FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Marseille

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Marseille each year. The main ones are listed below.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!

Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues across Marseille.

This holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Marseille, this anniversary is commemorated each year with a fireworks display and dance parties open to everyone at various venues throughout the city.

Notre-Dame de la Garde is the site of a popular pilgrimage for the Feast of the Assumption, followed by a torchlight procession and mass on the evening.

The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public, such as castles and private collections. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!

French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.

In Marseille and the entire region of Provence, a centuries-old holiday tradition demands that Christmas Eve guests be offered 13 desserts after dinner (grapes, nougat, dates, etc.).

On the night of December 31^st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Marseille, with families and friends celebrating the new year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Marseille

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	3/37	11/52	48/1.9	Not the best period to go
February	4/39	12/54	31/1.2	Not the best period to go
March	6/43	16/61	30/1.2	Not the best period to go
April	9/48	18/64	54/2.1	Good period to go
May	13/55	22/72	41/1.6	Good period to go
June	17/63	16/61	25/1.0	Good period to go
July	19/66	29/84	9/0.4	Not the best period to go
August	19/66	29/84	31/1.2	Not the best period to go
September	16/61	26/79	77/3.0	Good period to go
October	12/54	21/70	67/2.6	Good period to go
November	7/45	15/59	56/2.2	Not the best period to go
December	4/39	11/52	46/1.8	Not the best period to go

Marseille-Provence Airport

The Marseille-Provence International Airport is located in the suburb of Marignane in Bouches-du-Rhône, about 25km (16 miles) west of Marseille.

• Two terminals:
  • Terminal 1 (Air France)
  • Terminal 2

• By car
  • Access via the A7 motorway.
  • Parking facilities are grouped into three categories: Eco (P3, P7 and P8), Classic (P5) and Premium (P1 and P6).
  • For Eco parking: EUR 4.50 for the first 15 minutes, EUR 4.60 for 15-30 minutes, and EUR 4.70 for 30-45 minutes, then EUR 0.10 for each additional 15 minutes to a total of 12 hours, and EUR 10.50 for 24 hours.
  • For Classic parking: EUR 5 for the first 15 minutes, EUR 5.20 for 15-30 minutes, and EUR 5.40 for 30-45 minutes, then EUR 0.20 for each additional 15 minutes to a total of 7 hours, EUR 0.10 per additional 15 minutes for between 7 and 12 hours of parking, and EUR 14 for 24 hours.
  • For Premium parking: EUR 6 for the first 15 minutes, EUR 6.20 for 15-30 minutes, and EUR 6.40 for 30-45 minutes, then EUR 0.20 for each additional 15 minutes to a total of 12 hours, and EUR 18 for 24 hours
  • Several counters operated by car rental companies are located in the open-air parking areas.
• By bus
  • Bus line 91 connects the Marseille-Provence airport with Marseille-Saint-Charles train station, not far from the Vieux Port.
  • Buses usually depart every 30 minutes between 5.10 a.m. and 11:10 p.m. from the airport, and between 4:10 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. from Marseille-Saint-Charles station. The trip takes about 25 minutes each way.
  • Single tickets cost EUR 10 for adults, EUR 7 for passengers aged 12 to 25 and EUR 5 for children aged 6 to 11 (free for children under 5). A return ticket is EUR 16.
  • At the airport, tickets are purchased at Terminal 1, opposite the shuttle pick-up/drop-off location. The ticket office is open every day from 6:05 a.m. to 10:10 p.m.
  • In the city centre, tickets are purchased at the Saint-Charles train station ticket counters, which are open every day from 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• By train
  • 72 TER regional train lines serve Marseille from the Vitrolles-Aéroport-Marseille-Provence train station between 6:24 a.m. and 10:03 p.m. Monday to Friday (46 trains run between 6:24 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 44 between 6:24 a.m. and 10:03 p.m. on Sundays).
  • There are TER ticketing machines at both the station and the airport. One-way fares range from EUR 20 to EUR 30.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are located outside Terminal 1, and are available24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The fare to the city centre is about EUR 50 during the day and EUR 60 at night.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, currency exchange and banking as well as free Internet access (Wi-Fi) are available in the airport.
• Telephone: +33 (0)820 81 14 14 (EUR 0.12 per minute)
• Website: https://www.marseille-airport.com/

