What to Do in Marseille? 8 Experiences for Discovering the City Differently
When you search for what to do in Marseille, you quickly come across the same places, the same photos and the same lists of activities. And yet, the Phocaean city is about far more than its Old Port, its beaches or its calanques! It's also discovered in a lively street, through a story told by a local, or in a moment shared facing the Mediterranean. Because at the end of the day, what we remember from a trip isn't just the places we visited, but also the people we met and the emotions we lived, right?
↪️ In this article, discover Marseille's must-see landmarks, along with 8 experiences to try in the city and its surroundings, to create memories that don't look like everyone else's!
What are the must-see landmarks in Marseille?
You can't discover the city of Marseille without starting with a few of its most iconic spots:
- The Old Port remains the ideal starting point to watch the boats, stroll along the terraces, or head into the narrow streets of Le Panier, one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods.
- A few minutes' walk away, the Mucem draws visitors just as much for its exhibitions as for its contemporary architecture and sea views, while La Major Cathedral impresses with its striped facade and sheer scale.
- Further on, you'll come across Notre-Dame de la Garde, the basilica that overlooks Marseille and offers views over the port, the islands and the Mediterranean coastline.
- The Palais Longchamp, Parc Borély, the beaches and Les Goudes each tell a different side of Marseille: more monumental, greener, more seaside, or wilder.
But seeing Marseille isn't always enough to understand it. 👀
For that, it sometimes helps to follow someone who knows it, listen to their stories, step into their everyday habits, and stray a little from the planned route. And that's exactly where our experiences really come into their own!
What to do in Marseille to discover its history and neighbourhoods?
Marseille can't be told in just one version. There's the city turned towards the sea, the working-class city, the trading city, the artistic city, and all the ones hiding between two streets. To discover them, it's often best to follow someone who knows where to look, what to tell, and above all how to convey the soul of a neighbourhood.
Explore the heart of Marseille with a local guide
A guided tour can quickly turn into a string of dates, facades and landmarks. Here, the idea is different: discover Marseille through the stories of a guide who knows the city and knows how to connect its most famous spots to the history that shaped them.
The experience starts at Notre-Dame de la Garde, before heading down towards the Old Port, crossing Noailles and reaching the narrow streets of Le Panier. Along the way, you'll also discover Marseille institutions such as the Maison Empéreur or the Herboristerie du Père Blaize. So it's not just about several places to visit in Marseille, but different eras, habits and atmospheres echoing one another throughout the walk.
And that's often what changes everything. You're no longer just looking at a basilica, a port or a street: you understand what they mean to the people who live here!
🧡 A good fit if you love discovering a city through its stories, its neighbourhoods and the people who bring them to life, rather than following an overly classic tourist route!
Explore Noailles through its flavours of the East
Just minutes from the Old Port, Noailles is one of Marseille's liveliest and most working-class neighbourhoods. Here, you don't just come to look at the facades: you listen to the traders, breathe in the spices, take in the stalls and let yourself be carried along by the busy streets.
During this walk, you travel back in time through old postcards and artworks that show how Marseille has changed. Then you step into Noailles today: its markets, its food shops, its smells and its flavours. The Middle Eastern tasting naturally extends your discovery of this neighbourhood, often nicknamed the "belly of Marseille" (and you'll understand why once you're there!).
You move from a monumental Marseille to a more sensory city. A city told through its history, of course, but also through its smells, its voices, its shops and the people who bring them to life.
🧡 A good fit if: you love lively neighbourhoods, markets, flavours from elsewhere, and walks that tell Marseille's story through the people who live it.
How do you experience the Marseille way of life, between sea, drinks and pétanque?
Some cities are best discovered on foot, but Marseille also reveals itself from the sea. Once the Old Port is behind you, the noise of the city fades, the view opens up, and the Phocaean city appears from a whole new angle.
Departing from the Old Port, this experience takes you out for three hours with Marseille sailors who are passionate about their city. You'll sail past the Château d'If, discover the Frioul Islands and their calanques, then take in the Vallon des Auffes from the sea, with Marseille laid out before you.
