Marseille is the cultural heart and soul of France, even in the wintertime. Here you can find great dining, elegant art museums and exciting sporting events. You can visit historic fortresses connected to local history museums. You can relax in an elegant jazz bar with a craft cocktail. You can even see vast art museums with unparalleled collections. Stroll down a bohemian street decorated with gorgeous street art and hear live music or shop in trendy boutiques. Catch a football match to root for the local team. Check out the place where Marseille was born. Here are the best things to do in Marseille in winter to take your travels to the next level.

  • 1

    The Vieux Port

    See the spot where Marseille was born

    The Vieux Port
    • Families
    • Photo

    The Vieux Port, or Old Port, is the spot where Greek settlers arrived in 600 BCE and established a shipping port that is rich with history and culture. The port is located near the Canebière boulevard on the west side of the city. Here you can find the best in authentic local seafood cuisine and bouillabaisse or visit a fish market for fresh fish right off the boat. Many come here just to sit and watch the ships come in and go out. From here you can also catch a ferry to other nearby points of interest. If getting out on the Mediterranean is of interest to you, this is where it all begins.

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  • 2

    Fort Saint-Jean

    Walk the ramparts of a medieval military fortress

    Fort Saint-Jean
    • Families
    • History

    Fort Saint-Jean is a historic fortification that dates to 1660 and connects to a historical district and the first French national museum outside of Paris. Here you can walk the parapets that overlook the city and ocean and explore the structure that protected the city from invasion during the Middle Ages. It served as a military outpost and barracks up through the 20th century and played a critical role in World War II. With easy access to the neighbouring Le Panier historic district and the old harbour, it's an enchanting place to walk in the footsteps of history.

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  • 3

    Centre Commercial Centre Bourse

    Browse over 70 retail stores at this shopping centre

    Centre Commercial Centre Bourse
    • Shoppers

    The Centre Commercial Centre Bourse is a contemporary indoor shopping centre featuring dozens of stores, restaurants, services and entertainment for the whole family in the city centre. The mall fields 73 retail stores and covers 39,300 square metres. It's a site of archaeological importance, with the remains of the original port of Marseille being found during excavations. Inside you'll find a wide variety of shopping experiences from clothing to kitsch, toys, tech, electronics and others. You can visit a gym to stay fit. You can head for the food court and grab a coffee or a fast takeaway bite to eat. It's a great place to go to escape the cold and spend a day shopping old-school style.

    Location: 17 Cours Belsunce, 13001 Marseille, France

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 7.30 pm (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +33 (0)4 91 14 00 50

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  • 4

    Les Docks

    Enjoy shopping and dining in an airy and historic atrium

    Les Docks
    • Families
    • Food
    • History
    • Shoppers

    Les Docks is a historic building in the heart of the Marseille business district that offers hundreds of services and restaurants as well as a look at France's Victorian period. Les Docks is mostly an office building that houses over 220 companies, including regional branches and corporate headquarters. Still, visitors can find outstanding dining and retail options for boutique shopping among the 4 interconnected warehouse structures with an airy, open atrium. The building was erected in the mid-1800s and has undergone a massive rehabilitation project to restore it to its former glory.

    Location: 10 Place de la Joliette, 13002 Marseille, France

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm

    Phone: +33 (0)4 91 44 25 28

    Map

    photo by Patrick Nouhailler (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 5

    MUCEM

    Learn about the history of the Mediterranean

    MUCEM
    • Families
    • History

    MUCEM, or the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean, is a museum that opened in 2013 and focuses on the history of the region from prehistoric to modern. The approach it takes is interdisciplinary, focusing on sociology and anthropology as much as archaeology. It's built adjacent to the historic harbour and connects to a 17th-century fortress that you can tour as part of the experience. Inside, it houses 2 levels of exhibits and offers a 400-seat underground auditorium. You can visit an on-site restaurant at the top of the building for eats with panoramic views or the museum gift shop for a perfect souvenir.

