Located in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, Marseille is the oldest city in France, with 26 centuries of history behind it.
This is thanks to the works of Paul Cézanne, who painted many pictures inspired by this beautiful region; to his popular football team Olympique de Marseille; and to the lavender soap that comes from the huge fields that embrace it.
However, this port city also has plenty of attractions, as it distils a catching seafaring essence, especially visible in the Vieux Port, and treasures very interesting places such as the fish market, the Saint Nicolas fort or the Ombriére, an artistic pavilion designed by Norman Foster to shelter from the heat.
The northern part also holds surprises such as St John’s Fort, the town hall building or the Diamond House.
Its streets, mainly the Republique and La Canebière, are full of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars, making it the epicentre of leisure and shopping, some of which converge in the old town, which boasts some of the icons of the city such as the Vieille Charité, the cathedral of the Old Major or the Place de Moulins.
Others, converge in the Eurmediterranée district, which is the maximum exponent of modernity as it houses buildings designed by famous architects such as, for example, the CMA-CGM Tower by Zaha Hadid.
The cultural offer of Marseille is also a great tourist attraction, the most representative being the museums of the Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean, Cantini or History.
The surroundings are dominated by the Calanques National Park, pierced by impressive cliffs with turquoise water beaches and wild coves, where locals and travellers find the ideal refuge.
Marseille has a “not be what” that catches and that urges to want back one and another time. If you have planned one escape to this treasure provençal and you need information about from which are the zones plus recommended for lodge in Marseille, takes note
The best places to stay in Marseille
Marseille is one of the most ideal destinations in the Côte d’Azur, as it combines beautiful Mediterranean beaches, traditional Provencal culture, exquisite gastronomy and incredible natural spaces, which has made it a very popular destination.
The number of visitors has increased dramatically after being named European Capital a few years ago, and as a result, the oldest city in France has adapted to the influx of visitors by offering a wide and varied range of hotels.
The neighbourhoods plus expensive for sleeping in Marseille are the next to port old, by when is the zone around of the which turns the life of the city and, by both, with greater dynamism. These are: Euromed-La Joliette or Vieux Port. Por su parte, Le Panier, Saint-Charles and L’Estaque have with accommodations plus economic
1.Vieux Port
The Vieux Port area extends from the beginning of the Canebière area.In the streets that embrace it, the most important places of interest can be found: the Abbey of San Víctor, the lighthouse of Santa María, the forts of San Nicolás and San Juan, the Regards de Provence Museum and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations.
Here is also the Palais du Pharo, built by Napoleon during the second half of the 19th century, whose enormous gardens constitute a beautiful green space that invites to walk and rest.
In addition, on the promenade of the port you will find a number of shops, bars and seafood restaurants, whose menus include spices directly from the nearby fresh fish market, as well as typical Provencal flavours.
It is one of the most recommended areas to stay in Marseille for those who want to be centrally located or enjoy the typical seafaring environment.
The range of hotels is very generous, although there are many luxury and boutique hotels, so, as you would expect, prices are not the cheapest in Marseille. In fact, the average 3-star hotel ranges from 64 to 75 .
– Accommodation in Vieux Port
2.La Canebière
This artery runs for one kilometre from the Reformed Church to the Old Port.
Some of the most commercial streets of the city start from here, such as Rue Paradis, Rue de Rome and Rue Saint Ferréol. On this promenade in Marseille you can also find the Grand Théâtre, the Marseille Opera, the aforementioned neo-Gothic church of the Reformed and the Palais de la Bourse.
This is an excellent area to stay in Marseille, especially for those who want to be in the city centre or to sleep in luxury hotels, since some of the most impressive and luxurious hotels in the city are located here.
– Accommodation at La Canebière
3.Saint-Charles
Saint-Charles, located near the city centre and the Vieux Port, is based around the train station of the same name, which is the gateway to Marseille.The arrival of the high-speed train and its range of lines, including those connecting with Madrid-Atocha, Barcelona-Sants and Paris, has made it very dynamic.
The station acts as a differentiating element, but the neighbourhood also has some places of interest for travellers such as the Grobet-Labadié museum, which includes a collection of family art, or the La Criée theatre.
It is connected to the centre of Marseille by the M1 metro line, the T2 tram line and the 34, 33, 49 or 52 bus lines, whose station is behind the train station.It is an option to consider for sleeping in Marseille for those who plan to arrive by train or make excursions to the surrounding area.the average price of hotels is around 50 – 60 euros per night.
