Yachts in the Old Port of Marseille, the dome of La Major cathedral beyond
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Luxury in France

Marseille

France’s oldest city: the Old Port and Notre-Dame de la Garde, Le Petit Nice on the rocks, and the white cliffs and turquoise coves of the Calanques by boat.

The Old Port, MarseillePhotograph: rogerg34

Bienvenue

The oldest city in France

Marseille was founded by Greek sailors from Phocaea around 600 BC, which makes it the oldest city in France. For two and a half thousand years it has been the great port of the Mediterranean, open to every shore of the sea.

The Old Port is still its heart, watched over from the hill by the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde. Beside the harbour entrance, the MuCEM, the museum of Mediterranean civilisations, opened in 2013 when the city was European Capital of Culture.

East of the city, the Calanques, white limestone cliffs with turquoise inlets, form a national park best seen by boat, as far as the fishing port of Cassis. Marseille’s own dish is bouillabaisse, and its finest table, Le Petit Nice, has held three MICHELIN stars for years in its villa on the rocks.

A few words of French
EnglishFrenchSay it
HelloBonjourbohn-ZHOOR
PleaseS'il vous plaîtseel voo PLAY
Thank youMercimair-SEE
Good eveningBonsoirbohn-SWAHR
The bill, pleaseL'addition, s'il vous plaîtlah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLAY

Stay

Luxury hotels in Marseille

The finest hotels in and around Marseille: each rated Forbes Five-Star, holding two or three MICHELIN Keys, or among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean.

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

Dine

The best restaurants in Marseille

The finest tables of Marseille and around.

Three MICHELIN stars

Sail

Yachting in Marseille

Yachting at our standard in and around Marseille.

Refit and maintenance

  • Monaco MarineFrench Riviera and Provence

    A network of nine yards from Marseille and La Ciotat to Antibes, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Monaco, servicing superyachts up to about 160 metres and 6,000 tonnes, with 30 years in refit and maintenance. Visit website ↗

Cruises

Marseille by sea

How the ships arrive in Marseille, and the luxury lines that call.

Ships berth at the cruise terminals north of the Vieux-Port, and a few small ships moor nearer the centre.

MSC's Yacht Club and Costa sail from Marseille, one of the Mediterranean's busiest cruise ports. Of the luxury lines, Orient Express and Aman at Sea begin and end voyages here.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Travel

First-class travel in Marseille

First-class rail at our standard.

First-class rail

The top class on the scheduled high-speed trains, from city to city.

  • SNCF TGV INOUI, Optimum (Paris to Marseille and Nice)

    The top class on France's own high-speed trains to the Riviera, in first class with a quieter area and fully flexible tickets. Visit website ↗

Experience

Events and things to do in Marseille

The finest things to do in and around Marseille.

The great museums

  • MucemMarseille

    The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, opened in 2013 at the entrance to the old port and linked by a high footbridge to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean. Visit website ↗

Live

Luxury real estate in Marseille

A home in Marseille: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

All the leading agencies in France ›

Looking for a home in Marseille? Write to travel@TheMediterranean.com and we will introduce you, in confidence, to the right agency.

Private banks and advisers

  • Rothschild & Co Wealth ManagementMonaco, France, Italy and Spain

    The family-controlled group's wealth management arm has Mediterranean offices in Monaco, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Milan and Madrid, the last opened in 2021. Visit website ↗

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Marseille and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

Plan your journey to Marseille

Where is Marseille?

On the Mediterranean coast of Provence in south-eastern France. Marseille Provence airport takes private jets and is about 30 minutes from the city; Paris is about three hours by TGV.

What is Marseille famous for?

Its Old Port and Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Calanques national park, bouillabaisse, the MuCEM, Le Petit Nice, and its history as the oldest city in France.

Which are the best restaurants in Marseille?

The three three-MICHELIN-star tables on our list for Marseille: Le Petit Nice; AM par Alexandre Mazzia; La Villa Madie (Cassis).

Do you tip in Marseille?

Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so a tip is a gesture: about 5% (€1 per €20), and 5–10% for exceptional service at high-end restaurants. Round up taxis. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a concierge who goes out of their way.

What should you wear in Marseille?

Dress respectfully in churches. On the Riviera, several towns, including Nice, Cannes, Menton, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël, ban swimwear and bare chests in town, with fines. On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart, polished dress for fine dining.

Beyond Marseille

More in France

Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cap Ferrat and Corsica, and the Mediterranean beyond.

FranceLuxury French Riviera Holidays & HotelsExplore FranceThe MediterraneanTwenty-two countries and Gibraltar, first class onlyExplore the MediterraneanPlan your journeyFrom your home to Marseille, with the costsOpen the trip planner

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Marseille

How France does things.

Language
French. English is widely spoken in luxury hotels and leading restaurants on the Riviera and in Paris.
Greetings
A handshake on first meeting. Among friends, la bise (cheek kisses); the number varies by region, two being most common. Always say bonjour (or bonsoir in the evening) on entering a shop or speaking to staff; use monsieur / madame.
Dress
Dress respectfully in churches. On the Riviera, several towns, including Nice, Cannes, Menton, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël, ban swimwear and bare chests in town, with fines. On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart, polished dress for fine dining.
Dining
Lunch typically 12–2 pm; dinner from about 7.30–8 pm. Book ahead at good restaurants. The bill comes when you ask.
Tipping
Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so a tip is a gesture: about 5% (€1 per €20), and 5–10% for exceptional service at high-end restaurants. Round up taxis. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a concierge who goes out of their way.
Good to know
Many shops close on Sundays, and in smaller towns for a long lunch. Restaurants often stop serving lunch around 2 pm.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.