City Pass Marseille : reviews, rate, duration & activities included

You've always wanted to visit the beautiful phocean city? Here is a presentation of the city pass Marseille, an essential asset for your visit.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille is a city to discover. For a cultural stay, the phocean city is full of monuments filled with history and museums more beautiful than others. And for a more relaxed holiday, beautiful beaches and coves surround the second city of France. Beyond its beaches and its history, Marseille has managed to preserve its traditions with the local products and its gastronomy to be enjoyed. To visit the city in all its aspects and at less cost, the ideal is to opt for the City Pass Marseille.

What is the City Pass Marseille?

The City Pass Marseille is ideal for tourists wishing to discover the phocean city at less cost. This is a tourist pass offering an all inclusive package.

Thanks to the City Pass Marseille, you have many advantages to fully enjoy your stay. First, by buying this pass, you will automatically receive a plan from the city, as well as a free guide. In addition to that, you can freely access the entire RTM transport network , that is, metros, trams and ferry boat. If you want to discover the city by bike, the first hour of each journey is always free . And most importantly, the City Pass Marseille offers a small train ride, a boat ride or a circuit in Colorbüs, a small train ride free access to city museums and 30% discounts for events or tastings.

You will have understood, with the City Pass Marseille, the second city of France will no longer have any secret for you.

Activities included in the City Pass Marseille

A small tourist train tour

With the City Pass Marseille, you are entitled to a small tourist train tour. The pass offers two possible routes.

• The first route is around Notre-Dame de la Garde. This 19th century basilica is the emblem of the phocean city. It is also called the “Good Mother” and is considered by the Marseillais·es as the guardian of the sailors. Located at the top of a hill of 149 meters above sea level, it dominates the city and the Mediterranean sea. The Romano-Byzantine style basilica has two parts: the first is a Romanesque style church directly dug into the rock and the second part is a church full of mosaics. At the top of Notre-Dame de la Garde, a tower stands with a statue of the Virgin and the Golden Copper Child.
• The second route is in the Vieux Marseille and the terraces of the port. Here, the atmosphere of the phocean city is felt at every corner of the street. The Old Port is particularly renowned for its boats, its cries and its original buildings. Along the docks, go to the terrace of a bar or restaurant to enjoy the sun of the noon. In this area you will discover several monuments typical of Marseilles such as the Cathedral of Major.

The boat for the island of If or the islands of Frioul

With the City Pass Marseille, you can explore the island of If or the islands of Frioul. These islands are located in the Calanques National Park and are considered as an area Natura 2000 .

If Island is home to Château d’If which was built in 1516 by King Francis I. In the past, it was a prison that welcomed José Custodio Faria (one of the characters of Alexander Dumas). It was only at the end of the nineteenth century that the prison was abolished and that the castle opened to the public. Today, the island is full of more extraordinary stories than others. You can discover them all thanks to the City Pass Marseille.

Attention, if the winds are too strong, it will only be possible to visit the islands of Friuli. It is an archipelago just across the street from Marseille, comprising four islands: Pomègues, Ratonneau, Tiboulen and If. On this archipelago you can admire a rather rare flora due to the arid climate of the region. Many birds are also present on islands such as leukophy goeland. These islands are a true haven of peace with heavenly beaches and many small coves.

A bus tour

If you do not want to take the boat or the sea is too agitated, the City Pass Marseille offers an alternative: a circuit in Colobüs. This open-air bus takes you to all the unmissable places of the phocean city. You will discover this way Old Port , Notre-Dame de la Grade, the stadium , the Corniche, the Radiant City, the Vallon des Aufres and many other things.

The operation of the Colorbüs is very simple. You stop at one of the places you want to visit. When your visit and finish, you can go back to the bus to discover another must in the city. Thanks to an audio guide in different languages, you will learn more about the history of Marseille and discover many anecdotes about its inhabitants.

Visit of museums

Thanks to the City Pass Marseille, you can freely access the fifteen museums of the phocean city.

• Among the museums to be seen in Marseille, there is the MuCEM (Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée). It is a unique architecture building located just at the entrance to the port. Inside, you will discover the different civilizations that have lived in the Mediterranean since prehistory.
• You can also explore Cantini Museum which offers great modern art exhibitions. Again, the building alone is worth a visit, since this museum takes place in a special hotel dating from the 17th century.
• Other must-see museums in the second city of France; the Mac bringing together many works of contemporary art or the Musée d’histoire de Marseille.

Prices and duration of City Pass Marseille

The City Pass Marseille can be used for a day, two days or three days. Prices vary by duration:

• 24h : 27€ (1€ for children aged 7-15)
• 48h : 37€ (22€ for children aged 7-15)
• 72h : 43€ (26€ for children from 7 to 15 years old)

It is a digital card that activates from the first validation, whether in public transport or in a museum. From the date of purchase, the card is valid for a period of 6 months .

The withdrawal points of the City Pass Marseille

The City Pass Marseille can buy online or at a point of sale. There are many points of sale:

• Office du tourisme et des Congrès de Marseille
• Captain of the Docks Village
• Metro Vieux-Port
• Metro Gare Saint-Charles
• Cruise Port Entrance
• Marseille Provence Airport Information Office

Note that the points of sale do not correspond to the point of withdrawal for the online sale and the vouchers. In reality, it is only possible to withdraw its pass the Office of Tourism and Congress of Marseille . To get your City Pass Marseille, you just need your booking confirmation, as well as your ID. The tourist office is open daily between 9am and 6pm .

Our opinion on the City Pass Marseille

The City Pass Marseille is perfect for all those who want to discover all aspects of the Phocean City. He offers you a complete offer on everything that is to be seen in Marseille, and this at a very affordable price. In addition to discovering the city's must-see sites, the City Pass Marseille makes you enjoy public transport for free throughout its life. This is a non-negligible advantage for your wallet.

Good stay in the phocean city with your City Pass Marseille!