Hotels near The Vieux-Port

Marseille grew out of this rectangular inlet. Greek sailors from Phocaea landed here around 600 BC and the harbour has been in continuous use ever since, which makes it one of the oldest working ports in Europe. The water now holds several thousand pleasure boats rather than cargo. Two long quays frame it: Quai du Port on the north side, Quai de Rive Neuve on the south, and between them they carry most of the city's cafe traffic.

The fish market runs every morning on the Quai de la Fraternite at the head of the harbour and packs up by about 13:00. Norman Foster's Ombriere pavilion stands beside it, a flat mirrored canopy on eight slim columns that reflects the crowd walking underneath. Ferries to Chateau d'If and Frioul leave from the same quay. A full loop of the port on foot takes roughly 35 minutes.

Pro Tip: The cross-harbour ferry between Place aux Huiles and the Hotel de Ville costs 0.50 EUR and saves a 20-minute walk around the water. It sails roughly every 10 minutes from 07:30 and the crossing takes three.