– Accommodation in Saint-Charles
4.Euromed-La Joliette
Just to the north of the Vieux Port and facing the sea is this district, one of the most popular in the French city.It is very dynamic and lively, as it is home to the Euromed business centre, the Marseille docks and monuments of interest such as the Cathedral.
The life of this quarter is organised around the Place de la Joliette, which is very popular as it is home to one of the most acclaimed markets in Marseille.
Shopping lovers will find in the shopping centre Les Terraces du Port products and fashion of French and international brands, as well as a nice terrace from which you can enjoy a nice view of the Old Port.
This district is excellently connected to the city centre by the metro line 2, the tramway lines T2 and T3, as well as by the bus lines 35, 49, 70 and 82.
It is an interesting area to stay in Marseille, especially for those who come on business or for those who want to be near the sea and the old port.The choice of hotels is very wide, although their prices are not for small budgets, so a 3 star hotel costs between 65 and 70 euros per night.
– Accommodation in Euromed-La Joliette
We hope that this article on the best areas to stay in Marseille has been useful.We also recommend you: Where to stay in Paris, where to stay in Bordeaux, where to stay in Lyon, where to stay in Corsica
5.Le Panier
It is the oldest hotel in the city and it is located behind the Town Hall, it has a very local and multicultural atmosphere, because it is inhabited by a good number of Neapolitan, Corsican and some European immigrants.
It is a route through a network of tangled streets, decorated with very Provencal coloured houses and some valuable architectural jewels such as the Vieille Charité, an old hospice converted into a museum dedicated to archaeology and African, Amerindian and Oceanic art, or the Cathedral of the Major.
Traditional craftsmen’s workshops such as Artera, which specializes in painting figures in the portal of Bethlehem, ateliers, vintage shops and traditional shops where they sell typical products such as marseille soap.The best known is La Grande Savonnerie, one of the few places where you can still buy this soap.
Squares like De Lenche, which formerly hosted the old agora, or De Moulins, decorated with bars, terraces and fountains and with a very Provencal atmosphere, end up forming the essence of this charming historical neighborhood, dominated by calm and peace.
This neighborhood is an option to consider for staying in Marseille, especially for those who are looking for quiet areas or want to get into the authentic Marseille way of life.You can book a 3-star hotel for 50 – 55 , provided you do so in advance.
– Accommodation at Le Panier
6.Blancarde-Cinq Avenues
This district, one of the most refined of Marseille, owes its name to the fact that it is the intersection of the boulevards Liberation, Blancarde, Philippon, Maréchal-Foch and des Chartreux.
A large part of this area is occupied by the Longchamp Park, which houses the plant garden, the zoo and other beautiful French and English gardens.
It is presided over by the baroque palace of the same name, which houses the Fine Arts Museum and the Natural History Museum.It also houses the Marseille Museum, the Observatory and several interesting buildings such as the College of the Carthusians.
It has good public transport connections with other parts of the city, with stops on bus lines 6, 7, 7B, 42 and 81, the M1 metro and tram line T2.
As we have mentioned, this neighbourhood borders the avenue Blancarde, where you will find the Marseille-Blancarde railway station , which connects with urban neighbourhoods and other nearby French cities.
It also has excellent public transport connections with the other districts of Marseille, as the tramway lines T1 and T2, the underground M1 and the bus lines 6, 7, 67 and 509 pass through here.
Both areas have one of the lowest offers of accommodation in Marseille, although prices are a little cheaper than in other more central places.In fact, a 4-star hotel ranges from 65 to 70 per night; while a 3 hotel is around 55 per night.
– Accommodation in Blancarde-Cinq Avenues
7.The Corniche-Prado
This is a walk that runs for five kilometres parallel to the sea, from the Catalan cove to the spa park.
Along the walk you can also see the mareograph, which dates from the 11th century, and sumptuous mansions and villas, many of them built by wealthy merchants during the 19th century, such as the Renaissance villa Valmer, Château Berger.
However, the real charm of the Corniche lies in the small fishing port of Vallon des Auffes, lined with colourful traditional houses and where many local boats are moored, and along the promenade there are several restaurants serving fresh seafood and local specialities such as bouillabaisse.
In spite of its size, it does not have a very generous offer of accommodation, but it is a highly recommended area to stay in Marseille, especially for those travelers who want to be close to the sea or enjoy the sea environment that invades each of the corners that make it up.In fact, it is feasible to book a 3-star hotel for about 55-60 euros per night.
