Marseille, the second-biggest city in France, has the biggest port in the country. Its long history as a port city has shaped Marseille over time, making it a cosmopolitan place with many different ethnicities and transforming it into bustling, vibrant artistic and cultural center. Although it’s just down the Mediterranean coast from the idyllic French Riviera, Marseille’s port gives the city a grittier, less tourist-centric feel—making it worthwhile stop for those looking to get a feel for French city life outside of Paris.

Resources for Marseille Provence Airport

  • Uber Airport Page: Uber’s dedicated webpage for the Marseille Provence airport has everything you need to know about catching your uberX into town. Check the Uber site for fare estimates to points in and around Marseille, as well. 
  • Terminals: There are two terminals at MRS. Terminal 1, known as MP1, has three halls; domestic and international flights depart from MP1. Terminal 2—MP2—is largely dedicated to low-cost carriers. 
  • Flight Info: Confirm flight arrival or departure times at the airport’s website. 
  • Security: The airport recommends passengers arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to a domestic flight and two hours or so before an international one. MRS can handle passengers who have signed up for PARAFE, a fast-tracking border-control service available to some Europeans. You can also purchase fast-track security clearance on a one-time basis or as a subscription. 
  • Lounges: Get to the airport too early or have a long layover? There are two lounges at MRS, both of which are accessible via Priority Pass. Non-members can access the lounges by paying at the door. Marseille-Provence has free high-speed wireless in all of its halls. 
  • Uber at MRS: uberX is currently the sole Uber option available at the Marseille Provence airport. Request your ride after clearing customs and collecting your bags, then consult the Uber app to know where to go to meet your driver.

Places to Visit around Marseille

  • Visit an architectural masterpiece: World-renowned architect Le Corbusier built Unité d’Habitation–Cité Radieuse in Marseille between 1947–1952, and in 2016 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While its concrete façade may not be particularly ornate, the unique post-war construction is a modern, Brutalist masterpiece. Book a guided tour of the residential building and explore communal areas including the rooftop sculpture garden—which also happens to offer amazing views of the city. 
  • Get some sand between your toes: Marseille’s hot summers make its beaches popular destinations. The Plage des Catalans is conveniently located near the city’s Old Port area, making it a great spot to take a dip and do some quality people-watching. Another excellent option is to head just south of Marseille to Cassis, where you can sit on the beach in Port Pin or d’En-Vau and enjoy crystalline, turquoise waters. The calanques there—inlets, or small fjords with steep natural walls normally often made of limestone—offer spectacular photo ops and lend the beaches a secluded feel. 
  • Spend an afternoon in Aix-en-Provence: Just 30 kilometers away from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence—founded in 123 B.C.—possesses a lot of the old-world charm visitors to France often seek. It’s the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, whose last studio, Atelier Cézanne, is now open to the public. Head to the Cours Mirabeau, a promenade lined with public art, leafy trees, and café patios (terrasses in French lingo), to have a café au lait, glass of wine, or meal at Les Deux Garçons, a storied brasserie frequented by Cézanne, artist Pablo Picasso, writers Émile Zola, and Albert Camus, and a number of other cultural and historical figures. 
  • Take a lavender-scented detour: If you happen to visit Aix-en-Provence when lavender is in full bloom (June–August), ask your Uber driver to take a little detour before returning to Marseille. Head north toward Luberon—about an hour from Les Deux Garçons—and drive along Provence’s lavender route to get breathtaking scenes of a sprawling landscape draped in purple.