Marseille Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour of Marseille
Description
Discover the highlights of Marseille on this half-day guided tour. Begin with a visit to the Old Port and the historic city center, where Marseille’s rich past meets its vibrant present. Continue to the majestic Palais Longchamp, inaugurated in 1869 to celebrate the arrival of water from the Durance River. Its impressive architecture and lush gardens make it a must-see landmark. Next, ascend to the iconic Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde—affectionately known as La Bonne Mère. Built in 1864 in a striking Roman-Byzantine style, the basilica offers panoramic views over the city and coastline from its hilltop perch. End your tour with a scenic stop overlooking the legendary Château d’If, made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo, before returning to your cruise terminal or accommodation. Important Information: This tour is available for both small and large groups (1 to 40 people).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Notre-Dame de la Garde (literally: Our Lady of the Guard) is a Catholic basilica in Marseille, France, and the city's best-known symbol. The site of a popular Assumption Day pilgrimage, it is the most visited site in Marseille
The Palais Longchamp is a monument in the 4th arrondissement of Marseille, France. It houses the Musée des beaux-arts and Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Marseille. The surrounding Longchamp Park (French: Parc Longchamp) is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.
Monaster from the 5th center
The oldest bakery in Marseille 1781 to Learn about our local speciality Navette Biscuit
Porte d'Aix (also known as the Porte Royale) is a triumphal arch in Marseille, in the south of France, marking the old entry point to the city on the road from Aix-en-Provence.
Free Time ,explore by your own the city center of Marseille
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your tour departs from Association Marseillaise d'Accueil de Marins (AMAM)( Seaman's Club), located in front of the police station outside of the cruise ship pier. The walk to the meeting point takes approximately 5 to 7-minutes, depending on where your ship is docked. Upon disembarking, please follow the green line on the floor leading to the exit. Once outside, continue walking until you see a small gray building on the left. Your local representative, holding a Domitia Tours sign, will be waiting for you there. We kindly ask all guests to arrive at the designated departure location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please note : In case your ship docks at Esplanade J4, we will meet the group directly at the pier — there is no need to take a taxi, bus or a cab. Please note that Domitia Tours will not be responsible for any extra expenses if transportation is arranged independently.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Reviews(376)
My family wasn't part of a cruise ship. So trying to find the meeting spot was a little hairy. However, the guide was patient and waited for us. It was a good typical tour. Air conditioned bus as he narrated facts. We would go to locations and he would let us look on our own. There was an accident on the road that prevented our bus to go to the Cathedral on the top of the hill. However, since we weren't part of the cruises, he offered to take us up in a smaller van. So we got to see the Cathedral on our own at no extra charge, which was awesome. Overall, we all had a great time.
It would have been nice to actually write a review had I gone on an excursion. I made a booking through Viator in May for a shore excursion scheduled for July. I sent a message to Domitia Tours on the 7 July 2026 to confirm all is still on schedule. Received a positive reply from William Joe which reassures me. On the 30th July, the day before the excursion I receive a cancellation message due to an unexpected vehicle issue. Being at sea and due to the late notice, I was not able to book an alternative, hence I was not able to explore the city of Marseilles which was our first port of call. Great start to a vacation, thanks Domitia Tours for the bad experience which not only reflects on you, but on Viator as well. Disappointing!!!
Our tour guide was very attentive and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour. It was a little walk from the cruise ship dock so be ready and leave early.
Tour did not include note dame de la Garre which was supposed to be the highlight of the trip The reason was the tour used a large bus instead of the “small group bus” described in the tour. The guide blamed it on road closure but I heard the driver saying the road is too much for a large bus.
Djilani “Joe” was a great guide. He picked us up and dropped us off right at the ship. He was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. The tour had our family of four and another couple in a nice air conditioned van. We made stops at a number of places. It was extremely hot and not having to walk everywhere was a blessing. We will definitely use Joe and Domitia again if we return.
Not all listed points were visited, Tour guide was unpunctual, could not be reached, and had little knowledge. Would never book with Viator again, complaint was dismissed but the full price was paid.
Could not recommend this tour It was nothing more then a taxi service There was no commentary and limited communication from the driver. Ended up finishing early
Thank you for your feedback. As explained before the tour, our coach experienced an unexpected engine problem on the morning of your excursion. Rather than cancel the tour, we arranged for the group to travel in two vehicles so that everyone could still enjoy their day. Please note that the second driver was not a tour guide. The tour commentary was provided from the lead vehicle through the speaker system during the tour. We are sorry if this did not meet your expectations. We also understand that communication may have been more limited for guests travelling in the second vehicle. Had you let us know during the tour that you were having difficulty hearing the commentary or wanted more information, we would have done our best to address it immediately. We genuinely understand your disappointment and appreciate your feedback, as it helps us improve our service for future guests.
Our guide, “Joe” was extremely friendly and helpful! His knowledge of the area was extensive and complimented the recorded parts of the tour! He definitely let us set our own pace!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with Joe. He is passionate about sharing the history and culture of the region, and we’re glad his live commentary complemented the recorded parts of the tour. It’s also great to know that you appreciated the relaxed pace, as we always want our guests to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Marseille in the future!
The trip on July 13 started 30 minutes late because the tour operator was not having clear inventory of the guests and looking to make sure everyone is onboard. Then he stopped at multiple places to pickup more guests. Finally, the tour was cut short and completely skipped Notre Dame. The driver had to return and cannot complete the itinerary as guaranteed by tour operator. We have to spend money to take taxi on our own and back to cruise port. Please aware. Requesting partial refund from the provider. I don’t know whom to blame here but the our visit was screwed.
We sincerely apologise that the tour did not meet your expectations. The departure was delayed while our team verified the passenger list and ensured that all booked guests were accounted for. In addition, some guests had health and mobility difficulties, and we were obliged to allow them additional time to reach the meeting point and board the vehicle safely. We could not leave them behind without first making every reasonable effort to assist them. Additional meeting-point pickups were part of the day’s operational arrangements, but we fully understand that this affected the time available for the tour. Unfortunately, due to the accumulated delay and the obligation to return cruise passengers to the port before the ship’s departure, the driver was unable to complete the entire planned itinerary, including the visit to Notre-Dame de la Garde. Passenger safety and a timely return to the cruise terminal must always remain our priority. We are sorry that you later had to arrange and pay for a taxi. Please contact the booking platform or send us your booking reference and proof of the additional transport expense so that the circumstances and your request for a partial refund can be reviewed properly. We regret the disruption caused to your visit and appreciate your feedback, which will help us improve our passenger-list management and departure procedures.
This is a fantastic tour of the city. Djilani is a great tour guide giving interesting history of the city throughout the tour. There was lots of time at each stop to get out and explore and take pictures. Overall a superb way to experience Marseille. Highly recommend this tour for any one stopping in Marseille.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Marseille with Djilani. He is passionate about sharing the city’s history, culture, and hidden gems, so it’s rewarding to know his commentary enhanced your experience. We’re also pleased that you appreciated the time at each stop to explore, take photos, and enjoy the atmosphere at a relaxed pace. Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Marseille for another unforgettable tour in the future!