– Accommodation in La Corniche-Prado
8.L’Estaque
This picturesque neighborhood is at the north end of the city, sheltered by the Nerthe mountain range.It has an undeniable charm, which is conferred by the gigantic villas set in nature, the colorful houses, the charming bars, restaurants and seafood restaurants and, of course, the beaches. It is also an area linked to art since time immemorial, in fact, it is said that modern painting was born here.It has been a place of inspiration for great masters of painting such as Braque, Cézanne, Renoir or Monticelli, among many others.
The trail of these artists is very present, so much so that among its streets you will find many shops and art galleries where they sell reproductions of these artists.
There is less accommodation on offer than in other districts of Marseille, but it is worth staying in the cradle of modern painting and the prices are lower than, for example, in the old part of Marseille.
The best area to stay in Marseille
If you are going to spend a weekend in Marseille or you are visiting the Côte d’Azur and you want to make the most of your time, the best way is to stay in the area around the Vieux Port The Vieux Port area, located in the historical centre of Marseille, is the most attractive area of the city and the one where all the activity is concentrated.
In addition to the Old Port, one of the wonders of Marseille, we can walk to the main attractions of the city: The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the fortress of Fort Jain-Jean or the old fishing quarter of Le Panier.
The area also has the best leisure offer in the city with many bars and restaurants and shopping streets like the Rue de la Tour, renamed the street of fashion.
Other advantages of staying in the Old Port are the access to the metro to visit the rest of the city, the access to the bus and the tourist train. If we arrive by car we also have public parking to leave it. Marseille train station is about 15 minutes walk.
If you are interested in knowing where to stay in Marseille you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Nice or where to stay in Paris.
Vieux Port, the best area to stay in Marseille
Beautiful cafes, huge hotels, and seafood restaurants line up along the Vieux Port (Old Port) in Marseille, at the 1st.The Romantic, Renaissance and Art-Deco architecture is fully preserved in the Vieux Port , the long-lived centre of Marseille, founded by the Greeks around 600 BC.The Fort St. Nicolas and the Fort St. Jean stand on either side of the port, reminding visitors of Marseille’s key role as a port for over 26 centuries.
The vital and colourful area of the Vieux Port is the best area to stay in Marseille, as it offers many options for food and entertainment.the restaurants located in front of the port offer fresh seafood from the adjacent fishermen’s market.Near the Fort St. Jean, on the northern side of the Vieux Port , culturally inclined travelers will enjoy the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations and the Museum Regards de Provence .The southern part of the Vieux Port is occupied by breweries, shops and bars, while the Palais du Pharo with its adjacent garden is a beautiful walk that allows you to enjoy not only a beautiful green space, but also a pleasant walk overlooking the sea.When the sun sets on the Atlantic, the city revives in its bars and nightclubs that remain open until dawn, especially in the area of the streets Place Thiars and Cours Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves .
The central location and the pedestrianisation of the streets of the Vieux Port , make this area the ideal location for a walk in Marseille.In addition, a ferry service from the City Hall, which runs throughout the day, allows tourists to enjoy views of Marseille from the sea.the Vieux Port is only a 20 minute drive from the Airport Marseille Provence .
Hotels in Vieux Port
Other areas to stay in Marseille
La Corniche
South of Vieux Port , is the 7th arrondissement , called La Corniche . This area is named after the route along the sea, called by the same name and which has small beaches along the coast.
This is the best area to stay if you are looking for a quiet holiday by the sea, this area is home to Notre-Dame de la Garde , an imposing Catholic basilica of Byzantine influence and one of the most important tourist spots in Marseille.The Parc Valmer is a beautiful green space with lush gardens and a 19th century villa known as Villa Valmer. 10 minutes by car or public bus from the Vieux Port , La Corniche is a very accessible area.
Hotels in La Corniche
Euromed – La Joliette
The recently revitalized area of La Joliette in a beautiful location to stay north of the Vieux Port .This area is located in the 2nd. Arrondissement contains the business district known as Centre Euromed La Joliette also includes the Marseille Docks and the Marseille Cathedral.
The shopping centre Les Terraces du Port (i.e. the terraces of the port) is home to top French brands and famous international brands and as its name suggests, from its terrace you can access beautiful views of the Vieux Port .Access to the city centre from La Joliette is simple, as this area is only 10 minutes away by car or public transport from the Vieux Port .
