Marseille: Walking tour with local guide + Old Port

Summary

Explore Marseille’s oldest streets & stories with a local

You’ll walk ancient streets with a local guide, visit Marseille Cathedral’s cool interior, sample treats at the Old Port market, and hear stories that bring each neighborhood alive. Whether you choose two hours or more, you’ll feel Marseille’s history under your feet — and probably find yourself thinking back to small moments long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I almost bailed when I saw the size of the cathedral — it’s huge, and I’d skipped breakfast. But our guide, Lucie, just grinned and handed me a tiny piece of navette (that orange blossom cookie locals love). Somehow that little taste made me feel like I could handle anything, even all those stone steps echoing under my sneakers. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of wax and old wood — not what I expected from the outside at all.

We wandered through Marseille’s oldest neighborhood after that. Lucie pointed out faded Greek letters carved into a wall — apparently this part’s been lived in since 600 BC, which is wild to think about. There was a guy selling olives in the alley who waved at us; Lucie chatted with him in rapid French and then switched back to English for me, still laughing about something he’d said (I caught maybe two words). The streets here are narrow and kind of twisty, and you can hear seagulls over the rooftops if you pause for a second.

The Old Port was louder than I expected — fishmongers shouting, scooters weaving between people, that salty smell everywhere. We tried some tapenade at the market (salty but good), and Lucie told us how her grandmother used to come here every Saturday morning. If you take the longer option on this Marseille walking tour, you get to see Longchamp Palace too — we did three hours so just peeked from afar. Honestly though, by then my feet were tired but my brain was buzzing from all the stories.

I didn’t make it up to Notre-Dame de la Garde this time (next trip), but seeing Marseille through someone who actually lives here changed how I felt about the city. It’s messier and warmer than I thought — in a good way. Sometimes I still remember that first bite of navette when I think about Marseille.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marseille Highlights Walking Tour

• Visit Marseille Cathedral
• Explore oldest neighborhood
• Visit Old Port market
• Visit Longchamp Palace
• Visit Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
• Explore picturesque neighborhood

Top questions

How long does the private walking tour in Marseille last?

You can choose between 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 hour options for your private walking tour.

What attractions are included in the longer tour options?

The 4-hour option adds Longchamp Palace; 6-hour includes Notre-Dame de la Garde; 8-hour adds Malmousque.

Is pickup included for this Marseille walking tour?

No hotel pickup is included; tours start in central Marseille locations accessible by public transport.

Are tramway tickets provided during the tour?

Yes, tramway tickets are included as part of your day.

Is this tour suitable for families with children or strollers?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Can service animals join the walking tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this private walking tour in Marseille.

What’s included

Your day includes an official local guide who adapts the itinerary to your interests and pace, plus tramway tickets so you can move easily between sights like the cathedral and Old Port without worrying about logistics.