The Château d'If is accessible by shuttle from the Old Port. This prison, made famous thanks to the novel of Monte Cristo, offers a magnificent view of Marseille. The Ile du Frioul is wild, but you will find a small port and a few restaurants there. Stroll along the trails to discover splendid coves!
All the Marseille atmosphere
The Old Port of Marseille
Experience the Marseille atmosphere! At any time of day, the Old Port will charm you! A departure point for the Frioul Islands and the Château d’If, it stretches from the Pharo Palace to the Fort Saint Jean and takes you to the MuCEM. With its wide selection of restaurants and enchanting, authentic scenery, it has it all! Take the time to stroll along the quays, observing the various monuments you come across on your way and on the horizon. Admire the changing colors of the Old Port at dusk. A magical spectacle! The ideal partner for your visit to Marseille, our Hotel Vieux Port Marseille is located in the heart of this historic district.
Wild Marseille The Frioul Islands and the Chateau d’If
Idea for a walk On the Old Port
The Old Port is located at the bottom of the Canebière, it is the oldest port in the city (6th century BC) . It also represents a historical and cultural center. During your journey, you will feel the gentle breeze of the wind and you will see a traditional fish market as well as boats like the famous Ferry Boat. You will have a breathtaking view of Notre-Dame de la Garde. Take the opportunity to take a cruise to admire the Calanques.
Idea for a walk My program in 1 day
Marseille was not built in 1 day, so it is difficult to visit it in less than 24 hours ...
However, here is what I suggest you do first, at a leisurely pace.
Wake up 8 hours after an excellent night at the Hotel Carré Vieux Port ... I get strength at breakfast and I gather my things to be ready at 9 am at the reception. Don't forget the sunscreens and hats.
What to do ... Calanques or If / Frioul? In summer, I will opt for the circuit with 6 creeks and swimming, but if it is a little cool, the 12 creeks circuit also seems very interesting to me. In the event of a moderate mistral, a visit to Chateau d'If and Frioul seems more suitable to me. Total time approximately 3h30.
Back to the Old Port of Marseille, it's time to eat. Cours Estienne d'Orves with the Bistrot de l'Horloge or Vieux Port with the Brasserie de OM or MuCEM with the Halles de la Major.
2pm, we're off again! Visit of the MuCEM esplanade. I don't have enough time to do the exhibition, but the inside walk in the "belly" of MuCEM is to be done! I go up via Fort Saint Jean and take a short photo break to admire the Pharo, the entrance to the Old Port, Notre Dame de la Garde, the Cathedral of the Major ... in short, the souvenir spot not to be missed.
Then, I continue my way returning to the center of the Old Port. I decided to take the little train to visit Notre Dame de la Garde via the Corniche ... Obviously, I could have done it on foot or by bus but I make the most of our beautiful city of Marseille.
After visiting Notre Dame, I go back on foot to discover the small alleys of Marseille and take a little tour of the shops in the city center: rue Saint Féréol, rue Paradis, rue Sainte ... foot.
Finally back to the Carré Vieux Port hotel! A busy day ...
If I still have a little strength left, I'll have a drink at the Bar de la Marine or on the Cours d'Estienne d'Orves. And for the restaurant, I reserve Chez Michel to eat the best bouillabaisse in Marseille! reservation strongly recommended.
Jewel of Marseille Provence 2013 The MuCEM
The MuCEM has many assets: original architecture, a place between land and sea and of course unique exhibitions. Admire the Old Port from a new angle by walking along the J4 esplanade and crossing the footbridge linking the MuCEM to the Fort Saint-Jean. An exceptional view awaits you there! Located on the Old Port, our 3-star hotel in Marseille is 15 minutes away on foot from MuCEM.
Historic heart of Marseille The Panier District
Discover the charm of the Quartier de Panier, located 500m from the hotel. Le Panier will offer you an authentic experience along picturesque streets in the colors of a Mediterranean village. Discover the boutiques, artists or craftsmen, offering products from the city: Marseille soap or the famous shuttles. Don’t forget to visit the Vielle Charité, a key monument of the city.
We love shopping ! The Port Terraces
“Les Terrasses du Port” is a huge shopping center with more than 190 businesses! You will find a wide variety of brands and you can stroll on the huge balcony which runs alongside the building with a magnificent view of the sea and the cruise ships. A catering area and hall are located on the ground floor and top floor.
