I would actually give Marseilles a 4.5 star if able. This was my second time here and it is so beautiful. The first time I was here was in 2005. So, it has changed a bit. I loved the local people selling their quality goods in tents in 2005. Now there were locals selling fresh fish, which was nice, but not something I was interested in purchasing. We ate mussels, pomme frites and drank champagne. It was a perfect afternoon!!! I was disappointed that it was pretty difficult to find fresh baked bread and pastries in Marseilles. There were a couple "chain" looking places. I had been looking so forward to strolling the streets eating french bread and munching on pastries as I did in 2005. :( It was a bummer. But I was full from my delicious lunch there. We realized there was a whole shopping section we missed. Some fun people from the ship we met and ran into made us aware. Time was limited at this point but we managed to check out their mall. It was tres chic!!! Marseilles is simply beautiful with all their boats and the blue, blue water. read more

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Quality/Quantity - They say you only need 3 days here in Marseille. We did 5 as we are lucky enough to be able to travel slowly and really appreciate the culture. Less stress and pressure as we were able to take our time. So much history here and what a difference between the North and South of Marseille. If you are following, I believe we hit all the highlights; so see all my other reviews and more importantly all my pictures. Some of the main attractions are: Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, Old Port, Palais Longchamp, La Major Cathedral, Vallon des Auffes, and of course shopping. Some attractions that we did not do: Château d'if, Calanques National Park, Radiant City Le Corbusier, and Orange Vélodrome. Population - 1.65m. Area - 241km. Ambiance - See above Main harbor port for France. But now it is also a tourist attraction. Especially with so many cruise ships now stopping here. It is a main cruise port in the Mediterranean. Service - Overall good. Price - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. We experienced fast casual and Michelin Star restaurants, but you know that because you are following. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since forever. read more

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Nice shore excursion. Bus pick up outside cruise terminal at 1:15 pm. Cosmopolitan mix of visitors and locals. Our tour guide was part Algerian very upbeat called our group guys when he talked to us. We didn't get 90 of shopping so just went for a cold treat. read more

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I see that other visitors to Marseille rate it highly, for its architecture and cuisine. Here's the rest of the story: Marseille is a shady, filthy, urine-soaked hellscape, and the offer of crumbling infrastructure and overpriced bouillabaisse isn't the enticement that the Marseillais think it is. read more

One of my favorite towns, in Southern France. It's a huge fisherman's town with plenty to see. There is Fort Saint-Jean, the Museum of European & Mediterranean Civilizations, The Old Port and Marseille Cathedral all within relative proximity for walking. Further uphill is the Notre Dame de la Garde, which has breathtaking views of the entire city and Southern coastline. Definitely a must-see, when you visit! Just outside the city limits are Les Calanques. If you decide to go, be sure to have shoes with a good grip, sunblock and maybe a swimsuit. The easiest and most accessible way to visit them are via one of the local charter boats/ferries, downtown, in the harbor. The other method involves driving in which you'll encounter a very small, narrow and unpaved road. A majority of the road only permits one vehicle to drive at a time and there are portions where it's a steep cliff drop off. If you're an avid fan of perfumes and soaps, this would be the town to pick some up in. Last, but not last, have fun. read more

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Love this relatively undiscovered French Mediterranean City! This is our 9th trip in 6 years. We live in San Francisco & this trip is always worth the travel. Incredible seafood restaurants and great walks in the Vieux Porte area. Harbor is glorious & seafood delivered by the Fishermen & their wives every morning at the head of the Old Port! Beautiful geography of the Calanques as viewed from boats. Lovely museums with the MUCEM floating on the water! My personal favorites are the Musee CANTINI and Musee Provençal. Lively North African food market with fabulous olives, herbs & spices! People are incredibly friendly & appreciative of American business. We've always been lucky enough to get a beautiful view apartment from VRBO or AirBnb on Vieux Porte each visit. Venture out to the South of France & use Marseilles as your gateway city for the South! read more