Marseille tours and excursions

Train and taxi tours

The tourist office has the timetable of the Petit Train de la Bonne Mère, which trundles past the main sights of the city at a leisurely pace. Marseille Taxi Tour, meanwhile, offers sightseeing from the comfort and privacy of your own cab.

E-bike tours

Marseille's hilly streets are a doddle when you're in the saddle of a new electric bike. Guided tours take visitors to hidden corners of the city, with much less effort than on a conventional bike. Longer tours take in the Calanques and Marseille's beaches, and groups are kept to a small size.

Le Château d'If

Boats leave regularly from Marseille's Vieux-Port to Ile d'If, some 3km (2 miles) off the coast. Its infamous prison was the setting for Alexandre Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo. The island is one of the sparsely inhabited and ruggedly beautiful Frioul archipelago, which also has restaurants, bars and shops.

Ile d'If

Cassis and the Calanques

The Calanques, on the edge of Marseille, are a series of steep limestone cliffs falling abruptly into the sea, with secluded coves and creeks. The area is ideal for swimming and hiking - although it can get terribly hot, so carry plenty of water. Check out upmarket Cassis, which has plenty of cafés.