Entertainment
Bars and Nightclubs
If you are dying for a pint of bitter or for nights out go to Cours Julien, La plaine or Vieux port where there are plenty of bars and clubs.
Cinema
Two cinemas show original language films:
- Varietés (37 rue Vincent Scotto, off la Canabiére, 1st District)
- César (Place Castellane, 6th District)
Other cinema halls include:
- UGC Capitole, 134 La Canebière (1st district)
- UGC Prado, 36 Avenue du Prado (6th district)
- Le Chambord, 238 avenue du Prado (8th district)
- Breteuil, 120 Boulevard de Notre Dame (6th district)
Theatre
Théâtre Nationale de La Criée, 30 Quai de la Rive Neuve (7th district)
This is Marseille's main theatre. It also hosts dances by the National Ballet (Ballet Nationale de Marseille).
- Theatre Axel Toursky, 1 Impasse du Theatre (3rd District)
- Théâtre Gyptis, 136 rue Loubon, (3rd district)
These two theatre host mainly debut artists
- Le Quai du rire, 19, quai de Rive Neuve (7th district)
- L'Antidote, 132, Boulevard de la Blancarde (4th district)
These two are temples of humour.
Other theatres around Marseille's centre are:
- Théâtre Off, 16 Quai de la Rive Neuve (7th district)
- La Friche de la Belle de Mai (Theâtre Massalia), (3rd district)
- Théâtre du Gymnase, 4 rue du Théâtre Français (1st District)
Cours Julian has several café-théâtres.
Museums
The town has about 15 museums and more than 70 galleries. There is a reduced entry fee for students. The main museums are:
Centre De La Vieille Charite
2 rue de la Charité (2nd District)
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( 11 A.M - 6 .P.M form June to September).
It's a museum of:
Primitive African, Oceania, and Mexican art.
Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiques
Museum of archaeology
Musee Cantini
19 rue Grignan (6th district)
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( 11 A.M - 6 .P.M form June to September).
The museum hosts art from 1900 to 1960 as well temporary exhibitions.
Musee D'art Contemporain
69, avenue d'Haïfa (8th district)
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( 11 A.M - 6 .P.M form June to September).
The MAC Hosts several permanent and temporary contemporary collections.
Musee D'histoire De Marseille
1, square Belsunce (Centre Bourse shopping centre, 1st district)
Open Monday - Saturday 12 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Musee Des Beaux-Arts
Palais Lonchamp (4th district)
The fine art museum is currently undergoing renovation. The 16th - 19th century artwork has been temporary transferred to la vieille charité.
Musee De La Mode
11, La Canebière (1st district)
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( 11 A.M - 6 .P.M form June to September).
Has a collection of more than six thousand costumes done by l'Institut Mode Méditerranée and which consists a part of the city's Patrimony.
Galerie des Transports
Place du Marché des capucins (1st district)
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( 11 A.M - 6 .P.M form June to September).
La Galerie des Transports traces the history of public transport in Marseilles, from the first horse drown bus to today's subway.
Musée de la Marine et de l'économie
9 la Canebière, Palais de la Bourse, (1st district)
Open Daily 10 A.M. - 6 P.M.
This museum displays objects (pictures, models, drawings…) that trace the economic past of the port city since the 16 century.
Le Château Borély
Parc Borély
Open Monday - Friday 10 A.M. - 6 P.M
Le Château Borély is an example of 18th century Provencal architecture and is dedicated to Provencal painting.
Musée de la Faïence
155 avenue de Montredon, Château Pastré (8th district)
The château building hosts about fifteen hundred ceramic objects which show exhaustively the successive developments of this art in Marseille, Provence, France and abroad.
Musée des arts et traditions populaires du terroir marseillais
5 place des Héros, Château Gombert (13th district)
Open daily (except on Tuesdays) from 2:30 P.M to 6:30 P.M.
The museum illustrates traditional Provencal life, religious art, santons, furniture, costumes, and costumes. It's also an ethnography museum.
Music
Concerts are held in:
- L'Espace Julien, 39 Cours Julien (6th district)
- Le Dôme, 48 avenue de Saint Just (4th District)
- Les Docks des Suds, 12 rue Urbain V (2nd district)
- L'Odéon, 162 la Canebière (1st district) Regularly stages classical concerts.