Our emblem The Velodrome stadium (Orange Velodrome)
Coming to Marseille without making a detour to the stadium is like visiting the Louvre without stopping in front of the Mona Lisa...
In addition, you can visit it. Information available from the Tourist Office located a few meters from our charming hotel in Marseille.
A true haven of peace The Longchamp Palace
The Palais Longchamp is distinguished by its sumptuous architecture, its gardens, fountains and waterfalls. You can visit the Natural History Museum, the Fine Arts, as well as the Observatory. Take a break in Parc Longchamp and, at dusk, stroll through its gardens where the water and light displays will enchant you. Our 3-star hotel in Marseille is a 30-minute walk or 15 minutes by metro.
Unmissable for its size and history The Cathedral of the Major
This cathedral, sober, majestic, intriguing, in a Roman-Byzantine style, will seduce you. His style is totally out of place in this changing environment! Departing from the Hôtel Carré Vieux Port, you can walk along the port quay, arrive at the MuCEM then continue along the quays to discover the Major Cathedral. From the renovated esplanade, you can observe a magnificent panorama of the Marseille harbor.
The closest to your hotel and the Blue Flag beaches Catalans Beach
It is very easy to get there, you have to go along the port to the Pharo and then go back down to the Catalans. Right next door, you will find the Cercle des Nageurs where the greatest Marseille sportsmen train. A professional beach volleyball court is installed there. The beach is supervised. For eating, there is an excellent pizzeria on the beach and you will have a wide choice if you go up a little on the Corniche.
The Blue Flag was created by the French Office of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe in 1985.
The Blue Flag is a reference in the tourism, environment and sustainable development sector. The aim is to promote municipalities and marinas that pursue a sustainable tourism development policy. The Blue Flag gives a positive image to residents and visitors.
Thus everything is ensured to avoid the sometimes harmful impacts of tourist traffic. Waste is recovered thanks to sorting bins and toilets are provided to ensure that the bathing water remains of good quality. The labeled places make a point of protecting the fauna and flora, the aim being also to support awareness in order to develop more respectful behavior towards nature.
In the vicinity of the Hôtel Carré Vieux-Port, several beaches are labeled:
- Corniche beach in Sausset les Pins
- Bestouan beach and Grande Mer beach in Cassis
- Grand Vallat beach, Casino beach, Centrale beach and Renécros beach in Bandol
As for the labeled marinas, we have in the vicinity:
- The CNTL of Marseille
- The Société Nautique de Marseille
- Les Calanques de Port Miou
- The Departmental Port of Cassis
Blue Flag Beach Map
Port Map
or go directly to the website
Nature discovery in Marseille The Calanques
The Old Port is the starting point for visiting the calanques. A calanque is an inland projection of the sea, revealing cliffs and wild vegetation. The water is crystal clear! Diving, climbing, and swimming are permitted. Sormiou, Sugiton, Port-Miou, and many others are accessible by sea and hiking trails. The entire hotel team will guarantee the quality of your calanques expedition!
What is it?
Calanques are large rocky coves made of limestone rocks that form a narrow indentation leading inland. The Massif des Calanques is a protected national park stretching from Marseille to Cassis, covering approximately 20 km. There are 25 calanques in the municipality of Marseille and one in the municipality of Cassis. This unique natural space is a must-see if you want to discover Marseille and its surroundings! The Calanques are a natural treasure trove, rich in flora and fauna. These unique landscapes must be protected to preserve their integrity. This is precisely the goal behind the creation of the Calanques National Park.
New place to live The Joliette Docks
Five words to define this newly opened place: fashion, design, food, leisure and market. This 19th centurybuilding has been completely renovated in recent years with offices on the upper floors and an innovative living space on the ground floor. You will find atypical and designer boutiques as well as restaurants. The village is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. for restaurants.
Idea for a walk Heading towards Fort Saint-Jean
The Fort Saint-Jean is known for its constructions which lasted from the 12th to the 17th century. This building is made up of 3 mounds, including those of Saint-Laurent, the mills as well as the Carmes. During your journey, you can cross a footbridge to visit the museum of European and Mediterranean civilizations and its various exhibitions. This place also houses a walkway decorated with emblematic Mediterranean plantations.