One of Marseille's popular tourist destinations is a stroll through the Old Port. You can start by visiting the market, where all kinds of seafood are sold: oysters, mussels, crabs and much more. By the way, your purchase will also be cooked here if you wish.
Continue to the forts of St. Nicholas and St. John, and then look into the bay where Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth's favorite pirate, once docked. You can finish this Marseille itinerary in the north of the Old Port with a trip to the Basilica du Nord-Dame de la Garde to the east, a climb up La Canbrière Boulevard or a boat ride.
An interesting walking route around Marseille begins in Avignon — the “residence of the Roman popes.” It was here, fearing political persecution, that Pope Clement V fled in 1309. Since then, seven popes have occupied the holy throne in this city.
You should start your walk from the Papal Palace, then head to the Notre-Dame-des-Doms Cathedral (Avignon Cathedral) and admire the bishop’s chair made of white marble. Rest in the beautiful Rocher des Doms Park and continue along the banks of the Rhône River. Your journey will end at the city’s central square.
Here are two more walking routes around Marseille that will leave unforgettable impressions:
The Fountain of the Four Nations in Cassis — Castrum Fortress — Route des Crêtes (best reached by car, but also possible on foot with stops) — “Crown of Charlemagne” cliff — scenic viewpoints.
A walk through the Palais Longchamp with visits to the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts, the Zoological Garden and the Observatory, as well as viewing the central fountain, the Triumphal Arch, and the colonnades.
