Marseille in 3 days: day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 5 of 6 free; paid: Château d'If
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:10 each day
- Start and finish
- Château d'If → Aix-en-Provence
- On foot
- ≈ 13 min in total
- Transport
- 2 rides, ≈ 47 min
- Lunch
- around 12:00
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- May–June and September–October.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Marseille09:30–17:10 · 4 places · 7 h 40 min
Château d'If
· 2 h 30 min · Castle ticket + boat
- Lunch · 1 h
- 26 min · transport or taxi
Notre-Dame de la Garde
· 1 h · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Marseille Cathedral
· 40 min · Free
- 13 min on foot
Old Port
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Marseille09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Cassis
· 4 h · Free
Day 3 · Marseille09:30–14:30 · 1 place · 5 h
Aix-en-Provence
· 5 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
5 of 6 are free; 1 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Château d'If | 48 | 2 h 30 min | Castle ticket + boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Notre-Dame de la Garde | 50 | 1 h | Free |
| 3 | Marseille Cathedral | 44 | 40 min | Free |
| 4 | Old Port | 42 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 5 | Cassis | 26 | 4 h | Free |
| 6 | Aix-en-Provence | 39 | 5 h | Free |
| Total | 14 h 40 min | 5 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Château d'If. Francis I's island fortress, setting of The Count of Monte Cristo. Boat ≈ 20 minutes; castle and boat ticketed.
- 2
Notre-Dame de la Garde. The 'Good Mother' basilica on the city's highest point: a golden Madonna, mosaics, model ships and the best view. Free.
- 3
Marseille Cathedral. La Major, the striped Neo-Byzantine cathedral by the sea, with the Romanesque Vieille Major and MuCEM beside it. Free.
- 4
Old Port. The harbour where Greeks landed 2,600 years ago: a morning fish market, a ferry across and the boat quay. Free.
Day 2
- 5
Cassis. A fishing port of pastel houses, boats to the coves, beaches and white wine below Cap Canaille. 20 minutes by train.
Day 3
- 6
Aix-en-Provence. Provence's old capital: the Cours Mirabeau, fountains, the cathedral and Cézanne's studio. 30–40 minutes by bus.
Who this route is for
- A long Provence weekend
- Art and nature lovers
- Wanting both city and sea
- Martigues and Aubagne are separate trips
- Lavender is inland, in July
May–June and September–October.
Marseille itinerary for 3 days
The first two days follow the 2-day itinerary: the city, then Cassis and the Calanques. On day three, take the bus from Saint-Charles to Aix, about 30–40 minutes, with departures every 10–15 minutes.
In Aix everything is close and walkable: start at the morning market, stroll the Cours Mirabeau and the old town, and after lunch head up to Cézanne's studio, best booked in advance.
Remove any stop with ✕ or reorder it with ≡, and add another nearby: the timings update.
Day three: Aix-en-Provence
In the morning, the market in the centre (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), Saint-Sauveur Cathedral and the lanes of the old town. Try calissons, Aix's signature sweet.
At midday, the Cours Mirabeau with its warm Roman fountain and Les Deux Garçons café, then Cézanne's studio or the Musée Granet in the afternoon. In the evening, the bus back to Marseille.
If you have more time
For a fourth day, try La Ciotat and its sandy beach, Marcel Pagnol's Aubagne or the canals of Martigues.
How to do it right
- Take the bus to Aix.
- Book Cézanne's studio ahead.
- Take calissons home.
- France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Buy boat tickets at the Old Port kiosks or online, and metro and tram tickets from machines or the app.
Questions
What should I see in Marseille in 3 days?
The city and the Château d'If, Cassis and the Calanques, then Aix-en-Provence.
How do I get to Aix from Marseille?
By bus from Saint-Charles in 30–40 minutes.
Do I need a car?
No: Cassis, Aix and La Ciotat are all reachable by train and bus.
Where should I go on day four?
La Ciotat, Aubagne or Martigues.
How do I pay in Marseille?
France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Buy boat tickets at the Old Port kiosks or online, and metro and tram tickets from machines or the app.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Marseille tourist office, marseille-tourisme.com
