Marseille’s reputation as a frenetic, fast-paced port city in France’s smoldering south precedes it. However, navigating its noisy, traffic-clogged streets can be exhausting. Fortunately, the revitalizing, big blue Mediterranean is never far away, and with some savvy planning, getting around can be a breeze.
Consequently, don’t even consider driving. The combination of undisciplined motorists, pesky scooters navigating between congested traffic lanes, and difficult parking makes motoring in Marseille an experience best avoided.
Despite its size—this is France’s second-largest city—the city center is compact and easily navigated on foot. Moreover, an efficient network of city buses, boats, trams, and two metro lines makes accessing further parts of the city convenient. This includes its long stretch of beaches and offshore islands. In summer, biking or boating is the best way to get around, as the metro can be stifling. Year-round, visitors can enjoy unlimited access to public transport, including shared bikes, with a Marseille City Pass (€27/37/43 for 24/48/72 hours).
Bus it from the airport into town
Saint-Charles is the main transport hub, with high-speed trains, regional and urban buses, and both metro lines converging at the Gare St-Charles, gare routière (bus station), and public-transport hub Pôle d’Echange Multimodal (PEM). Shuttle buses from Marseille-Provence airport arrive here every 10 to 15 minutes; expect around 25 minutes travel time from the airport into town.
Trams and buses operated by RTM use the same tickets as the metro. Tickets can be purchased from machines located at tram stops, on buses, or at ticket desks inside Gare St-Charles and at the Espace Infos RTM on rue des Fabres. While bus drivers can sell tickets, these are higher in price—€2 instead of €1.70 for a single journey.
Electric buses currently serve a couple of lines, but the city aims to integrate 75 electric buses into its fleet by 2024 and transition the entire network to electric by 2035.
To cross the city quickly, take the metro
Marseille operates two metro lines (M1 and M2), encompassing 30 stations that cover the city. Metro line M1 connects the St-Charles train station with the Vieux Port, while line M2 facilitates travel from the train station to MuCEM and Fort St-Jean in the waterfront Joliette area (Joliette stop), trendy Cours Julien (Notre-Dame du Mont stop), and the Prado beaches (Rond-Point du Prado stop).
A single ticket or carnet of 10 costs €1.70/15, plus an initial €0.10 for the rechargeable card. If you plan on using the metro multiple times, a 24-hour ticket (€5.20) offers great value. Trains run daily from 5am to 12:30am. It is advisable to avoid using the metro alone late at night; otherwise, the metro in Marseille is generally as safe as any other major city.
Most metro stations require a hike up or down steps. Those in wheelchairs, with pushchairs, or young children can navigate the best route using the RTM website or mobile app, which indicate staircases and ascenseurs (elevators), providing information if they are “en panne” (broken) or “en entretien” (undergoing maintenance).
Set sail across the port or to an island
Explore France’s oldest port and largest cruise hub afloat. At the Vieux Port, the vintage cross-port Ferry Boat traverses the water from the town hall on quai du Port (north) to place aux Huiles (south), making it the world’s shortest ferry ride. The charming boat, operated by RTM, takes less than five minutes to cover a distance of 238 meters across the port. Tickets are reasonably priced at €0.50.
Seasonal RTM navettes maritimes (shuttle boats) offer voyages from Vieux Port to the northern suburb of L’Estaque and La Pointe Rouge, known for its beaches and rocky coves. Boats continue to the fishing village of Les Goudes, popular among families during summer weekends. A scenic journey aboard the Frioul Express to Château d’If and the rocky Îles de Frioul is a must for visitors.
Rent a bike or e-bike to pedal to the beach
Cycling in downtown Marseille can be a nerve-racking experience as the city is one of France’s least bike-friendly locales. However, two wheels prove convenient for cruising south to the Prado beaches or escaping the city heat on an exhilarating day trip to Les Calanques or along the coastline.
Visitors can grab a city bike from one of 130 downtown bike stations in the public bike-sharing scheme Levélo. The cost is €1/5 to sign up for one week or a year, with an hourly rate of €1; the first 30 minutes are free. Additionally, many outlets in town rent bicycles. For electric-assisted e-bikes, shared Lime or Dot bikes can be picked up from a free-floating station, or check out EasyMove at the Vieux Port or Fada Bike, which offers fantastic themed guided tours.
The dedicated, two-way cycling lane winding along the Corniche Président John F Kennedy encompasses a mere 2 km of the envisioned 85 km of bike lanes planned for the city by 2024 (130 km by 2030). Keep an eye on new lanes and find the best route in real time using the excellent navigation app, Géovélo.
For sea views, scoot along the silky smooth seafront
Zoom along the broad, coastal expanse of La Corniche via trottinette életrique. These lightweight electric scooters reach speeds of up to 25 km/h and are perfect for covering longer distances in the city. They can be transported on buses and the metro, enabling a flexible use of public transport. Accessible e-scooters are available from one of the 900 public-sharing stations operated by Lime, Bird, or Voi; users can reserve and pay through the corresponding app or at a designated terminal.
At the Vieux Port, Easymove provides rentals for vibrant pink e-scooters alongside necessary accessories—helmets, horns, saddlebags, baskets, and wing mirrors. Rental prices are €10/30 for one/four hours, and a Virtual Guide (€15) maps out itineraries around the city. For those interested in a classic style, two-seater, Pink Style 50cc e-mopeds can be rented for €59/99 for a half/full day.
Explore on foot to find the city’s cinematic street vibe and forgotten ‘hoods
From Jean-Luc Godard’s iconic 1960s movie À Bout de Souffle (Breathless) to contemporary hits like Luc Besson’s Taxi (1998) or Stillwater (2019) starring Matt Damon, filmmakers have long been enamored with the salt-of-the-earth character of Marseille. Walking is undoubtedly the best way to explore this animated film set of a port city.
Marseille consists of 16 arrondissements, but as every local will tell you, the city is made up of 111 quartiers or villages. Walking tours organized by the tourist office lead curious visitors away from the widely frequented Le Panier or Vieux Port into intriguing, lesser-known neighborhoods such as La Treille, Chutes-Lavie, and St-Jean du Désert. Furthermore, walking provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the green spaces of Marseille, with parks offering hours of scenic exploration.
Accessible transportation in Marseille
While Marseille’s public transport system offers various modes of travel, navigating it can be challenging for travelers with disabilities. Accessible bus stops serviced by ramp-equipped buses are marked on public transport maps and within the RTM app; however, accessible stops may only be available in one direction, making it essential to carefully check route maps. All trams are equipped with ramps, and waist-high buttons inside allow passengers to signal their intention to disembark at the next stop.
It is advisable to avoid the metro until 2024 when an extensive accessibility upgrade is planned for 13 metro stations (including Vieux Port and Rond-Point du Prado) with costs reaching €200 million. For helpful resources and information, refer to Lonely Planet’s accessible travel resource page.
Walking in Marseille plunges you into thrilling action
No other French city can match the electrifying atmosphere of Marseille, characterized by a sensory blend of sounds, sights, and smells—fish, flowers, ship fuel at the port, the sea, market spices, and bouillabaisse wafting from local kitchens. Walking plunges you into the heart of this thrilling experience. While it can sometimes be chaotic and overwhelming, venturing down every street often reveals unexpected sights and spontaneous moments that are impossible to plan. One of the most memorable guided walking tours is the tourist office’s biodiversity-themed “Balade Buissonnière” around “wild Marseille,” which explores hidden green spaces, secret walled gardens, hills, dunes, and other flora-rich heritage spots.
