux Santons
November – December 2018
Website
Venue: Place Charles-de-Gaulle, Vieux Port
This traditional clay figurine fair and Christmas market has been taking place in central Marseille for more than 200 years. It usually runs for five weeks between late November and New Year’s Eve, with stalls remaining open until around 1900.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Marseille
A rash of new hotels have boosted Marseille’s accommodation offering lately.
Many are clustered around the Vieux Port, a good base for exploring the city.
C2 Hotel
13006 Marseille
France
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Category: Expensive
Brand new in 2014, this 5-star hotel offers modern luxury in a beautifully restored 19th-century building.
Hôtel Dieu
13002 Marseille
France
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Category: Expensive
This grand, recently renovated hotel is located in the heart of the Old Town.
Grand Hôtel Beauvau Marseille Vieux Port
13001 Marseille
France
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Category: Moderate
Traditional yet opulent, this hotel enjoys a splendid location overlooking the old port.
Suite Novotel Marseille Centre Euromed
13002 Marseille
France
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Category: Moderate
A centrally located hotel with all the modern comforts expected of the Novotel chain.
Residhome Appart Hotel Saint-Charles
13001 Marseille
France
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Category: Cheap
Near to Marseille railway station, this place offers apartments with kitchenettes, ideal for longer stays.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Sunday, 22.04.2018 15:00 UTC

sunny
temperature
22°C
wind speed
11.875 mphhumidity
1%7 days forecast
Monday
23.04.2018
23°C / 12°C
Tuesday
24.04.2018
22°C / 13°C
Wednesday
25.04.2018
23°C / 13°C
Thursday
26.04.2018
22°C / 14°C
Friday
27.04.2018
22°C / 14°C
Saturday
28.04.2018
20°C / 15°C
Sunday
29.04.2018
19°C / 12°C
Climate & best time to visit France
France has a temperate climate in the north; northeastern areas have a more continental climate with warm summers and colder winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with some snow likely in winter. The Jura Mountains have an alpine climate. Lorraine, sheltered by bordering hills, has a relatively mild climate. There’s a Mediterranean climate in the south; mountainous areas are cooler with heavy snow in winter.
The Atlantic influences the climate of the western coastal areas from the Loire to the Basque region where the weather is temperate and relatively mild with rainfall throughout the year. Summers can be very hot and sunny – sunburn can be a risk if you’re unprepared. Inland areas are mild and the French slopes of the Pyrenees are renowned for their sunshine record. A Mediterranean climate exists on the Riviera, and in Provence and Roussillon. Weather in the French Alps is variable. Continental weather is present in Auvergne, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Very strong winds (such as the Mistral) can occur throughout the entire region.
Climatic variations – and in particular the long summer holiday period – mean that mainstream tourism in France peaks in July and August. If you’re visiting the country at this time, prepare to face higher-than-usual demand at major sights, attractions and coastal resorts. There’s likely to be plenty of queuing involved – some roads may even get clogged at particularly busy times.
By contrast, visiting during the low season – from October through to February or March – is not only far quieter, it also sees a drop in costs. This doesn’t apply to ski resorts, of course, which see peak demand over the winter months.
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Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute min | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 19 °C | -12 °C | 10 °C | 2 °C | 75 % | 47.2 mm | 6.5 | 4.8 h |
Feb | 22 °C | -16 °C | 12 °C | 3 °C | 72 % | 54 mm | 6 | 5.5 h |
Mar | 25 °C | -10 °C | 14 °C | 5 °C | 67 % | 43.7 mm | 5.5 | 6.9 h |
Apr | 28 °C | -2 °C | 17 °C | 8 °C | 65 % | 47.9 mm | 5.3 | 8.2 h |
May | 31 °C | 0 °C | 21 °C | 12 °C | 64 % | 42.3 mm | 4.9 | 9.4 h |
Jun | 37 °C | 5 °C | 25 °C | 15 °C | 63 % | 27.8 mm | 3.5 | 10.9 h |
Jul | 39 °C | 7 °C | 29 °C | 18 °C | 59 % | 13.7 mm | 1.6 | 11.8 h |
Aug | 38 °C | 8 °C | 28 °C | 18 °C | 62 % | 29.3 mm | 3 | 10.6 h |
Sep | 34 °C | 1 °C | 25 °C | 15 °C | 69 % | 46.7 mm | 3.6 | 8.5 h |
Oct | 30 °C | -2 °C | 20 °C | 11 °C | 74 % | 77.6 mm | 5.8 | 6.6 h |
Nov | 24 °C | -5 °C | 14 °C | 6 °C | 75 % | 58.4 mm | 5.1 | 5.2 h |
Dec | 20 °C | -12 °C | 11 °C | 3 °C | 77 % | 55.8 mm | 6 | 4.6 h |
year | 39 °C | -16 °C | 19 °C | 10 °C | 68 % | 544.4 mm | 56.7 | 7.8 h |
Flight and accommodation
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +33
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Marseille
Key Areas
From luxury brands to artisan boutiques selling Provençal specialities such as soap and santons (clay figurines), Marseille has something for everyone. Head to rue Saint Ferréol and rue de la Tour for high-street fashions, and rue Paradis for designer brands. The alleys of Le Panier throw up artisan workshops, galleries and classy gifts, while you can seek out antiques around the Prefecture. The recently regenerated rue de la République has plenty to offer too.
Shopping Centres
Indoor shopping comes courtesy of the Centre Bourse (17 cours Belsunce) near the port, which contains 60 shops including department store Galeries Lafayette.
Markets
Don’t miss the famous daily fish market at the Vieux Port, a real Marseille experience which has changed little over the years. Find clothes and textiles at the markets of Le Prado (avenue du Prado) and La Plaine (place Jean Jaurès), or head to the suburbs in the 15th arrondissement to rifle through bric-a-brac at a huge flea market.
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Social Conventions
Shaking hands and, more familiarly, kissing both cheeks, are the usual forms of greeting. The form of personal address is simply Monsieur or Madame without a surname and it may take time to get on first-name terms. At more formal dinners, it is the most important guest or host who gives the signal to start eating. Mealtimes are often a long, leisurely experience. Casual wear is common.
Social functions, some clubs, casinos and exclusive restaurants warrant more formal attire. Evening wear is normally specified where required. Topless sunbathing is tolerated on most beaches but naturism is restricted to certain beaches – local tourist offices will advise where these are. A smoking ban for workplaces and public spaces has been in place since February 2007.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Main emergency number: 112
Food & Drink
This being France, the only real problems posed by the local food and drink are mild stomach complaints resulting from overindulgence. Tap water is safe to drink (although you’ll find a huge amount of bottled water for sale too) and cooked food, assuming it’s come from a hygienic kitchen, is certainly no more risky to consume than that of any developed country. Some travellers steer clear of unpasteurised dairy products due to a perceived risk of disease, while others laud the same products for their perceived health benefits. If you’re at all unsure, it’s probably best to stick to what you’re used to.
Other Risks
Visitors to forested areas should consider vaccination for tick-borne encephalitis. There was an outbreak of canine rabies in 2008. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
In more universal terms, sunburn is perhaps the most common complaint among visitors to France, particularly over the summer months – temperatures are generally higher in the south but it’s wise to be cautious across the country. The usual precautions apply: use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can sometimes mask high temperatures.
If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry – plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are being worn across a long distance. Ideally footwear should be worn in before the trip.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.