- Opéra Municipal, 2 rue Molière (1st district) hosts le Ballet National de Marseille.
La plaine, cours juilen and Vieux port neighbourhoods have quite a number of Cafés, bars and nightclubs offering a wide range of live music.
Concert tickets are sold at:
Espace Culture
42 la Canebière (1st district)
FNAC
Centre Bourse (1st district)
Virgin Mega store
75 rue Saint Ferréol (1st district)
Sports
The university sports office coordinates various sports and outdoor activities. You are advised to enrol at the sports office at the beginning of the academic year in order to participate in sports. For this registration, you’ll require your student card, a mandatory medical examination and sports insurance.
In order to participate in interuniversity competition, you’ll need to get a licence from the National Federation of University Sports (FNSU).
Note that you can request that your sports activities be taken into account by examination boards.
The university sports facilities allow you to practice the following sports:
Individual sports:
Aikido - kick boxing - fencing - judo - karate - modern dance - jazz dance - folk dance - gym - aerobics - yoga – body building - weight lifting - trampoline - swimming - tennis - track sports- cycling - shooting - taekwondo - archery - badminton – squash
Team sports:
Basketball - football - rugby - tennis - table tennis – volleyball
Outdoor activities:
Rock climbing - diving - horse-riding - sailing - wind-surfing - skiing – golf
The Beach
There are quite a number of beaches in Marseille and the surrounding areas. Those close to the Marseille's centre are usually crowded. Here is a list of some of those which are easily accessible:
Plages du Prado
Avenue Pierre Mendès France (8th district)
Bus No. 19 and 83.
This beach offers not only the sea but also an immense lawn. It's Marseille's largest beach and is usually crowded. There are several restaurants and pubs nearby.
Plage des Catalans
Rue des Catalans (7th district)
Bus No. 83.
This is a very clean sandy beach with quite a number of refreshment bars close by. It's also very close to vieux-port.
Plage du Prophète
N° 335 Promenade Corniche Kennedy (7th district)
This is a favourite spot for beach volleyball due to its beautiful white sand. Also known as la plage du Roucas Blanc, it's located along the corniche.
Plage de la Pointe Rouge
Avenue de Montredon - 13008 Marseille
This beach is a popular spot for windsurfers. It's also very popular among Marseille families. Le point Rouge is also a sailing port and a departure point for sea kayaks.
Plage Borely
Avenue Pierre Mendès France (8th district)
This is a sandy beach patrolled by lifeguards. You cans hire beach mattresses, chairs and umbrellas. Next door is the Escale Borely where you can get chic restaurants.
Parks and Gardens
Parc Borely
Avenue du Parc Borély (8th District)
Bus No. 19 and 83
This 170000m2 park is the largest in Marseille. The park also encloses a racecourse and a golf course, which are surrounded by a well-lit lane, ideal for roller-skating or a bike ride, or simply for jogging.
You can spend a comfortable afternoon out next to the ponds while enjoying Marseille's sunshine.
Parc Balnéaire du Prado
Avenue Georges Pompidou
Bus No. 19 and 83
This is a 280000 m2 grassy field along the Prado beach, very popular among Marseille's football lovers. The park also has a skate park for the daring.
Parc longchamp
Boulevard du Jardin Zoologique (4th district)
Accessible by metro line 1, Longchamp station as well as buses number 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 41, 80 and 81
The 79 887 m2 Longchamp palace gardens provide a superb place for an afternoon out.
Jardin de la Colline Puget
Rue Abbé d'Assy (6th district)
Metro line 1, Estrangin station or bus No. 57 and 60
This 13495 m2 garden is the oldest public garden in Marseille.
Parc de Montredon Pastré
Traverse de Carthage (8th district)
Bus n°19
The 125 hectares Parc de Montredon Pastré stretches from La Pointe rouge to the Marseilleveyre hills. The park is characterised by a central path, ponds, a canal that meanders across the park and hiking trails. The park is a doorway to the Marseilleveyre hills and les Calanques. Just a stone throw away is the sea. Nothing prevents you from taking a dip after visiting the park.
Parc du 26 ème centenaire
Metro line 1 and 2, Castellane station or Bus No 18, 50, 43 and 72.