Weather permitting, the boat stops in a cove for a swim: masks and snorkels are provided on board, but you can also stay on the boat and simply enjoy the moment. The experience continues with a Provencal aperitif, with drinks and a few local treats.
Conversations start up, stories are exchanged, and people who didn't know each other a few hours earlier find themselves sharing the same moment. That's exactly the Meet People spirit: creating the conditions for connection to happen naturally.
A game of pétanque at the Frioul harbour then extends the outing. No need to be a seasoned player: here, the game is mostly an excuse to laugh, chat, and soak up the Marseille atmosphere.
🧡 A good fit if: you love the idea of the sea at your back, Marseille in front of you, and several hours to relax, chat and share.
What experiences can you try around Marseille?
Marseille already has plenty to offer, but it can also be the starting point for a day out among calanques, Provencal villages, heritage sites and wide open spaces. Within less than two hours' drive, the scenery changes quickly: from the cliffs of Cassis to the landscapes of Sainte-Victoire, then from the marshes of the Camargue to the history-filled streets of Avignon!
Hike through three iconic calanques near Cassis
Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau: three calanques, three landscapes and a hike through limestone cliffs, coves and turquoise water. Here, Vanina guides you along the trails of the national park, sharing her knowledge of the area, her stories and her perspective on this environment, as spectacular as it is fragile.
The point isn't just to reach En-Vau or take a great photo from the cliffs, you'll also learn to observe the landforms, understand the site, and take your time in front of one of the most impressive settings on the Mediterranean.
🧡 A good fit if: you love walking, discovering wild landscapes, and hearing the stories hidden behind the places you pass through.
Explore Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Cassis with a local guide
Aix-en-Provence, Cassis and Marseille reveal three very different faces of Provence:
- On one hand, the fountains, markets and elegant streets of Aix.
- On the other, the port of Cassis, nestled between the sea and the cliffs.
- Then Marseille, with Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Old Port, the Vallon des Auffes, and that unmistakable character you sense within minutes.
The idea isn't simply to string together visits, it's to understand what connects these destinations: the light, the Mediterranean, the markets, the architecture, and that distinctly Provencal way of life.
🧡 A good fit if: you want to discover several sides of the region in a single day, without having to plan the journeys and different stops yourself.
Sketch Aix-en-Provence in the footsteps of Cézanne
Aix-en-Provence is inseparable from Paul Cézanne. The painter was born there, worked there, and found endless inspiration in the Provencal light, the landscapes and Mont Sainte-Victoire.
During this walk, you'll discover the city through the eyes of this artist, while taking the time to sketch and paint your surroundings. Sketching, watercolour, observing the colours, facades and light: the experience invites you to slow down and look at Aix-en-Provence more closely.
No previous painting experience needed: no one here will ask you to rival Cézanne on your first brushstroke. The idea is mostly to slow down, observe, and leave with your own perspective on Aix-en-Provence.
🧡 A good fit if: you love art, painting, and the idea of discovering Aix-en-Provence through Cézanne's eyes.
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Discover the landscapes and traditions of the Camargue
Less than two hours from Marseille, the scenery changes completely. The cliffs and calanques give way to marshes, wide open spaces, white horses and pink flamingos. The Camargue has its own rhythm, slower and wilder, and that's exactly what gives it its charm.
During this experience, you'll discover Aigues-Mortes and its ramparts, then the landscapes surrounding the salt marshes, sometimes tinged pink depending on the season. The day continues towards Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, between beaches, Camargue traditions and horizons that seem to stretch on forever.
Here, you don't just tick off a few stops on a map, you take the time to understand this land, its customs, and the way locals live alongside such a distinctive natural environment. And with a bit of luck, the flamingos might even pose for a photo. 🦩
🧡 A good fit if: you love wide open spaces, animals, local traditions, and days where the journey is already part of the experience.
Visit Avignon and taste the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Avignon isn't just about its bridge (even if it's hard to resist humming the song once you're there 🙄). The city tells the story of several centuries through its ramparts, its narrow streets and the imposing Palais des Papes, one of the region's most iconic landmarks.
During this experience, you'll discover Avignon on foot, before heading to the Rocher des Doms to enjoy a view over the Rhône and the surrounding landscapes. The day then continues in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the tour gives way to a wine tasting in a region shaped by generations of expertise.