• Passengers transferring to Paris airports (Orly and Charles de Gaulle) who have an Air France flight number should take their plane ticket to the Train + Air counter at Marseille-Saint-Charles station to collect their train ticket between 24 hours and 20 minutes before the train's departure.
• You can find all the information you need at: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/resainfovol/avion_train/reservation_avion_train_tgvair_airfrance.htm?_ga=2.90023453.766556504.1625040436-1336359705.1605863373
• Marseille-Saint-Charles train station is located in Square Narvik, 13232 Marseille. It is open between 4:30 a.m. and 1:05 a.m. every day. From the station, you can access:
  – public transport: metro (lines M1 and M2), intercity coaches (CarTreize LeCar), shuttles to Marseille Provence Airport, bus terminal (international Blablabus & Flixbus services) and night bus (line 521).
  – private transport: drop-off area, taxis, car hire companies, parking facilities, bike hire companies.

GETTING AROUND Marseille

Since traffic is often heavy and parking both expensive and hard to come by, public transport, taxis and bicycles are the best ways to get around Marseille.

City Pass

Marseille's “CityPass + Public Transport” is a cost-saving and comprehensive sightseeing package. The pass offers free admission to 14 museums, a boat trip to the Château d'If with a guided tour, a trip on the Petit Train (a special mini tourist train) all the way up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, and unlimited rides on all bus, metro and tram routes (ferries are not included). The 1-day City Pass costs EUR 27 for adults and EUR 17 for children aged 7-15, the 2-day version is EUR 37 for adults and EUR 22 for children aged 7-15 and the 3-day pass is EUR 43 for adults and EUR 26 for children aged 7-15. For more information, go to https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/experience/citypass/.

By bus

102 bus lines cover Marseille's entire metropolitan area, and run from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are also 12 night bus routes (Fluobus) that run from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are EUR 1.70. For further information, go to https://www.rtm.fr.

By tram

Marseille's tram network consists of three lines (T1, T2 and T3) with a total of 32 stations. Trams run from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and tickets are EUR 1.70. For more information, go to https://www.rtm.fr.

By rail

Marseille's metro is quick and efficient, but consists of only two lines. Trains run from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and tickets are EUR 1.70. For more information, go to https://www.rtm.fr.

By bicycle

Bicycling using Le Vélo is without a doubt the most pleasant way to explore Marseille. Distributed throughout the city, 130 bike-sharing stations (about one every 300m) offer 1,000 bikes, free of charge, at any time of day. The concept is simple: pick up a bicycle at one station and return it at another one, at your leisure, 24/7. With a short-term pass (7 days), the first half-hour is free, then for just EUR 1 you can enjoy an unlimited number of journeys for a whole week. For more information go to http://en.levelo-mpm.fr/.

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful in Marseille. There are about 1,560 cabs divided among 80 taxi stands. 32 of these stands are equipped with telephones and may be reached via a single number: +33 (0) 811 46 90 90 (local call charges apply). Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., count EUR 1.80 per kilometre (EUR 2.22 for night fare, and on Sunday and holidays).

By boat

The Ferry Boat, immortalized by Marcel Pagnol in his film Marius with the impetuous Félix Escartefigue at the helm, takes you across the Vieux Port all day long. The "shortest ferry crossing in the world" will cost you EUR 0.50. For further information, please visit the https://www.rtm.fr/ferry-boat website.

There also are scheduled ferry crossings between the Vieux Port and the islands (Château d'If and the beaches of Frioul). The price of a return ticket is EUR 11.10 for one island and 16.70 for both islands. Be sure to check the times for the last departures in the direction of the Vieux Port. For further information, please visit the https://lebateau-frioul-if.fr/en website.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Marseille, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: 11 La Canebière, CS 60340, 13211Marseille Cedex 01
• Telephone: +33 (0)826 500 500 (EUR 0.15 per minute from a landline)
• Website: www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/

The official tourism website of France has plenty of information available on Marseille.

• Website: http://www.france.fr/en

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in France is the Euro (EUR).

ZAR 1 = EUR 0.06

EUR 1 = ZAR 16.67

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Marseille counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Marseille.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for France

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Citizens or nationals of some foreign countries.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.

Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure.

For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

Directory of foreign embassies and consulates in France

Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

Travel advice

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in France, please check the information and advice provided on your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Foreign Office website.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+33

+ phone number (without 0)

-1 : 00
of time difference with
Johannesburg

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

BANKS

Usually open Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Marseille like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.