DISCOVERING HIDDEN GEMS IN MARSEILLE, FRANCE

Marseille, the capital port city of Provence has many points of interest that should be on visitors lists to experience. However, if you’re visiting and have around three to four days to spend, we’d highly recommend focussing on discovering hidden gems in Marseille. This article introduces some of the lesser visited places in the city, where we most certainly only saw locals or a couple of visitors at the most. We have compiled some of our favourites below with tips on how to get there, as some are not located within walking distance of the regular tourist friendly hangouts. 

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Why visit Hidden Gems in Marseille?

Many people these days want to tavel with a more authentic style and be less influenced by tourism and general guide books. Hidden gems definitely allow visitors to connect with locals, their traditions as well as typical neighbourhoods and take on tips and recommendations from those that live in Marseille. A few on our list were most definitely recommended by locals because we really did not see any tourists at Parc Borély, Plage Borély and Cité Radieuse Le Corbusier. 

The Best Time to Visit Hidden Gems in Marseille

The beauty with hidden gems is that technically, it’s mainly the locas that know about them so you can go anytime really, even if you visit Marseille in peak season. However in peak season, plus due to holidays, these places will also have more local footfall as well as a few tourists who have most certainly done their very local research. Additionally most people will want to mix the usual tourist attractions (must do’s) with a few hidden spots.

In general we recommend traveling in the shoulder season, so Marseille is great in May, September and October. Temperatures are still warm, it’s sunny but crowds are far less. 

Related Article: Ultimate Guide: How to Spend One day in Marseille, France

Discover Hidden Gems in Marseille, France

Here are some more unusual and unique places in Marseille to add to your visit list!

Cité Radieuse Le Corbusier

A must visit for architecture fans, the vertical city by Corbusier is unique, a concrete World Heritage Site in Marseille.

‌Completed in 1952 by the famous architect Le Corbusier and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, The Cite Radieuse or ‘radiant city’ is said to be a masterpiece of 20th century architecture. It’s the first housing unit designed as a vertical city, showcasing a new way to live under one roof.

‌This was one unique yet ambitious project which is really interesting to discover and explore. A city inside a vertical building, with everything a community would ever need in one place and surrounding gardens plus parking spaces. 

Today this building is home to a hotel, design studios, shops, cafes, restaurants, medical practices, a nursery, residential apartments, a museum and a rooftop with ‌views out to the mediterranean sea.

Oh and there’s a rooftop pool!! Floors theww, four and nine are completely free to visit to the public and in our opinion this truly is a hidden gem in Marseille that many overlook. 

The Details

• Street Location:  280 Boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille I Website I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-18:00.
• Admission: Free entry but you do have to sign in at reception with the security guards.
• Transport Options: Take the Métro two towards Dromel and get off at Rond Point du Prado. It’s a six minute walk from here. Alternatively take bus numbers, 21/21S/22/22S  from the Old Port (Vieux Port) and alight at Le Corbusier. The trip should cost no more than €4 for a round trip.

Parc Borély 

Located close to the Prado beaches along the coast, Parc Borély is the perfect place to escape to if you’re looking for some quite time in nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s also perfect for a picnic. Parc Borély is often referred to as the most popular green space in Marseille. 

The park itself is divided into five parts that visitors can explore and spend there time meandering through. The styles include a French garden, an English garden, a traditional Chinese garden, a botanical garden and a rose garden. Each brings its beauty through the seasons. The lake is perfect for sailing small rowing boats with this 17 hectare garden also housing a, 18th century bastide. 

The Château Borély houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware and Fashion and has been classified as a historical monument. It’s worth a visit if you have an interest in the above and depicts how a family from this era lived in such an estate. 

The Details

• Street  Location: Avenue. du Parc Borély, 13008 Marseille I Tel +33 4 91 55 25 51 I Website I Find it Here: Map Locations.
• Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 06:00-21:00.
• Admission: Free.
• Transport Options: Take the metro from Noailles towards Sainte Marguerite Dromel. Alight at rond point du prado. Then at métro rond point du prado, take the bus service (Bus line 44) in the direction of Collège Roy d’Espagne. Get off at clot bey paul. Parc Borély is an eight minute walk away. The full journey would cost €3-€4 round trip per person. Alternatively take the Métro from the Vieux Port to Parc Borély, which should take 23 minutes and then walk eight minutes to Parc Borély. This would cost around €4 round trip. 