You move from the history of the popes to that of the winemakers, with the same thread running throughout: passionate people taking the time to share what they know about their region. Because a landmark or a wine always takes on a different dimension once you understand the story behind it!
🧡 A good fit if: you love combining heritage, architecture and wine in a single day, guided by someone who connects the stories to the places.
How do you find a Meet People experience in Marseille?
Once you know what you feel like doing, all that's left is finding the experience that suits you. The idea is to start from what you want, where you are, and the moment you want to create.
Explore the experiences available on the map
The Meet People map lets you spot the experiences available and figure out what to do in Marseille and its surroundings. You can quickly see what's nearby, discover the guides based in the region, and choose according to the mood you're after: a food walk, a boat trip, a cultural tour, or an excursion further into Provence.
The goal isn't to show you as many activities as possible. It's to help you find the one that genuinely makes sense for you, with the right person, in the right place, at the right time. 🫱🏻🫲🏼
Download the Meet People app
An experience doesn't start the moment you arrive, it often starts a little before, when you exchange messages with the person hosting you, ask a question, confirm a meeting point, or already start picking up on the mood of the moment.
With the Meet People app (Apple version, see below for Android), you can book faster, find all the useful details, and above all chat directly with your guide. No lost messages, no impersonal organisation: you know who you'll be spending the experience with, you can coordinate easily, and you arrive without the feeling of meeting a total stranger.
And that's exactly what we want to create: not just help you book an activity, but make connection simpler, more natural and more human from the very first exchange. 📱
*Download the Android version of the app
Conclusion
Marseille is discovered through its places, of course. But what stays with you are often the stories you heard, the people you met, and those moments when you feel a little less like a tourist, a little closer to the city. 🌅
At Meet People, the idea isn't to add one more activity to your itinerary, it's to help you experience Marseille with the right people, at the right time, and come away with more than just photos on your phone: real memories.
FAQ - What to Do in Marseille?
What to do in Marseille on a family weekend?
In Marseille, a family outing can start with a ride on a little tourist train, a treasure hunt through the streets of the city centre, or a crossing to the Château d'If and the Frioul Islands. To let the kids run around, head to Parc Borély, Parc Pasté, Parc du 26e Centenaire or the Palais Longchamp, with its playgrounds, its carousels and the Natural History Museum right next door.
If you're after something more immersive, Cosquer Méditerranée lets you dive into prehistory through a reconstruction of the underwater cave, while the Mucem regularly offers tours, games and workshops designed for children. And when the whole family mostly needs to burn off some energy, an arcade, a cinema or an indoor play area can save the weekend, and sometimes the parents' patience too. 😉
What to do in Marseille when it rains?
When it rains in Marseille, it's also a chance to slow down a little. You can take shelter in the Terrasses du Port or Centre Bourse shopping centres for some shopping, settle into a small café in Le Panier or Noailles, or extend the afternoon over a drink in a bar by the Old Port.
And since you're in Marseille, you might as well stay in the local spirit: a leisurely pastis, a food spot worth trying, or a few local specialities to share can quickly turn a grey day into a great memory. After all, rain changes the plan, not necessarily the mood! ☔️
Is it possible to organise B2B experiences for companies with Meet People?
Yes. At Meet People, we create B2B experiences for seminars, team buildings, client evenings or corporate milestones, in Marseille and elsewhere in France. The format can be adapted to your team, your goals and the atmosphere you want to create, with local guides, out-of-the-ordinary venues, and moments designed to encourage conversation.
The idea is simple: avoid activities where everyone sticks with the same colleagues, and offer an experience that naturally makes people want to take part, talk, and share something together.
Where can you experience Meet People?
From Brittany to the South-West, via Montpellier, Paris and the centre of France, Meet People brings together experiences in more than forty cities across France!
Download the app and access the map to spot available locations at a glance, and filter by the type of moment you're after: cultural discovery, outdoor activity, food experience, creative outing, or a meeting built around a local craft, and more.
There's something for every mood, whether you're here for a weekend, on holiday, on a business trip, or simply curious to discover what's happening near you. 🌅
