Half day tours from Marseille

[shilu]

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old. We have never been to France.

Just wondered if Aix en Provence or Cassis is more suitable as a half day tour.

 

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above or Luberon villages tour better. Which would involve less driving around? Thanks in advance. 

[marazul]

18 minutes ago, shilu said:

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old. We have never been to France.

Just wondered if Aix en Provence or Cassis is more suitable as a half day tour.

 

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above or Luberon villages tour better. Which would involve less driving around? Thanks in advance. 

Aix and Cassis can be easily done in a half day tour ending with time for lunch in Cassis.  You could add a boat trip to the Calanques (sea coves) from Cassis that would extend the day, but that could be fun for your child.  If you choose to add the boat ride, ask for a trip to only two of the Calanques, not to all of them to keep the time manageable for a 6-year old. 

 

The Luberon is a full day tour with quite a bit of driving time.

[shilu]

Thank you

[edinburgher]

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old.

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above

As both lie in completely different directions from Marseille, I would advise that trying to combine the two would not be the best option especially with a small child in tow. You would be advised to choose one or the other or option #3 below.

 

Aix is larger than Cassis and would give you more options for walking around and a bigger choice of restaurants but does not offer a boat triip, but you may not need to venture out of the city at all.

Option #3

 

 This because  there are boat trips to the calanques of Cassis, also others to islands just off Marseille, (including the "Chateau d'if")and these go from the Vieux Port of Marseille which is close to where ship shuttles drop off (should your cruiseline offer this option)  And in addition to a couple of HOHOS, Marseille also has one of these little tourist trains which chugs around the city  with a choice of routes and your child might also enjoy doing that. And the city has an abundance of  shopping opportunities and dining options, but try to avoid dining at any which are actually alongside the Vieux Port as these can be poor value and quality as they are geared towards tourists.

 

Either or both of these options would be easier than travelling out of and back to the city with a small child.

 

It is worth having a look at the Official Marseille Tourist  Information website which has an english language option as it has much useful information on it. Also look at eg Tripadvisor and try googling something like "Marseille for kids".

Edited June 8, 2023 by edinburgher

[shilu]

On 6/8/2023 at 3:38 PM, edinburgher said:

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old.

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above

As both lie in completely different directions from Marseille, I would advise that trying to combine the two would not be the best option especially with a small child in tow. You would be advised to choose one or the other or option #3 below.

 

Aix is larger than Cassis and would give you more options for walking around and a bigger choice of restaurants but does not offer a boat triip, but you may not need to venture out of the city at all.

Option #3

 

 This because  there are boat trips to the calanques of Cassis, also others to islands just off Marseille, (including the "Chateau d'if")and these go from the Vieux Port of Marseille which is close to where ship shuttles drop off (should your cruiseline offer this option)  And in addition to a couple of HOHOS, Marseille also has one of these little tourist trains which chugs around the city  with a choice of routes and your child might also enjoy doing that. And the city has an abundance of  shopping opportunities and dining options, but try to avoid dining at any which are actually alongside the Vieux Port as these can be poor value and quality as they are geared towards tourists.

 

Either or both of these options would be easier than travelling out of and back to the city with a small child.

 

It is worth having a look at the Official Marseille Tourist  Information website which has an english language option as it has much useful information on it. Also look at eg Tripadvisor and try googling something like "Marseille for kids".

Thank you, that is great advice 

[edinburgher]

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• #5  

Posted 17 hours ago

On 6/8/2023 at 3:38 PM, edinburgher said:

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old.

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above

As both lie in completely different directions from Marseille, I would advise that trying to combine the two would not be the best option especially with a small child in tow. You would be advised to choose one or the other or option #3 below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank you, that is great advice 

And if already in the area next to the Vieux Port, you could wander into the historic  Fort St Jean, part of which is free entry.From here you can cross a footbridge to the ultra modern MUCEM complex.on the waterside which is worth visiting.  (as an aside, your shuttle bus may drop off and pick up from here or  close to it) It is mostly outdoors with walkways and terraces, and some lovely views of the Vieux Port, Notre Dame de la Garde and the Med.  it is a public space and can be enjoyed free of charge by anyone whether local or visitor unless you choose to enter any of the paying exhibitions.  There are seating areas, and cafes and restaurants  and it is a lovely place to stroll whilst admiring the views.  And from there you will be able to see the huge Cathedral de la Major a 5 minute walk away across the road.  It merits a short visit and has free entry.  There is more than enough to see and do which is also easy due to their locations being in close proximity to each other.

 

There should be online reviews of all of the options I suggested above to help you decide, . Try Tripadvisor amongst others. Boat trip timings routes and cost also little train timings, routes and cost should also be online.

Edited June 10, 2023 by edinburgher

[Sugarlandsooner]

We are looking for something to Cassis but need tour operator suggestions. ItalyTours could not accommodate us on the day we are there. Does anyone know any other reputable tour groups in that area? Any help is appreciated.

[edinburgher]

On 6/8/2023 at 1:31 AM, shilu said:

We shall be arriving in Marseille in July and are travelling with a 6 year old. We have never been to France.

Just wondered if Aix en Provence or Cassis is more suitable as a half day tour.

 

If we decided to do a full day tour is combining the above or Luberon villages tour better. Which would involve less driving around? Thanks in advance. 

 

Shilu, requoting you as unsure if you have seen the additional info on post #6 and you are sailing in July which isn't that far away now.

[shilu]

Thank you Edinburgher.

Well, I have decided on a bit of an unusual one.

We are having a guided tour in a 2cv citröen from Marseille to Cassis. It is a 3.5 hour tour with an option to extend in Cassis if we want. Thank you for your advice. 

[edinburgher]

13 hours ago, shilu said:

Thank you Edinburgher.

Well, I have decided on a bit of an unusual one.

We are having a guided tour in a 2cv citröen from Marseille to Cassis. It is a 3.5 hour tour with an option to extend in Cassis if we want. Thank you for your advice. 

No worries.  It is what we are here for.  Had only wanted to know you were aware of another option in the area you would already be in and very easy for a child, or anyone for that matter..

 

Thanks for posting your plan as others visiting in the future could be interested in that option.

 

 

[Sugarlandsooner]

On 6/19/2023 at 5:39 PM, shilu said:

Thank you Edinburgher.

Well, I have decided on a bit of an unusual one.

We are having a guided tour in a 2cv citröen from Marseille to Cassis. It is a 3.5 hour tour with an option to extend in Cassis if we want. Thank you for your advice. 

Could either of you recommend a tour operator? 

[shilu]

If you go on GET YOUR GUIDE or VIATOR, there are quite a lot of options with reviews, but I have not used them myself. Hope that helps