Vieux-Port (Old Port)

The Vieux-Port is the rectangular harbour at the heart of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. Greek settlers from Phocaea founded the city here around 600 BC, and the inlet has been the centre of Marseille life ever since. Today the Quai des Belges at the head of the harbour is a pedestrian quay lined with cafes, restaurants and moored fishing boats and yachts, while Quai du Port on the north side faces the old town and the Panier. A daily morning fish market on the Quai des Belges is the best-known scene: fishers sell the catch directly from their boats, and the market is a lively place to see Mediterranean species used in bouillabaisse. Norman Foster's mirrored stainless-steel canopy, the Ombrière, was installed on the quay in 2013 and reflects the crowds and boats in a single shimmering surface, making it a favourite spot for photographs. Two historic forts guard the harbour mouth, Fort Saint-Jean on the north side and Fort Saint-Nicolas on the south. Ferries leave from the quay for the Château d'If and the Frioul islands, and a small passenger ferry links the two sides of the harbour. A walk around the water takes one to two hours, with extra time for a meal on the terraces. The area is quietest early in the morning before the market peaks, and is liveliest on summer evenings when the terraces fill. The quays are open at all times and entry is free. The harbour is easily reached by Metro lines 1 and 2 to Vieux-Port, and the surrounding streets lead on to the Panier, the Mucem and the Cours Estienne d'Orves. Visitors should note that waterside restaurants charge more than back-street alternatives, so reading menus carefully is worthwhile. The wide quays are mostly level, making the harbour one of the easiest places in the city to explore on foot.