A Holiday Weekend In Marseille

Marseilles is the second largest city in France and is in many ways the complete opposite of its
rival Paris. Marseille is an ancient city and has always been an important port city and centre for trade.
But is it a good option for a weekend mini-break? Absolutely. There’s a lot to see and do in this
vibrant destination. Marseilles is also surrounded by some fascinating areas so there are heaps of
day trip options that can be added on, depending on how long you can stay. Here’s some ideas for a 3 day weekend.

Day 1

Marseille is relatively easy to get to. You can fly in or there is access via the high speed rail
network. Either way it is probably sensible to hire a car so that you have some flexibility for getting
out and about and exploring.
If you’re feeling energetic, climb up to Notre-Dame de La Garde and admire the church’s stunning
gold Madonna.
After wandering the streets and getting your bearings of the town, the marina, and the harbour,
start your night by savouring a glass of pastis (an aniseed drink diluted with water) and then maybe
grab a pizza for dinner. Pizza? Surprisingly yes – with strong historical ties to Naples, Marseille
prides itself on the quality of its pizza.

Day 2

This morning why not take the drive up to Aix-en-Provence. This is the hub of the lavender fields
and quaint villages that give the Provence region its identity. Beyond Aix you can explore Avignon,
Arles, and Orange – all stunning.
Another option for a day trip would be to head east from Marseille to the Camarque national park.
You are not doing this area justice if you only do a quick drive through, but if this is your only
chance to explore it then it is definitely worth the effort.
On your return to Marseilles you could check out the Marche des Capucins which is a traditional
North African market that almost resembles a medieval souk in the heart of Marseille.
For dinner why not explore the old part of town (the Panier), just adjacent to the old port.

Day 3

You could start today by driving out along the coast. East of Marseille there is a beautiful coastline
dotted with small fishing villages. All of them serving up Bouillabaisse – the most iconic dish of this
region. Bouillabaisse sets the standard for what fish soup should be – a big bowl full of a great
collection of flavours. It actually began life as the left-over soup that was made from the remains of
the day’s catch that couldn’t be sold, but today it has been elevated to the perfect dish to feast on
while you sit in the sun, enjoying a long lunch with some cold white wine as you soak up the
atmosphere of Marseille and this stunning region.
If this is your last day then it is going to be a short drive back to the airport or the high speed train
station, return your hire car and say goodbye to Marseille.

Historically, Marseille hasn’t had the best reputation for tourists, but that seems to be a hangover
from many years ago when it was a much rougher and tougher city than it is today. This unique
slice of France is definitely a destination worth checking out.

Image by decar66 under Creative Commons license.