The Old Port of Marseille: what to see, where to eat, how to get there

The Old Port of Marseille (the Vieux-Port) is the pleasure-boat harbour in the middle of the city, where Greek sailors founded Marseille more than 2,600 years ago. From L’Estaque you reach it by car or public transport, and in spring by shuttle boat. Here is what to see, where to eat and how to get there.

At a glance: the Old Port from the villa

What to see at the Old Port

The mirrored canopy and the quays

The quay was redesigned in 2013, when Marseille was European Capital of Culture, and it became mainly pedestrian. The Ombrière du Vieux Port is a mirrored canopy created by the British architect Norman Foster. It gives the Quai de la Fraternité its identity.

The fish market on the Quai des Belges

Every day from 7:30am to 12:30pm, small-scale fishermen sell their catch on the Quai des Belges, right next to the Vieux-Port metro entrance. The fish is sold by auction, called out by the fisherman’s family. The market depends on the sea: after a stormy night the boats stay in and the stalls stay empty. Our advice: arrive before 9am, says a food blog, for the widest choice.

Crossing the harbour on the Ferry Boat

The Ferry Boat, described by the tourist office, links the Quai du Port, by the town hall, to the Quai de Rive-Neuve, opposite the Place aux Huiles, over 283 metres. The crossing takes between 3 and 4 minutes and costs €0.50, free for RTM subscribers and CityPass holders. The line has run since 1880. A boat leaves every 10 minutes, from 7:30am to 8:30pm every day except on 1 May, weather permitting.

The forts and the Mucem

Since the 17th century, two forts have guarded the harbour mouth: Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean. A transporter bridge, a kind of aerial ferry, was inaugurated in 1905 between the two forts. The Mucem, the museum of the cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean, has one of its sites in Fort Saint-Jean. One ticket covers all the exhibitions, and the outdoor areas are free to enter. From Wednesday 28 October 2026, the headline exhibition is called Manger les images (Eating images).

Frioul and the Château d’If

Boats to the Frioul islands and the Château d’If, the island fortress of The Count of Monte Cristo, leave the Old Port every day of the year. The current timetable runs from 17 October to 31 December 2026. Allow 25 minutes to reach the archipelago. The landing stage is served by metro line M1 (Vieux-Port stop) and by tram T2 or T3. Tickets and times are on the boat’s website.

Where to eat and drink at the Old Port

For a drink or a meal with a direct view of the harbour, La Samaritaine, at 2 Quai du Port, is a brasserie that opened in 1910. A little further along, La Caravelle, at 34 Quai du Port, has a narrow balcony: a food blog recommends it just before sunset, with a view of Notre-Dame de la Garde.

For bouillabaisse (the Marseille fish stew), be wary of cut-price menus on an A-frame board: one food blog calls them tourist traps. A real bouillabaisse is ordered in advance. The addresses that follow the bouillabaisse charter are in our guide to where to eat in L’Estaque and around.

When the weather turns: museums near the harbour

The Musée d’Histoire de Marseille, at 2 Rue Henri Barbusse, opens Tuesday to Sunday. It shows the exhibition “Marseille vue par les Detaille - 164 years of photos” until 20 June 2027. On Sunday 1 November, every municipal museum is closed for the public holiday, and for once there is no free first Sunday of the month. Check opening times before you set off.

How to get to the Old Port from L’Estaque

By car

Allow 16 minutes by car, going by the OpenStreetMap calculation without traffic, from the villa to the canopy. Nadim’s recommendation: the ideal option is to take the shuttle boat in summer to arrive directly at the Old Port by sea. Out of season, driving lets you reach the harbour and leave your car in a car park. The quay is pedestrian: finish on foot. To get back in the evening, check the time of the last departure or plan on a taxi.

By public transport

Bus 35 towards Joliette leaves from the Estaque Village stop. The Old Port is served by metro line M1. Plan the whole journey on the RTM website before you go. Our guide to getting to Villa Byblos also covers the train to L’Estaque station.

By shuttle boat, in spring

For the 2026 season, RTM has posted “end of service”: the L’Estaque to Vieux-Port shuttle starts again in spring 2027. The crossing takes 35 minutes by shuttle boat. It costs €5, paid on board, and children under 6 travel free. Departures depend on the weather.

To stay in L’Estaque, with the harbour 16 minutes away by car, see the villa.

FAQ

How long does it take to get from L’Estaque to the Old Port? About 16 minutes by car from the villa, without traffic. The shuttle boat is slower (35 minutes by shuttle boat) and does not run in winter: it starts again in spring 2027.

When is the Old Port fish market? Every day from 7:30am to 12:30pm, on the Quai des Belges. It depends on the sea: in rough weather the boats do not go out.

How much is the Ferry Boat? €0.50 a crossing, which takes between 3 and 4 minutes (tourist office). It is free for RTM subscribers and CityPass holders.

Do boats to the Château d’If run in winter? Yes, all year. The timetable for 17 October to 31 December 2026 is on the boat’s website.

Can you visit the Mucem for free? The outdoor areas of Fort Saint-Jean are free to enter. You need a ticket for the exhibitions.

Stay at Villa Byblos

Villa Byblos is high on the hills of L’Estaque, facing the bay and the harbour. The sea view runs 180°, from Notre-Dame de la Garde to the edge of the Côte Bleue. Four bedrooms, room for up to 8 people, and the Old Port 16 minutes away by car.

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