Created to celebrate Marseille's 26 centuries anniversary, le Parc du 26ème Centenaire is located right in the middle of Marseille's centre, not far from La Place castellane. The park is relatively young, but nonetheless, its 350 metres tree lined alleys are ideal for a walk.
Jardin Emile Duclaux
Boulevard Charles Livon (7th district)
Bus No. 83
The Emile Duclaux gardens which surround the Palais de Pharo, are characterized by a breathtaking view of le Vieux-port. The paths along the cliff edge provide astonishing view points and the spot is ideal for observing the ballet of boats and ferries entering and leaving the port.
Jardin du Bois Sacré
Rue du Bois Sacré
Bus No. 60 and 57
It's by climbing the staircase located in top of the Boulevard Andre Aune that you discover in the heart of Marseille an unexpected and picturesque garden.
Parc Valmer
271, Corniche Kennedy
On the Corniche, just after the Fausse-Monnaie bridge, is a headland which shelters the luxuriant Valmer villa and its park. From here you have an exellent view of the If and Froiul Islands.
Parc de la Colline St. Joseph
Boulevard du Redon (9th district)
Bus No. 24 and 46
The St. Joseph Hill Park is vast, well forested natural and rich in pedestrian pathways. The park recently created a sports pathway.
Marseille's outskirts:
Parc des bruyères
Chemin des Prud'hommes (10th district)
Access : metro line 2, St Marguerite Dromel station and bus n° 17
Located at the boundary of the urban zone, this 120 000 m² park is located between the eastern districts, the Carpiagne mountain and the calanques. It's characterised by varying altitudes which range from 120 to 150 meters above sea level and several small ponds. The park is well equipped with a big sports course, picnic and has les crowded because it's far from the city centre. For hiking fans, it's ideal for a long stroll up to the top of Carpiagne.
Jardin de Corbières
Route du Rove (16th District)
Bus No. 35
Located near l'Estaque, a picturesque fishing village North of Marseille which inspired may French artists including Cesar, the Corbières gardens provide a good view the whole of Marseille's port.
Outings:
La Provence is one of the most beautiful regions of France, with wonderful climate, landscapes and cities rich in heritage. Every year a number of internationally acclaimed music, theatre, dance and film festivals take place in the region. In addition, the city has easy access to the rest of France highway, rail, sea and air networks to other regional capitals in France and abroad.
The tourist office at Vieux port offers tourist brochures and a schedule of events about place to visit in and around Marseille.
Les Calanques .
It's an incredible natural environment with Pine forests and beautiful limestone coves by the sea. The calanques are spectacular fjords with limestone cliffs falling down into the Mediterranean Sea.between Marseille and Cassis They are ideal for a nice walk or even an exploration hike for those who are physically fit. The steep cliffs make then an ideal spot for rock climbers.
Note that hikes in the calanques are forbidden in summer for security reasons; there is a high risk of forest fires during this period.
The Calanques closest to Marseille are Marseilleveyre, Sormiou, Morgiou, and Sugiton. They are easily accessible by bus and are all about 15-30 minutes drive from downtown Marseiille.
Access:
Sormiou: Bus No. 23
Morgiou: Bus No 22
Sugiton: Bus No. 21, 21s
Marseilleveyre: Bus No 19
Other calanques close to Marseille are the If and Frioul Islands. There is a frequent ferry service that can take you there from vieux port.
On the If Island, you can visit the Chateau d’If, an ancient fortress constructed in 1524 that later became a prison in the 17 th century. It was made famous by Alexandre Dumas in his book, Le Conte de Monte Cristo. Though his book is a work of fiction, you can still visit his cell at the chateau.
The Froul Islands are three islands, Pomègues, Ratonneau and Tiboulen. Ratonneau and Pomègues islands are, linked up by 360 metre dyke. Ratonneau is the biggest island with a fishing port. You may also visit the ruins of Hopital Caroline, a hospital build in 1828 and used to quarantine sick sailors who came back from foreign, mainly for cases of cholera and yellow fever. It’s today used as a décor for les Nuits Caroline festival every summer. The other islands are wild with unique vegetation and protected bird spices.
You may discover all the calaques between Marseille and Cassis by boat. There is a daily service departing from either vieux port or Cassis.
