Marseille, France | A Day of Freedom in the "Mediterranean Capital"

🇫🇷 Marseille, France’s second-largest and oldest city, boasts over 2,500 years of history. It’s the country’s largest port and the birthplace of La Marseillaise, France’s national anthem.💕 A few years ago, when I visited southern France for Avignon’s theater festival and lavender fields, I hesitated to add Marseille to my itinerary. I’d heard stories of poor safety, but my curiosity to see this Mediterranean gem won out. I scheduled just one day—and it blew me away! 🚄 Getting there is easy: Trains or buses between Avignon and Marseille take around 1 hour each way. Near Marseille’s train station, the Old Port has hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses. I hopped on immediately, ready to explore. 🚌 The buses come with maps and multilingual commentary, stopping at over 10 spots. You can hop off at highlights, explore, then catch the next bus—flexible, comfortable, and relatively safe. Here are the must-sees ✅ Notre-Dame de la Garde Marseille’s iconic landmark, perched on a hilltop. As the city’s highest point, it offers sweeping views of Marseille, with the Mediterranean stretching to the horizon. You can even spot Château d’If, made famous by Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, in the distance. ✅ Vieux-Port (Old Port) The heart of Marseille. This U-shaped harbor is packed with yachts, their masts creating a striking skyline. Nearby, you’ll find historic castles, lively food districts, and, of course, the chance to try the legendary bouillabaisse. It’s where Marseille’s soul truly shines. ✅ Le Panier (Old Town) & Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure Marseille’s oldest neighborhood, right by the Old Port, is steeped in history and local life—perfect for wandering. A few hundred meters away stands the imposing Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure, another of the city’s architectural icons. 👣 A single day is enough to fall for Marseille’s sunshine, energy, and Mediterranean blue. But this is a city of layers, rich in history and natural beauty. If you can, stay longer—slow down, and let its diverse charm wrap around you. #BeautyOnTheRoad #EuropeanTravel #FranceTravel #Marseille #MarseilleGuide #DayTripToMarseille #Provence #SouthernFranceGetaway