Vallon des Auffes

This small port which doesn’t have a beach is definitely worth taking the stairs down to from the main Corniche. It’s packed full of colourful, typical fishermen’s houses as well as their boats decked along the pebble water’s edge. Many of these boats are typical Provençal boats which are utterly charming. You’ll get to see the fishermen helping each other with fixing up their boats.

The perfect way to end one day in Marseille is to watch the sun set over the 17 metre high three arches of Les Vallon des Auffes with a glass of the local tipple, Pastis and a sharing board of fresh cheese, bread and other local delights. ‘Auffe’ or Auffo in  Provençal is a plant used in the manufacture of ship ropes or fishing nets.

The Details

• Street Location: 13007 Marseille I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening Hours: Not Applicable.
• Admission: Not Applicable.
• Transport Options: Bus no 83 from the old Port, goes straight past Vallon des Auffes and takes around 10-15 minutes. Cost is €2 one way. It is possible to walk from the Old Port and follow the road along the coast. It’s a lovely walk if you have the time to spare and takes around 35 minutes. 

Les Docks Villages – Pastis Tasting

This historical maritime building is part of Marseille’s regeneration programme and has enabled this previously run down yet historical maritime building in the heart of La Joliette, to become home to around 220 companies, various corporate headquarters, restaurants, cool bars, art galleries and much more. 

One great reason to visit is to partake in a Pastis Workshop. Pastis is consumed a lot in Southern France, especially in Marseille. It’s a cloudy creamy looking aniseed flavoured Liqueur, named Pastis. It’s often topped up at the table with water and has a 40% alcohol content.

Attending a Pastis Workshop is a great experience at MX Maison Yellow  in Marseille.

The price of workshop  ticket includes: access to the Aniseed museum, a ride around Marseille in their car simulator, an hours class charting the history of Pastis, which was very interesting and informative, and finally, the tasting stage and how to prepare and drink as the locals do.

Visitors can also pop into the Ricard boutique, the brand that manufacture the drink, to purchase Pastis and other branded products.

‌Following the class we also had tapas and Pastis cocktails to round off the evening.

‌Price per person for the whole experience was approximately £20 with a duration of two hours.

Be-lavie Tip: The Pastis Workshop is only permitted to persons over the age of 18 and are only bookable after 17:00 on selected days. Oh and be prepared Pastis is 40-45% ABV!!!

The Details

• Street Address: 10 Place de la Joliette Les Docks Village, Atrium 10.7 Place PAUL RICARD – Porte K Rue des Docks ou, Quai du Lazaret, 13002 Marseille I Tel. +33 4 12 04 30 04 I Website I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00.
• Admission: Free to boutique, Restaurant & Bar. Museum & Pastis Tasting Workshop is €23 (over 18’s only).
• Transport Options: Take Bus Line 49 from the Old Pot to Docks Village for €2 each way or alternatively walk 20 minutes. A taxi from the old Port would cost €4 – €6 and take three minutes. 

Related Article: Where To Eat The Best Vegetarian-Friendly Food In Marseille

 Plage Borély 

This mix of sand and pebble beach, close by to the Parc Borély is around 260 metres long and is located just before a promenade, perfect for a stroll or cycle ride. It’s a pretty quiet beach, which is perfect to relax in, especially if you want to split your time between the Parc Borély and the coast. There are a number of snack bars, restaurants, showers, toilets, volleyball courts and other amenities close by. 

You’ll see some holiday style apartments here which are rented by those living in other parts of France, who come to holiday in this area.  

The area has  a very local feel to it, with hardly any tourists, if at all, and appears to be very family friendly. There is also a large ferris wheel here, which can be seen from various locations in Marseille, especially if you’re on a hill. 

The Details

• Street Address; 13008 Marseille. I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening Hours: Always Open. 
• Admission: Not Applicable. 
• Transport Options: From the View Port take Bus Line 19, Castellane and get off at Tiboulen. It’s a minutes walk to Plage Borély. The cost is around €2 per person one way. Alternatively you can get an Uber or taxi which would take 11 minutes but could cost up to €15 in traffic.

Notre-Dame du Mont Staircase & Le Cours Julien District

Located in the 6th arrondissement of Marseille, Cours Julien’ is a very arty and creative area in Marseille. You can access the area via  staircase covered in street art at the opening of the Notre-Dame du Mont subway station. Climb the stairs from the bottom to the top, which open out onto a vast space, showcasing street art and graffiti by local artists. The art covers the walls and stairs going up the famous staircase and even a couple of the cafes that are on the side halfway up. 

