How to Spend 2 Days in Marseille

Two days in Marseilles gives you ample time to explore Vieux Port, see the city’s top museums, and venture out to the nearby town of Cassis, admiring limestone sea cliffs along the way. Here’s how.

Day 1: Marseille Highlights

**Morning:**Start your day with a bike tour of the Marseille’s Vieux Port area, a historic district full of historic buildings and charming cafes. Don’t miss the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM), home to hundreds of artifacts related to life in the Mediterranean region. 

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, enjoy Marseille’s local specialty of seafood bouillabaisse followed by a boat trip to the Château d'If, a fortress located on an island just off Marseille’s coast. The fort was made famous by Alexandre Dumas’The Count of Monte Cristo, and also served as a prison for centuries.

**Night:**There are plenty of dining spots in the Vieux Port neighborhood, but for a change of pace you may want to head inland to the trendy Cours Julien area, replete with restaurants, bars, and quirky boutiques. While in the neighborhood, see what's on at Espace Julien, which hosts everything from dance parties to comedy nights.

Day 2: The Calanques and Cassis

**Morning:**Spend your second day visiting the Calanques, a series of rock formations between Marseilles and the nearby town of Cassis. There are plenty of ways to get there, from driving to cycling, though you’ll get the best views by taking a cruise between Marseilles and Cassis.  

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, explore the port town of Cassis. Popular attractions include the Musée d'Art et Traditions Populaires de Cassis, full of archaeological finds from the area, and Cap Canaille, the highest sea cliff in the country.

**Night:**Make your way back to Marseille by early evening and head to the Vieux Port area to board an evening sunset cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. Most packages include drinks and dinner, with some boats boasting onboard DJs.