Marseille Guided Tour for 4 Hours

Discover Marseille’s charm on a 4-hour guided tour. Walk historic streets, see hidden gems, and enjoy panoramic views with a local expert.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Cathedrale de la Major - The start and end of our tour, the magnificent Cathedral of La Major. We’ll discover its vast and rich history, marvelling at its Neo Byzantine style, before getting on our journey.

La Major Cathedral in Marseille, France, is a grand Roman Catholic cathedral known for its Byzantine-Roman architectural style, featuring striking domes and intricate mosaics. It’s one of the largest cathedrals in France and a significant landmark in Marseille.

  • The Panier - Let’s continue our journey deep inside the very famous district of Le Panier in Marseille.

Le Panier is a historic district in Marseille, France, characterized by its charming narrow streets, colorful buildings, and vibrant atmosphere. It’s known for its rich cultural heritage, with a mix of Mediterranean and North African influences. Le Panier is a popular destination for tourists, offering quaint cafes, artisan shops, and picturesque views of the Old Port.

  • Canebière - From the north to the south shore of the Old Port, there is a very well known street known as La Canebière.

We will stroll around it, learn about its history and the significant monuments surrounding it, such as the Antique Port and the Opera House.

  • Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde - We’ll make our way up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, the iconic hilltop basilica overlooking Marseille.

From its vantage point, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the cityscape and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This beloved landmark, adorned with intricate mosaics and a gleaming golden statue of the Virgin Mary, holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike, offering both spiritual solace and awe-inspiring vistas.

  • Vallon des Auffes - Then we’ll head to the Vallon des Auffes, a picturesque fishing village nestled between rugged cliffs and the azure waters of the Mediterranean.

Here, traditional fishing boats bob gently in the harbor, while charming waterfront restaurants serve up fresh seafood delicacies. It’s a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can soak in the tranquil atmosphere and admire the timeless beauty of Marseille’s coastal scenery.

  • Palais du Pharo - Next, we’ll venture to the Palais du Pharo, an elegant historic palace perched on a promontory overlooking the Old Port.

We will learn a lot of the monuments surrounding the Old Port, from the Fort Saint Jean, to the MUCEM and Cosquer’s museums.

With its majestic architecture and lush gardens, the Palais du Pharo offers a captivating glimpse into Marseille’s regal past. From its terraces, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the harbor and the city skyline, making it a perfect spot to savor the beauty of Marseille’s coastal charm.

  • Abbaye Saint Victor - Following that, we’ll make our way to the Abbaye Saint-Victor, an ancient monastery steeped in centuries of history.

Nestled near the Vieux Port, this architectural marvel boasts a serene atmosphere and stunning Romanesque architecture.

As we explore its hallowed halls and crypts, we’ll uncover tales of Marseille’s past and marvel at the timeless beauty of this sacred site.

What's Included
  • Private and guided tour with a local guide
  • Individual recommendations in a wrap-up email from the guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

“The best way to know a city is to walk it.” Simone de Beauvoir, renowned French writer, was right.

And it is especially true for Marseille.

Marseille is unique, a city with 100 personnalities, an oxymoron where calm and noise live together in a chaotic harmony.

The oldest city in France, 2600 years old, still has a young beating heart, and the best way to feel it is to simply walk on it.

On this tour of 8 people maximum, you’ll experience and discover, with a local, passionate and bilingual guide, what makes Marseille, Marseille.

We will wander through the small and only walkable streets of Le Panier, learn about Marseille’s rich history one monument after the other. We will climb to Notre Dame de la Garde, overlooking the panoramic view of the city, see hidden gems that can be only seen on foot, lose ourselves in Le Roucas Blanc, and go back in time visiting the little fishing port of Le Vallon des Auffes.

And so, so much more.

Join us exploring this southern treasure.

Location
Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure, dit « La Major »
Place de la Major
We meet right in front of the Cathedral La Major's entry gate. There is big lamppost facing straight at the entry gate. I will be there, wearing a white cap.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(33 Ratings)
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Rachel_b
Aug 10, 2024
Amazing tour and guide!! - Our family loves this walking tour and Charles, our guide, he was wonderful! He reached out with directions for the meeting spot and even provided a picture of the location. We really were able to learn so much history on the 4 hour tour. We visited so many neighborhoods and hidden gems along the way. One piece of advice, wear athletic shoes! You will probably get in over 12,000 steps and it has some very steep inclines.
Review provided by Viator
Dan_s
Aug 9, 2024
Great tour in Marseille - Charles is very knowledgeable guide and very nice person to be around. We enjoyed very much our tour and learned very interesting facts about Marseille. Highly recomended
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Amy_e
Aug 3, 2024
Excellent tour of Marseilles - Excellent tour of Marseilles; I came away with a good sense of the different neighbourhoods and recommendations for where to explore further. Tour covered both the history of the city and fun facts about different locations. The route was varied and interesting, and included some very beautiful vistas of the city.
Review provided by Viator
Livia_d
Aug 2, 2024
Perfect walking tour - Excellent walking tour. Would totally recommend 💯😊! Charles is a very friendly and enthusiastic guide and shared a lot of interesting information about the buildings and areas we visited. He's clearly very knowledgeable about Marseille and its history. I also loved his empathy for everyone in the group and how he wanted to make sure that everyone was feeling okay. Marseille is a beautiful city and I had a great time discovering it, thanks so much 😊 !!
Review provided by Viator
Gabriela_r
Aug 2, 2024
A walk through the history beauty and heights of Marseilles - Our guide Charles was attentive, thorough, and charming. The historic perspective spanned the origins of the city to present day. The focus included prominent buildings, structures, religious and political conflict. Charles illustrated the uniqueness of different neighborhoods while explaining the importance of Marseilles in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Michael_h
Jul 30, 2024
A great way to start the day - Charles was a fantastic guide. Between showing us the highlights of the city and the providing the historical context of how Marseille developed, he was great. Getting to see the historic and newer areas was a definite bonus.
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Megl457
Jul 28, 2024
Amazing Start to Our Trip! - This walking tour was the perfect way for us to familiarize ourselves with the city of Marseille. Our guide, Charles, was very knowledgeable as he shared about the fascinating history and cherished landmarks of the city. His english is great, and he spent time getting to know each one of us in the group. It felt so personalized!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Galtons
Jul 26, 2024
Excellent guide with a good mix of stops and history - We really enjoyed this walking tour! Charles is very charming, knowledgeable, and a great ambassador for Marseille. His English is very good and he imparted a lot of historical information is an interesting way and was friendly and warm to all in the group. We saw a lot of Marseille with a mix of the key sites and more off the beaten track sights. While Charles kept it a medium pace, there is A LOT of walking and lots of stairs and you basically walk for the entire 4 hours, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle and sun protection. Charles showed a lot of care to ensure each group member was keeping up and enjoying themselves. My suggestion to improve an excellent tour is building in a 15 minute coffee/toilet stop about half way along the tour, rather than some individual members negotiating their own stops. I highly recommend this tour to you (so long as you have good walking fitness).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carly_t
Jul 24, 2024
Excellent tour! Highly recommend! - Charles was a phenomenal guide! Highly recommend this fantastic tour as he has thoughtfully planned out the perfect itinerary for exploring Marseille. Charles is very knowledgeable with this city’s history and is very engaging and personable. We loved every minute of our 4 hour tour with him!
Review provided by Viator
Daniella_c
Jul 14, 2024
Highly recommended! - Charles gave us a great tour of Marseille. He was very engaging and knowledgeable about the city, and gave us valuable recommendations. I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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