The tour starts from Vieux Port/Quai du Port in the city of Marseille. On this Hop-On-Hop-Off tour, you have the freedom to plan your own sightseeing itinerary. With 16 stops covering all of Marseille’s main attractions such as Vieux Port, Fort Saint Nicolas, Notre Dame de la Garde and Parc Borely among others, this tour provides the perfect introduction to city.
Your ticket is valid for 24 and 48 hours from when you first board one of the buses. Buses run from 1000h - 1730h (01 Apr - 31 Oct) around every 1 hour and 1000h, 1200h, 1430h & 1615h (01 Nov - 31 Mar) around every 2 hours. Your ticket allows you unlimited use, meaning you can hop-on and hop-off as many times as you like at any of the designated spots! There is multilingual commentary on this tour. The stop points include:
• Vieux Port: The Vieux Port is a jewel at the heart of the city. It is a natural inlet, locally called a calanque, and was built up to become one of the Mediterranean's major ports.
• Metro – Vieux Port
• Fort Saint Nicolas: Fort Saint Jean was founded in the 13th century when Marseille was an independent republic. The fort stands at the entrance of Vieux Port and reminds you of the time gone by. You could explore the castle at leisure and learn about its interesting history.
• Vallon des Auffes: Tucked away along a small inlet on the city’s coast road is the little fishing port, Vallon des Auffes. The place is famous for its seafood restaurants, the most popular of which is Chez Fonfon, where you can try out some succulent seafood delicacies.
• Oriol – Corniche: Here you will come across a small tower (Tour d’Oriol) and a church with a chapel surrounded by greenery. Corniche Kennedy follows the cliffs past the dramatic statues and arch that frames the setting sun. You can visit the Monument aux Morts des Orients. To the south of the monument a flight of steps lead down to an inlet, Anse des Auffes, offering breathtaking views of the sea, cliffs and a beach.
• Notre Dame de la Garde: It is a beautiful Neo-Byzantine church perched on the top of La Garde hill, the highest natural point in Marseille. Local inhabitants commonly refer to it as ‘the good mother’. On the top of the church is a huge statue of the Virgin and Child visible across much of the city. The interior of the church is decorated with inlaid marble, mosaic, murals, paintings, model boats, war medals and even football t-shirts of the local football team.
• Corse – Aurelle
• Les Catalans: It is a picturesque seafront district in Marseille. Stroll around the village, enjoy the views and get a glimpse into the life of a fisherman.
• Fausse Monnaie: Pont de la Fausse Monnaie is located in an urban area in the southern part of Marseille. It is a former fishing port that has been turned into a marina.
• Corniche Talabot
• Parc Borely: It is a beautiful park and can be likened to Paris' Parc de Vincennes and New York's Central Park. It has large expanses of lawn, a range of rental paddle boats and wide walkways, making it ideal for a day out with your family.
• Stade Velodrome: It is a stadium in Marseille and home ground of the top French football club ‘Olympique de Marseille’. It was also the venue of the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
• Prado – Castellane
• Place de la Prefecture: The area has plenty of restaurants and bars.
• Place aux Huiles: It is located near the old port of Marseille. Place aux Huiles is situated on an old canal that allowed access to the galleys arsenals.
• Fort Saint Jean: Located at the southern entrance to Vieux Port, Fort Saint Jean was constructed to protect the old town. Dating back to the 12th century, it was named after the religious order of Saint Jean de Jerusalem. You can take a tour of this edifice and learn in detail about its interesting history.
You may choose to conclude this tour at any of the stops mentioned above as per your convenience.