Top Museums to Visit in Marseille

As an ancient Greek port, traditional rebel, and contemporary French starlet, the beguiling city of Marseille boasts a captivating blend of urban grit and grandeur. The good news is that its museum offering is equally bold and eclectic.

In keeping with the city’s socialist spirit, several museums are free and take visitors to less-explored neighborhoods where Marseille’s working-class heart beats loud and clear. At municipal-run museums, visitors only pay to view temporary exhibitions (except on the first Sunday of each month): permanent collections are free year-round.

Watch for some brilliant new openings: a replica of the world-famous Grotte Cosquer with its rare paleolithic cave art opened at the seafront Villa Méditerranée in June 2022, and 2023 ushers in a museum celebrating Marseille’s unmatched maritime heritage.

1. Musée d’Histoire Marseille

Best for history buffs

The history of Marseille is the focus of this thoughtful museum. From its birth as a Greek city around 600 BCE to deadly plagues and mass immigration from Algeria in the 1950s, the action-packed drama unfolds through interactive exhibits. Archaeological relics from ancient Massilia, uncovered on site during building work, add to the museum’s authenticity.

2. MuCEM

Best for striking architecture and sea views

Contemporary Marseille’s Musée des Civilisations d’Europe et de la Méditerranée is as much about sharp architecture and stunning sea views as it is about world-class exhibits delving into the intriguing tales behind European and Mediterranean civilizations. The diverse collection includes everything from Neolithic and contemporary art to graffiti and antique tarot cards.

Exploring the secret walkways between the glass façade and the outer fishnet-inspired latticework is a highlight. Wind up the external ramp to the rooftop for a breathtaking ocean panorama. Don’t miss MuCEM after dark when an illuminating installation by artist Yann Kersalé bathes the complex in deep sea blue.

3. Orange Vélodrome

Best for soccer fans

Orange Vélodrome is one of France’s most revered stadiums, known for hosting significant sporting events and international music acts. For passionate sports fans eager to explore Olympique de Marseille’s hallowed home ground, a tour is a must.

Backstage tours lead visitors into the 67,000-seater stadium, built initially as a cycling track in 1937. Self-guided tours take you onto the pitch and into the players’ changing rooms, showcasing the history of Marseille’s iconic OM football club.

4. MauMA

Best for emerging street art

Until 2026, keep an eye out for new murals and frescoes by both French and international artists adorning public building facades in the less-explored neighborhoods surrounding the port of Marseille, part of the edgy Musée des Arts Urbains à Marseille (MauMA).

The inaugural portrait by Marseille-based artist Mahn Kloix is worth seeing. Look for a striking 40m-tall Pissenlit (Dandelion) by Aurélie Maset clambering up the side of a high-rise apartment block.

5. Palais Longchamp

Best classical art

This elegant Musée des Beaux Arts is set in a colonnaded palace, built in 1869. It features paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries, along with beautifully manicured gardens that offer a soothing green respite from the city’s hustle and bustle.

6. Musée Subaquatique

Best museum to visit with older kids and teens

Art, environmental protection, and marine biology converge at Marseille’s most unusual museum – located underwater. Accessible from the urban beach Plage des Catalans, visitors require snorkeling gear to explore an artificial reef of sculptures placed 5m deep on the seabed.

7. Mx

Best for curious foodies

If you want to learn about pastis, Marseille’s iconic anise-flavored aperitif, Mx is a must-visit. This hybrid museum-concept store celebrates the culture of pastis through interactive exhibits. Tasting workshops provide opportunities to drink pastis, and visitors can enjoy a cocktail at the bright Mx Bar.

8. Centre de la Vieille Charité

Best for old-world romantics

Strolling through the historic Le Panier neighborhood is a mellow experience. Its centerpiece, a 17th-century almshouse, houses museums dedicated to African, American, and Pacific arts, as well as Mediterranean archaeology, showcasing an extensive collection, including France’s largest Egyptian artifacts.

9. Musée Cantini

Best for modern art

One of Marseille’s premier art venues, this recently renovated house museum is where sculptor Jules Cantini lived and worked. His extensive art collection, unified by the extraordinary warmth and light of Provence, features works from the early 20th century, covering Fauvists, early Cubists, and Surrealists.