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    Location: 1 Espl. J4, 13002 Marseille, France

    Phone: +33 (0)4 84 35 13 13

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  • 6

    Le Pelle Mêle

    Take in some modern jazz and blues while sipping a craft cocktail

    Le Pelle Mêle
    • Nightlife

    Le Pelle Mêle is a bar and jazz club that features live music almost every night as well as craft cocktails, tapas, charcuterie boards and a wonderful selection of wine. The venue also boasts an outdoor terrace, though in the winter it can get a bit chilly. The bar is dimly lit and decorated in earth tones for understated elegance. The ambience and atmosphere here are refined and elegant. The food and beverages are high quality, and its city centre location makes it a good place to come to get out of the cold, enjoy some live jazz and blues and spend an evening in conversation with good friends and good cocktails.

    Location: 8 Place aux Huiles, 13001 Marseille, France

    Open: Monday–Friday from 5.30 pm to 2 am, Saturday from 5.30 pm to midnight (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +33 (0)4 91 54 85 26

    Map
  • 7

    Le Centre de la Vieille Charité

    Explore a group of multicultural museums

    Le Centre de la Vieille Charité
    • Families
    • History

    Le Centre de la Vieille Charité is a group of multicultural museums and associations that offers temporary rotating historical exhibits and social activities throughout the year. The centre is more than just a museum; it also functions as a cultural centre situated in the heart of Marseille's Panier quarter just minutes from the city centre. The building itself is historic, having served as an almshouse and chapel in the 1600s. Today it houses the Mediterranean Archeology Museum, the Museum of African, Oceanic and Native American Arts, the Norbert Elias Center and several other innovative cultural, social and research institutes. It also features a cafe and research library.

    Location: 2 Rue de la Charité, 13002 Marseille, France

    Phone: +33 (0)4 91 14 58 80

    Map
  • 8

    Musée Cantini

    See an unmatched collection of modern art from the early 1900s

    Musée Cantini
    • Families
    • History

    The Musée Cantini is a museum specialising in modern art and paintings from the first half of the 20th century and is a historic institution that has existed since 1936. It features one of the largest public art collections in France covering the early 20th century and includes such famed artists as Henri Laurens, Alberto Magnelli, Max Ernst, Simon Simon-Auguste, Jean Arp and others. The building was constructed in 1694 as a company headquarters and was used by various private enterprises through the early 20th century. It was then bequeathed to the city on the condition that it be used as a museum. The exhibits are spread among 4 galleries tracing specific eras.

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    Location: 19 Rue Grignan, 13006 Marseille, France

    Phone: +33 (0)4 91 55 11 11

    Map
  • 9

    Cours Julien

    Walk a lively bohemian neighbourhood

    Cours Julien
    • Food
    • Nightlife
    • Shoppers

    Cours Julien is a lively bohemian street that's among the most trendy neighbourhoods in Marseille and offers street art, a wide range of eateries, bars and shops. You can see both authorized murals and graffiti from some of the top up-and-coming street artists. You can enjoy everything from tapas to burgers at sidewalk cafes here, and you can explore trendy boutique shops. If you're looking for live music, this is also the place to be, offering some of the city's trendiest clubs and performance venues. As you walk this street just a 12-minute drive away from the city centre on a cold winter's day, almost any doorway you duck into will offer an exciting escape from the cold.

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    photo by Jeanne Menjoulet (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 10

    Olympique de Marseille game

    Catch an iconic annual football rivalry in action

    Olympique de Marseille game
    • Adventure

    Olympique de Marseille is the city's football club, and they play right through the winter so you can have an exciting time rooting for the home team. Olympique de Marseille is more than just a football team; it's also a historic institution founded back in 1899. Their game against Paris Saint-Germain every year is a legendary rivalry and an event called Le Classique. It usually takes place in winter, and if you're a fan of the sport it is not to be missed. If you're looking for a thrilling winter experience, head for the Stade Vélodrome and catch a match.

    Location: 57a Rue Aviateur le Brix, 13009 Marseille, France

    Open: (hours vary based on scheduled games)

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