Marseille Guided Tour for 2.5 Hours with a Bilingual Local Guide
Description
“The best way to know a city is to walk it.” Simone de Beauvoir, the renowned French writer, was right. And it is especially true for Marseille. Marseille is unique, a city with 100 personalities, an oxymoron where calm and noise live together in 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, and learn about Marseille's rich history one monument after the other. Our tour will mainly center around the port, from one shore to another, as it is the very center, the very soul of the city. We will make our way to the magnificent Palais du Pharo, marveling at the panoramic view we can see from there. And so, so much more. Join us in exploring this southern treasure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The start 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.
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. Discover the history of the magnificent "Vieille Charité" hospital as well as the tragic story the oldest district of Marseille had to endure during multiple moments in its life. We will also learn about Marseille's Greek and Roman heritage, witnessing landmarks dating back to the fifth century B.C.
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 magnificent Chamber of Commerce, the Opera House and the many centuries old former shipyard.
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. We'll uncover tales of Marseille's past and marvel at the timeless beauty of this sacred site. We will also learn about the oldest bakkery in Marseille that makes one the most well knows treats of Marseille, la Navette. What is the inspiration of "La Navette" and the tradition on which La Navette is based upon.
Next, we'll venture to the Palais du Pharo, an elegant historic palace perched on a promontory overlooking the Old Port. Thanks to the staggering panoramic view, we will learn a lot about 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.
Finally, we will make our way back to the port, walking along the south dock known as "Quai de Rive Neuve". We will learn more about the history of the port in the XXth century, casually walking, passing by the hundreds of boats calmy docked in the port. We will talk about where you should eat and what you should do after our tour. I will also send you all the necessary recommendations in an email to wrap things up!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(39)
Super interesting, very educational; we come away feeling like we know a lot about Marseille, and the images our guide showed us will help fix these historical or anecdotal facts in our memory. Very friendly contact; the 2.5 hours and the kilometers traveled went by almost too quickly!
Great city tour, Beautiful discovery
It was an exceptional visit that Charles made this afternoon! A love of the city that knows perfectly how to transmit, a knowledge of history that he shares with passion!! Thank you very much for this moment we were very happy to make this visit of Marseille with this exceptional guide. I recommend 100%!!!
Charles showed me around town like a friend. We were able to cover many sightseeing spots in 2.5 hrs. The tour was well planned and executed. I highly recommend it if you are visiting Marseille for the first time. This is all you need.
Charles is captivating! He's a really natural story teller, and his passion is super contagious! We took 3 tours of various cities in France and both agreed this was our favorite tour! There were no dull moments. Would highly recommend!
The enthusiasm, erudition and fervour of Charles around the city of Marseille allowed us to spend a very beautiful afternoon , If you are visiting Marseille, you should visit with Charles!
We had a fabulous Marseille tour with Charles! He shared so much information in a light & humorous way. There was never a dull moment as we walked through the narrow streets around the old port and to several elevated spots that offered great panoramic views. Charles also provided us with excellent restaurant recommendations and suggestions for places to visit during our 2-day visit. We visited several, and all were outstanding! The rest we must save until our next visit. :) We highly recommend taking a Marseille walking tour with Charles!
This tour was awesome! Reading the other reviews about how good Charles was did not come close to reality- he was so much better. Very informative, really knowledgeable about Marseille, and the tour was a great intro to Marseille.
Charles offers by far one of the best tours we’ve been on. Extremely knowledgeable of the area and provides a lot of insight into area. Was a wonderful way to learn about Marseille.
Charles is a wonderful and accommodating guide! My husband and I were on our honeymoon and scheduled a 2.5 hour walking tour. However, we missed our train into marseille and almost missed our tour with Charles except he offered us a spot the following day for a 4 hour tour and didn’t charge us the difference (a very kind wedding gift!!) we learned about Marseille’s rich history and explored areas that we never would’ve ventured out on our own unless with a knowledgeable guide like Charles. He also was very generous with his time outside the tour and offered recommendations for us to eat and drink around the city. I highly recommend Charles as a tour guide, you won’t be disappointed!
