35 Unusual Things to Do in Marseille

⚙️ Hours (Official Website)

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2. St. Victor Abbey

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Abbey
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Abbaye Saint-Victor

St. Victor Abbey is a historic site in Marseille with a rich religious heritage, dating back to the early Christian period. The abbey’s architecture reflects its long history, with elements ranging from Romanesque to Gothic styles.

The abbey was founded in the 5th century in honor of Saint Victor, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century. It has undergone numerous changes and renovations over the centuries, including its fortification in the 14th century.

Notable features of St. Victor Abbey include its paid ancient crypts, which house a collection of religious artifacts that provide insights into its past.

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⚙️ Hours (Tourism Office Website)

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3. Marseille Soap La Licorne

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Soap Museum & Factory
Visit Self-guided or Guided
Cost Free or Paid

French Names
Musée du Savon de Marseille
Savonnerie Marseillaise de la Licorne

La Licorne is a company dedicated to the production of traditional Marseille soap. They operate shops, a factory, and a museum. The two locations are within walking distance of each other, and both have shops where visitors can buy the traditional soap.

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Museum

Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid

French Name
Musée du Savon de Marseille

The museum provides insight into the history and craftsmanship of this iconic product, which has been a staple of local culture for centuries.

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Factory

Visit Guided
Cost Free

French Name
Musée du Savon de Marseille

The factory showcases the soap-making process, including the techniques and ingredients used in the production of Marseille soap.

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⚙️ Hours (Official Website)

4. Tuk Tuk Tour

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Tuk Tuk Tour
Visit Guided Tour
Cost Paid

A Tuk Tuk Tour offers a fun way to explore Marseille’s landmarks and neighborhoods. These small, electric vehicles provide a different city experience.

5. Tourist Train

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Tourist Train
Visit Tour
Cost Paid

French Name
Petits Trains de Marseille

The Marseille Tourist Train is a charming way to discover the city’s major attractions and neighborhoods. The train offers informative commentary and a comfortable ride through the city’s highlights.

2 different routes are offered within the city.

Additionally, 1 route is available in July and August on the Frioul Island, which is located off the coast of Marseille.

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6. St. Vincent de Paul Church

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Église Les Réformés

Constructed in the early 19th century, St. Vincent Church features Neo-Gothic architecture. It was built during a period of significant urban expansion in Marseille, reflecting the city’s growth and development.

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7. Sacré-Cœur de Jésus Basilica

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Basilica
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Jésus

Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Marseille was built in the early 20th century after World War I. Its design incorporates elements of Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Byzantine architecture, contributing to its distinctive appearance.

The building was constructed to commemorate the 1720 plague that severely affected Marseille and to serve as a memorial for World War I.

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8. Longchamp Palace & Park

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Palace + Park
Visit Outside only
Cost Free

French Names
Palais Longchamp
Parc Longchamp

Longchamp Palace, located in Marseille, is an architectural landmark known for its distinctive blend of Renaissance and Baroque styles. The palace is most famous for its grand water tower and park.

Constructed in the mid-19th century, Longchamp Palace was designed to celebrate the completion of a new water supply system for Marseille.

It houses two museums, one in each of its lateral wings: the Fine Arts Museum and the Natural History Museum, detailed below.

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⚙️ Hours (Tourism Office Website – Fr)

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9. Fine Arts Museum

Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Musée des Beaux-Arts
MBA

The Fine Arts Museum, established in the early 19th century is located in one of the wings of Longchamp Palace. Ithouses works ranging from the Renaissance through the 19th century. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.

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10. Natural History Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Natural History Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle

The Natural History Museum established in the 19th century is located in one of the wings of Longchamp Palace.

It features a collection that spans various aspects of the natural world, including fossils, minerals, and animal specimens.

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11. Le Corbusier

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Modernist Housing Block
Visit Guided
Cost Paid

French Names
Le Corbusier
Cité radieuse
Unité d’Habitation
Maison du Fada

Le Corbusier’s modernist housing block, built in the mid-20th century, is a pioneering example of architectural innovation from that era.

This residential complex embodies architect Le Corbusier‘s vision of urban living and architectural functionality, characterized by its use of raw concrete and modular design.

The building also features a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Marseille.

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⚙️ Hours & Prices (Tourism Office Website)

12. Old Charity

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Former Almshouse
Visit Outside only
Cost Free

French Names
Vieille Charité
Centre de la Vieille Charité

The Old Charity is a historic building from the 17th century that originally served as an almshouse and now functions as a cultural center.

It houses two museums: the Mediterranean Archaeology Museum on the first floor and the Museum of African, Oceanian, and American Art on the second floor. Both are detailed below.

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13. Mediterranean Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Archeology Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne
MAM

The Mediterranean Museum focuses on the archaeology and history of the Mediterranean region. It provides insights into ancient civilizations and their interactions with the Mediterranean Sea. The collection notably includes items from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.

It’s located inside the Old Charity historic building.

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14. MAAOA Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Art Museum
Visit Self-guided or Guided
Cost Free or Paid

French Name
MAAOA
Musée des Arts Africains, Océaniens et Amérindiens

The MAAOA Museum is dedicated to the art and cultures of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum’s collection offers a diverse array of artworks and artifacts, including masks, sculptures, and textiles from various indigenous cultures.

