How to see Marseille on the cheap

Enjoy France's oldest city on holiday and immerse yourself in this re-energised Mediterranean port

Boasting 2,600 years of history, Marseille is a spectacular Mediterranean port that gets over 300 days of sunshine a year. France's oldest city was named European Capital of Culture in 2013 and for travellers staying in the South of France, it has always been a lively experience. Perfect for backpackers wanting somewhere affordable to stay in the Mediterranean, Marseille is a bubbling cheap option packed full of designer hostels and low cost accommodation.

Finding somewhere cheap to stay in Marseille will be easy for backpackers. Offering a superb base to explore the wider region, the gritty port has undergone a cultural renaissance since 2013 spending €550 million on new museums, art centres and abandoned harbours. Buzzing with energy there has never been a better time to explore Marseille on a budget.

A budget culture guide to Marseille

With its warm Mediterranean climate, you can visit Marseille anytime and enjoy t-shirt weather on your travels. Backpackers arriving in the city will discover a vibrant industrial hub bristling with tooting horns and market stalls. Old dockyards have become boutique urban spaces, sprinkled with exhibitions and gorgeous sculptures. Ever since the European Capital of Culture in 2013, the maritime city has been completely transformed by local artists and designers.

The best place to start exploring Marseille is the hipster Panier district in the city centre. Home to the seventeenth century Fort Saint-Jean and the incredible Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM), these cultural forces are now the motifs for the city's regeneration. Fort Saint-Jean is a symbolic landmark in Marseille, a meeting point in history and dates back to the 1700s.

Offering a fascinating insight into the city's history, you can experience these cultural hotspots and the J4 Harbour Pier for only €8 per person. Culture is not expensive in Marseille and you can explore the city's favourite landmarks and have plenty of money to spare.

Vieux Port

The Old Port (Vieux Port) is the epicentre of the city and home to a rustic fish market. It's unavoidable on any trip to Marseille and is an enormously popular place for locals and travellers to hang out together. Marseille’s history has been performed here since the Ancient Greeks arrived from Phocaea in Asia Minor (Turkey) and it still bears the ancient nickname La Cité Phocéenne.

La Canebière

The Canebière is one of the most famous streets in France and is the historic conduit leading to the Vieux Port. Packed full of traditional trams and French branded stores, there is a dusty romantic charm to the street - even if most locals duly acknowledge it has seen better days. Marseille has a gritty charm in that respect, but it's only a matter of time before the 1km long street gets the glamour Vieux Port treatment.

Getting to Marseille

Backpackers taking the TGV (3 hours from Paris) will arrive at the newly refurbished Gare St Charles train station in the city centre. Anyone travelling in the UK can now get to Marseille direct from London via the Eurostar, which takes 6.5 hours from Kings Cross Saint Pancras. There are regular trains from Barcelona and Milan too, making the city accessible from all over the continent.

Book your holiday today and see how urban art has changed this gritty, energetic port for the better. Perfect for backpackers wanting something different on holiday, you can explore the vibrant wonders of Marseille on the cheap with HostelsClub.