Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Anyone been to Marseille?

13 replies

BookwormButNoTime · 15/09/2022 21:45

Thinking about going there for a few days next summer. Husband seemed to think it was a dump but he has no idea where he got that impression from as he's never been and we don't know anyone who has.

I mean, the old port looks lovely in the photos but is the rest grotty? You can see I am now having second thoughts over some unsubstantiated comment.....

OP posts:
Saturdaydreamingway2355555 · 15/09/2022 21:47

It’s nice to visit for the day, like most French cities in the summer the drainage isn’t great -and it smells. There are lovely places around Marseille to visit though

Fex · 15/09/2022 21:48

It's a port. I have always thought it rough. Aix-en-Provence nearby is fabulous though.

JWR · 16/09/2022 06:58

Was there this summer. The main tourist areas around Vieux Port and Le Panier are not remotely rough. It’s really quite pretty, very relaxed and good food. Boat trips to the calanques are easy and trains to places like Aix and Cassis are straightforward. There is a lot of graffiti in some areas but it’s part of the “scene” in places like Cours Julien which may seem rough at first glance but is actually just hipster. There are some very expensive shops behind the graffiti covered walls. I felt completely safe and didn’t see any trouble.

Original poster
BookwormButNoTime · 16/09/2022 20:20

JWR · 16/09/2022 06:58

Was there this summer. The main tourist areas around Vieux Port and Le Panier are not remotely rough. It’s really quite pretty, very relaxed and good food. Boat trips to the calanques are easy and trains to places like Aix and Cassis are straightforward. There is a lot of graffiti in some areas but it’s part of the “scene” in places like Cours Julien which may seem rough at first glance but is actually just hipster. There are some very expensive shops behind the graffiti covered walls. I felt completely safe and didn’t see any trouble.

Thank you so much. That’s more along the lines of what I was thinking it would be like. Fly in, have a day or two there, and then head off somewhere else.

OP posts:
TheGander · 27/09/2022 17:41

I was there last week and would second Bookworm’s comment. I’ve been gong there on and off for years as my grandparents used to live in Aix. It has an intoxicating side to it, like many large and slightly chaotic Mediterranean cities. If you go and are at the Vieux Port, look out for the Abbaye Saint Victor, it is over a thousand years old, and just casually stands there off the street. Fabulous.

spottydogsarethebest · 27/09/2022 22:00

I've been and loved the place. It's s big city with gritty areas of course but very interesting loads of history.

ItsRainingPens · 28/09/2022 09:52

This place is getting rave reviews: www.grotte-cosquer.com/en/homepage/

MerryMaidens · 01/10/2022 17:26

I love it- we had a week there last autumn with the kids and there was plenty to do. I love large, grottty, chaotic med cities though. The port and the museum are cool and it's a good city for wandering and eating. You can also do a boat trip to the calanques and Aix is a short hop on the train. Great food.

Radiatorvalves · 03/10/2022 22:09

I think Marseilles is brilliant. I was a student in Aix and always enjoyed visiting a very different and gritty city. Watch Marseilles on Netflix- it’s a great portrayal of the city. Go up Notre Dame de la Garde. Have a boat trip to chateau d’if. Or Cassis. And for day trips Aix and Avignon are in easy reach.

pic taken in April

Anyone been to Marseille?
Original poster
BookwormButNoTime · 04/10/2022 06:46

Thank you all. Sounds good and lots of fab ideas of things to do.

OP posts:
sevenbyseven · 04/10/2022 09:33

Marseille did have a bad reputation but this BBC article suggests that's behind it now and it's had a clean-up: www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220208-marseille-frances-good-natured-city

TheGander · 04/10/2022 10:22

That’s a beautiful oic@Radiatorvalves . Makes me want to head to Marignane right now 🥰

Svalberg · 04/10/2022 12:17

I have never seen as much dog shit in my life as I did in Marseille, about 15 years ago. Have they cleared it up?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page