It’s located inside the Old Charity historic building.

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15. Marseille History Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Local History Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Musée d’Histoire de Marseille

The Museum offers an overview of the city’s history and development through various exhibits and artifacts. It aims to document and interpret the city’s rich past, from its founding around 600 BC to the present day, with a focus on its maritime history and its role as a key Mediterranean port.

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16. Regards de Provence

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Classic & Modern Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid

French Names
Musée Regards de Provence
Fondation Regards de Provence

Regards de Provence is a museum dedicated to the art of the Provence region, showcasing a variety of works, including paintings and sculptures, from both the classic and modern periods.

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⚙️ Hours & Prices (Tourism Office Website)

17. La Friche

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Cultural Center
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free or Paid

French Names
La Friche
Friche la Belle de Mai

La Friche is a cultural center established in 1992. It’s housed in a former tobacco factory, which has been repurposed to serve as a hub for artistic and cultural activities. The center offers a range of events, including concerts, theater performances, and art exhibitions.

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18. Cantini Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Modern Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Musée Cantini

The Cantini Museum focuses on modern art, featuring a diverse collection of works primarily from 1900 to 1960, including major artistic movements such as Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism.

The museum is housed in a 17th-century manison.

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19. MAC Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Contemporary Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
MAC
Musee d’Art Contemporain de Marseille

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) in Marseille offers a range of contemporary art exhibits from 1960 to today.

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20. FRAC Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Contemporary Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid

French Names
FRAC Sud
Cité de l’Art Contemporain

FRAC, which stands for “Regional Fund for Contemporary Art,” is an official French label granted to cultural institutions that build collections of contemporary artworks. Its mission is to support contemporary art and raise public awareness of it.

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21. Préau des Accoules Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Art Museum for Kids
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Préau des Accoules
Musée des Enfants

Préau des Accoules is a museum for children in Marseille, designed to offer educational and interactive experiences for younger audiences. Adults are also welcome.

A variety of themes are explored here, including archaeology, regional heritage, history, photography, fine arts, African and American cultures, contemporary art, and more.

The museum is housed in an early 18th-century building constructed by Jesuits.

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22. Marseille Illusion Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Illusion Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid

French Name
Musée de l’Illusion Marseille

The Marseille Illusion Museum offers a fun and mind-bending experience with a variety of optical illusions and interactive displays.

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23. Deportation Memorial Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type WWII Deportation Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Mémorial des Déportations

The Deportation Memorial is a museum dedicated to honoring the victims of WWII deportations, providing a somber reflection on the impact of the Holocaust and wartime persecution. It was inaugurated in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps.

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24. Motorbike Museum

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Motorbike Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Musée de la Moto

The Motorbike Museum showcases a collection of vintage and contemporary motorcycles, reflecting the evolution of motorcycle design and technology.

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25. Château Borely

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Castle + Faience & Fashion Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Names
Château Borély
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode

Château Borély, located in the park of the same name, is a historic building constructed in the 18th century. It now serves as a museum dedicated to decorative arts, faience, and fashion.

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26. Borely Park

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Park
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Parc Borély
Jardin Borély

Borely Park is a spacious green area featuring gardens, fountains, scenic paths, and children’s playgrounds.

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⚙️ Hours (Tourism Office Website – Fr)

📜 Wikipedia

Behind the park, there is a botanical garden. However, access to it is only available by registration through this page (in French).

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27. Pierre Puget Park

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Park + Panorama
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Parc Pierre Puget
Parc de la Colline Puget

Pierre Puget Park is situated on a hill and offers views of the surrounding areas of the city. It also has a children’s playground.

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👀 Google View 360° – Panorama

⚙️ Hours (Tourism Office Website – Fr)

28. Château de la Buzine

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Castle + Exhibitions + Park
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free or Paid

French Name
Château de La Buzine

Château de la Buzine is a castle located on the outskirts of Marseille. Built in the 19th century and purchased a century later by the French writer Marcel Pagnol, the site remains closely associated with him.

Today, Château de la Buzine has become the House of Mediterranean Cinematographies, a cultural venue dedicated to various forms of artistic expression.

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👀 Google View 360° – Panorama

29. St. Laurent Church

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Église Saint-Laurent

St. Laurent Church is a Romanesque-style church from the 13th century, historically associated with the fishermen of Marseille.

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⚙️ Hours (Tourism Office Website)

30. St. Nicolas de Myre Church

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Église Saint-Nicolas-de-Myre

Founded in 1821, Saint-Nicolas-de-Myre Church is a Greek Catholic church (Melkite Rite). It is the oldest Eastern church in Europe.

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⚙️ Hours (Facebook Page)

31. St. Ferréol Church

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

French Name
Église Saint-Ferréol les Augustins

The Church of Saint-Ferréol-les-Augustins dates back to the 15th century and is easily recognizable by its white façade, located on the Old Port.

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32. Bus Tour

Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free

The Colorbus offers a convenient hop-on hop-off service around Marseille’s main attractions. It provides a flexible way to explore the city at your own pace.

Provider
Colorbüs

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