Aix-en-Provence
Aix en provence is a 25 minutes drive from Marseille and about 40 minutes by train. The town is renowned for being the hometown of famous French artists like Cezanne and Emile Zola. Other artists like Van Gogh also lived here for a while. You will discover the architectural wealth of the city by visiting la fontain des 4 dauphins, la fontain des precheurs, la Place Albertas , la place de la Mairie, la place des Cardeurs and the Cathedral Saint Sauveur . You may also visit Paul Cezanne’s workshop as well as the Saint Victoire Mountain.
Avignon
Avignon is a one and a half hour trip by train from Marseille. It’s a fortified town build along the durance river. Here, you can visit the monumental Palais des Papes, a papal residence of the 14th century. You’ll also on the famous Saint Bezenet Bridge ( pont d’avignon ) built in the 12th century. Then you can explore the Cathedral Notre Dame des Doms and the many cobblestone alley ways of Old Avignon.
Arles
Arles is a hour trip by train from Marseille. T he ancient city of Arles is part of UNESCO World Heritage. theatre and arena, museums - the Plain of the Crau, (). Here, You will discover the roman vestiges with the ancient Roman Arenas, an ancient Roman Theater,the Saint Trophime church with its 12th century carved portal , the Place du Forum where stands the statue of Frédéric Mistral and the Van Gogh’s Café. On the road that leads you to the Baux de Provence, you will make a stopover in the abbey de Montmajour (10th century) and to the Moulin de Daudet , where Alphonse Daudet found inspiration to write his letters. La musée Van Gogh exhibits part of his works done during his stay in this town. La plaine de la Crau as well as the nearby camargue national park are also worth visiting.
Le Luberon
You can start this escapade by Oppède le Vieux , a village carved into the rock and whose authenticity seduced some artists and writers that today are trying to restore it. Not very far, you will discover Ménerbes , a fortress village witness of numerous religious wars. At Roussillon , you can admire its red cliffs and will reach Gordes overlooking the Lubéron.
Shopping
Shopping is really good in Marseille. There are lots of shops and ranges of prices. Rue rue saint-ferréol is Marseille's fashionable shopping street. Rue Paradis is everything chic.
Good fresh groceries can be bought cheaply in the market. The following is a list some markets in and around the centre.
Address |
District. |
Access |
Timetable |
Articles |
Place des Capucins |
1 st |
Line 1, Noaille Metro station |
Daily, Except Sundays
8 A.M – 7 P.M. |
Fruits, vegetables and Fish |
Quai des Belges |
1 st |
Line 1,Vieux Port metro station |
Daily
7:30 A.M – 12:30 P.M. |
Fish |
Réformés |
1 st |
Réformés metro station |
Monday – Saturday
8 A.M – 1 P.M. |
Fruits and Vegetables |
La canebière |
1 st |
Line 1, Réformés metro station |
Tuesday – Saturday
8 A.M – 1 P.M. |
Flowers |
Place Carli |
1 st |
Line 1, Noaille metro station |
Daily |
Second hand books, comics, CDs, L.P s |
Place Jean Jaurès
(La plaine) |
5 th |
Line 2, Métro N.D. du mont Cours Julien metro station |
Monday – Friday
8 A.M – 1 P.M. |
Fruits, vegetables, fish and other diverse stalls. |
Avenue de Prado |
6 th |
Line 2, Castellane or Périer metro stations |
7:30 A.M – 12:30 P.M.
Daily, Except Sundays |
Fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers and diverse stalls. |
Cours Julian |
6 th |
Line 2, Métro N.D. du mont Cours Julien metro station |
8h-13h |
Fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers, antiquities, , ancient Books, stamps and diverse stalls |
Cours Pierre Puget |
6 th |
Line 2, Préfecture-Estrangin metro station |
Monday - Saturday8h 13h |
Fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers and diverse stalls. |
Colbert |
2 nd |
Line 1, Colbert Metro station |
Mondays
8 A.M – 1 P.M |
Flowers |
Chartreux
(Place E.Audran) |
4 th |
Line 1, Charteaux Metro station |
Thursday s
8 A.M – 1P.M |
Flowers |
Place Sébastopol |
4 th |
Line 1, Longchamps metro station |
Monday - Saturday
8h 13h |
Fruits, vegetables, flowers and other diverse stalls |
