Marseille travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Savon de Marseille
The classic cube soap made with vegetable oils (72 percent for the traditional cube), sold by La Savonnerie Marseillaise, Savonnerie La Licorne and Maison Empereur.
Where: La Savonnerie Marseillaise, 5 Quai de Rive Neuve; Savonnerie La Licorne, 112 Quai du Port; Maison Empereur, 4 Rue des Recolettes
Santons
Hand-painted clay Nativity figures from Provencal santonniers, sold all year at the workshop and in November-January at the Quai du Port fair.
Where: Ateliers Marcel Carbonel, 47 Rue Neuve Sainte-Catherine; Foire aux santons, Quai du Port (14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027)
Navettes
Boat-shaped orange-blossom biscuits baked at the Four des Navettes since 1781, a Candlemas tradition.
Where: Le Four des Navettes, 136 Rue Sainte; Docks Village, 10 Place de la Joliette
Spices and Provencal food
Spices, olives, dried fruit and tapenade from the Noailles stalls, a taste of the city's Mediterranean and North African mix.
Where: Marche des Capucins, Place du Marche des Capucins
Second-hand finds
Vintage clothes, ceramics and antiques from the covered flea market in north Marseille.
Where: Les Puces de Marseille, 130 Chemin de la Madrague Ville
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Marche des Capucins (Noailles)
Marseille's central food market in the multi-ethnic Noailles quarter, with Provencal produce, fish, spices, North African and Asian ingredients and prepared dishes.
Where: Noailles, behind the Canebiere
Hours: Mon-Sat from about 8AM to 7PM per OpenStreetMap and a travel guide; another source says morning only, so go before 1PM; mostly closed Sunday. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Marche aux poissons du Vieux-Port
Daily open-air fish market where fishermen sell their night's catch from boats and stalls on the Vieux-Port, including rascasse, John Dory, sea bream and gurnard.
Where: Vieux-Port, at the head of the harbour opposite the Canebiere
Hours: Every morning (tourism-office listing); OpenStreetMap lists daily 8AM-1PM. Arrive early for the best selection.
Marche du Prado
Large street market along the Avenue du Prado selling clothes, shoes, accessories, linen, decoration, toys and books at low prices.
Where: Prado, between Castellane and Perier
Hours: Mon-Sat from about 7AM to 1:30PM; closed Sunday (some stall rows only run Tue, Thu and Sat).
Marche aux fleurs du Prado
Friday flower market along the Avenue du Prado with local and imported cut flowers, orchids, roses and lilies.
Where: Prado
Hours: Friday morning, about 7:30AM-1PM.
Marche paysan du Cours Julien
Farmers' market on Cours Julien with local organic or low-intervention fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese and artisan products, in the street-art district.
Where: Cours Julien, La Plaine side
Hours: Wednesday mornings.
Les Puces de Marseille
Covered flea market with about 300 market traders, roughly 100 second-hand dealers and an antiques hall of about 40 shops; bring cash and arrive early at weekends.
Where: North Marseille, 15th arrondissement
Hours: Closed Monday. Covered market 8:30AM-7:30PM; antiques hall 7:30AM-6PM; outdoor flea market and second-hand dealers Saturday and Sunday until about 2PM. Free entry.
Foire aux santons de Marseille
Seasonal Christmas fair on the Vieux-Port where Provencal santonniers sell hand-painted clay Nativity figures; the tradition dates back over 200 years.
Where: Vieux-Port, north quay
Hours: Seasonal: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (announced 224th edition, 21 santonniers). Hours reported as 10AM-7PM daily, or until 8PM on Friday and Saturday; confirm on foire-aux-santons-de-marseille.fr. Free entry.