Cours Julien is colorful and vibrant with lots of vintage looking boutiques, international eateries and cafes and artists working on their next piece. The middle square is full of people sitting and chatting. 

Wednesday mornings is when the Cours Julien farmer’s market takes place so if you plan your visit right, you’ll be able to grab some picnic items and enjoy them in the square.

Le Cours Julien, is most definitely a place which has a very local vibe.  If you are a fan of street art, you can book onto a street art tour which will explain more about the history of Marseille as well as showcase the most notable spots.

The Details

• Street Address: Rue Jean-Baptiste-Estelle, 13006 Marseille I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening Hours: Always open, day time visit recommended.
• Admission: Not Applicable.
• Transport Options: Walking from the Old port is pretty easy, follow Google Maps and it should take 20 minutes form the Old Port. Alternatively, take the bus from Puget Roux de Brignoles, near the Old Port and alight at Lieutaud Salvator. It’s a seven minute walk from here.

Friche Belle de Mai

This former site of the Seita Tobacco factory, was transformed in 1992 to the major cultural venue it is today. It brings together a vast area of performance and exhibition spaces for theatre, dance, music, contemporary art as well as radio and broadcasting.

At the Friche Belle de Mai, it’s possible to see sculptures and paintings by local artists in residence. Stroll around and discover the galleries, mini theatres hosting a range of performances that you’re welcome to watch. Additionally there is a real community feel here with a nursery, playground, library and also a food hall and market.

This is an incredibly cool concept which feels like a local community and showcases some exciting, up and coming talent.

The Details

• Street Location: 41 Rue Jobin, 13003 Marseille I Tel +33 4 95 04 95 95 I Website I Find it Here: Map Location.
• Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday: 07:00-23:00.
• Admission: Not Applicable.
• Transport Options: The Bus Line 42 from Place aux huiles, takes 17 minutes to  Belle de Mai la Friche and costs around €2 per person each way. It is possible to walk from the Vieux Port area and follow the route offered by Google Maps, this would take 35 minutes.

Hidden Gems in Marseille FAQs

A few questions which may not have been answered in the article above.

Is it safe for tourists to visit these hidden gems in Marseilles?

Yes, absolutely. Be sensible as you would in any other city in the world and don’t carry valuables and large amounts of cash. The places we’ve mentioned here didn’t have that many tourists, as many will prefer to see the more popular sights of the city in the short time they have. We always felt welcome and really enjoyed seeing different sides to the city.

Is it difficult to get Public Transport to these more Unusual Locations?

No, we wouldn’t say so. We’ve added some transport options to each of the places above. The starting point is always from around the Old POrt (Vieux Port) area and most places are actually walkable. It is always possible to take an Uber if you feel you’re not so confident with Public transport.

What are the Advantages of seeing more off the Beaten Track or less Touristy Points in Marseille?

Firstly these give a more authentic feel for local life in the city and surroundings, which is a great way to immerse yourself into the local way of life and interests. Additionally you’ll find that local spots will be far less crowded, unless of course it’s a national holiday. 

What is the Cheapest Mode of Public Transport in Marseille?

This would have to be the Bus. There is a great bus system, which is both punctual and clean. It costs around €2 per person one way. For multiple trips travel cards can be purchased. For further information head to Marseille Transport Authority

How many extra days would we need to cover these unusual places?

Most people go to Marseille for either one day (on a cruise ship) or go for a city break for three days. Depending on your other interests, you can always exchange some of the better known attractions for these. If you’re in two minds, just plan to add on an extra day or take an evening  flight home for some extra time. 

Hidden Gems in Marseille Round Up 

To discover Marseille, more uniquely, we hope this guide helps you to see a more local and beautiful side of Marseille which is most definitely worth visiting. This more unusual perspective holds history such as the Parc Borely dating back to the 18th century and other aspects in the city incorporating history from the 19th century. 

Marseille has many wonderful sights and points of attractions to be discovered by travellers to witness the ancient Greek history of the city fused with the regeneration work that has enhanced much of the area and brought a modernity intertwined with history. Marseille really does live by its name of being the most underrated city in the Mediterranean with a huge amount of culture waiting to be explored and experienced.

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