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Marseille Classics: free self-guided audio tour of Marseille
Marseille Classics is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Marseille, France: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 7.7 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Old Port |
| Finish | Corniche Kennedy |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
MuCEM, Longchamp and Corniche
The stops, in order
- Old PortWelcome to the Old Port, the true lung and historical heart of Marseille since its foundation by the Greeks 2,600 years ago. As you walk along these quays, you are following in the footsteps of the Phocaeans who landed here in 600 BC. Every morning, the traditional fish market comes alive, offering a spectacle rich in colors and local accents.
- MuCEMThe MuCEM, or Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, has become, in just a few years, the architectural emblem of contemporary Marseille. Designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, this concrete cube surrounded by a black lace-like mesh seems to float above the water. The building is a technical feat that filters light and wind, creating magnificent shadow plays on the gangways.
- Fort Saint-JeanFort Saint-Jean is a historical sentinel that has guarded the entrance to the Old Port since the 12th century. A former commandery of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, it was fortified by Louis XIV, who wished to monitor both the sea and Marseille's impetuous inhabitants. Today restored and integrated into MuCEM, it offers a labyrinthine path through its ramparts, Mediterranean gardens, and vaulted rooms.
- Palais LongchampThe Palais Longchamp is an architectural marvel built in 1869 to celebrate a vital event for Marseille: the arrival of water from the Durance river. This monumental water tower, adorned with a spectacular fountain and waterfalls, is a hymn to abundance and life. It also houses the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum in its two majestic wings linked by a semi-circular colonnade.
- Corniche KennedyThe Corniche Kennedy is one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in the Mediterranean, winding for five kilometers above the sea. Named in tribute to the American President in 1963, it offers stunning viewpoints of the Frioul islands and the famous Château d'If. Its white balustrade, reputed to be the longest bench in the world, invites you to take a break and admire the blue or watch daring divers jump from the rocks of Anse de la Fausse Monnaie.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Marseille, then Marseille Classics.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Old Port and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Marseille
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Marseille Classics tour in Marseille free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Marseille in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Marseille Classics tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Marseille Classics tour start and finish?
- It starts at Old Port and finishes at Corniche Kennedy.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.