9 Most Instagrammable Places in Marseille
Where to Take Stunning Photos of Marseille to Impress Your Friends?
Marseille is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and a cultural hub of France offering outstanding architectural, historic, and natural sights. You’re sure to be able to light up your Instagram feed with shots from the tops of hills and the parapets of a medieval fortress that once served as the set piece for a Dumas novel.
Here, you can walk colorful bohemian streets in an arts-and-culture neighborhood, or visit historic churches dating to the late-Roman era. You can photograph crystal-clear, turquoise waters from golden stretches of sand. Check out the most Instagrammable places in Marseille and get your camera ready.
1. Cathédrale La Major
Neo-Byzantine cathedral from the 1800s
Good for: Budget, History, Photo
Cathédrale La Major is a stunning landmark located in Place de la Major with unique architecture and a serene atmosphere. You can actually capture 2 different kinds of photos for your Instagram feed here: the snapshot of the cathedral itself in all its towering glory, and the more artistic reflection of the cathedral in the mirrored building across the street.
This 1800s neo-Byzantine cathedral is an operating church, and the inside is almost as stunning as the outside, with columns, pillars, murals, and elegant marble stonework dating back centuries. The famous landmark is a must-see for history and architecture buffs to decorate Instagram. Read more
Location: Pl. de la Major, 13002 Marseille, France
Open: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm
Phone: +33 7 72 15 60 10
Cathédrale La Major
2. Notre Dame de la Garde
The symbol of Marseille’s grandeur
Good for: Families, History, Photo
The cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde, a symbol of Marseille, sits on the highest hill near the Old Port rising to almost 500 feet. From here you can see for miles and miles in just about every direction to catch the ultimate Instagram click of the surrounding valleys and hills and the city far below.
Of course, the cathedral itself is also eminently photo-worthy. It dates to the middle ages with towering spires and stones that have a sense of a different world with an iconic golden statue of the Virgin Mary. Inside you’ll find stunning artwork and stonework that will take your breath away. Read more
Location: Rue Fort du Sanctuaire, 13281 Marseille, France
Open: Daily from 7 am to 6 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 91 13 40 80
Notre Dame de la Garde
3. The Calanques
Incredible coastal formations
Good for: Families, Photo, Adventure
Les Calanques is a national park located directly between Marseille and Cassis, offering unspoiled countryside, rugged terrain, and wild coastline. The jagged inlets for which the park is named are famous for their beaches and crystal-clear, blue waters. The park is just over 35 minutes from the city center by car.
Not only can you find astounding cliffside views of the turquoise waters and sands and pictures of unique natural rock formations and towers, you can spend the day relaxing on the shores. The white sands and clear waters offer a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Read more
Location: 13008 Marseille, France
Phone: +33 4 20 10 50 00
The Calanques
4. Château Borély
Vast landscaped grounds with water gardens
Good for: Couples, History, Photo
Château Borély is an 18th-century chateau on the outskirts of Marseille to the south of the city center which features landscaped grounds and water gardens. It was built for Louis Borély, a local merchant. By the 19th century, the chateau was donated to the city and it’s now home to the museum of decorative arts and fashion.
The vast rolling green landscaped grounds and gardens, towering historic building, vast ponds, and stunning gardens are sure to make for a fine addition to your Instagram feed. Inside you can capture images of authentic furnishings and decor from the 18th century to showcase what life looked like hundreds of years ago.
Location: 132 Av. Clot Bey, 13008 Marseille, France
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, closed Monday
Phone: +33 (0)4 91 55 33 60
Château Borély
5. Abbaye Saint-Victor
An ancient abbey dating to the days of the Roman empire
Good for: Families, History, Photo
The Abbey of Saint Victor in Marseille, founded in the 5th century by John Cassian, is one of the oldest Christian sites in France. Built over a former quarry and necropolis, it honors Saint Victor, a Roman soldier martyred for his faith.
The abbey became a major religious and cultural center in medieval Europe, influencing monastic life across the Mediterranean. Its crypts house early Christian tombs and relics, while its Romanesque-Gothic architecture reflects centuries of devotion and resilience. Despite centuries of destruction and repurposing during invasions and the French Revolution, it remains a symbol of Marseille’s spiritual heritage.
Location: Place Saint-Victor, 13007 Marseille, France
Open: Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 96 11 22 60
Abbaye Saint-Victor
6. Le Panier
A maze of colorful, bohemian streets
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
Le Panier is a neighborhood about 6 minutes north of the city center that offers a meandering maze of narrow cobblestone streets, indie stores, restaurants, and tree-lined open plazas. It’s marked by its colorful wall murals and elegant but effortlessly cool sidewalk cafes.
The neighborhood is also known for its dining establishments, such as its namesake rustic restaurant, which is a great spot for a meal with friends or a romantic dinner for 2. Stop and visit a Moroccan culture shop and restaurant with sidewalk seating and snap all the photos you like of this bohemian neighborhood.
Le Panier
7. Palais Longchamp
Public park and gardens in the heart of downtown
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Photo
Palais Longchamp is a highly popular viewpoint and 19th-century historic area in the heart of downtown Marseilles that’s home to museums, parks, gardens, and stunning harbor views.
You can capture a photo of striking architecture and a man-made waterfall that empties into a concrete pond. Head for any one of the art or natural history museums that line the area to snap images for your feed of art and artifacts dating to the Roman era. Don’t forget to explore the sites on the grounds designated as some of the Notable Gardens of France. Read more
Location: Boulevard Jardin Zoologique, 13004 Marseille, France
Open: Daily from 7 am to 8 pm between the start of April and the end of September, daily from 7 am to 6.30 pm otherwise
Phone: +33 (0)4 91 55 25 51
Palais Longchamp
8. Prado Beach
Gold sand beaches and crystal turquoise waters
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Plages du Prado encompasses a collection of several golden-sand beaches that line Marseille’s southern neighborhood on the Mediterranean shores. Here, you can find crystal-clear waters that range from dark blue to turquoise, vast blue skies and endless stretches of soft sand with rolling hills in the distance.
You would never guess from their gorgeous appearance that these beaches are an artificial coastal development, which were made with landfill from the creation of Marseille’s subway lines. Today, they’re filled with beachgoers looking for relaxation and play under the sun and they offer plenty of picturesque shots for your Instagram feed. Read more
Prado Beach
9. Château d’If
An inspirational fortress
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
The Château d’If is a medieval fortress that sits on an island off of the southern coast of Marseille, famed as the setting for The Count of Monte Cristo. Located on the Mediterranean Frioul archipelago, this stunning, towering fortress is flanked by 3 towers with gun enclosures. The original purpose was to protect the city from seaborne attacks, but it later became a penitentiary.
Today, the fortress is preserved as a historic site and you can climb the towers to take photos of the entire island, the sea beyond, and the coastline. Mark Twain claimed the structure once held the cell of The Man in the Iron Mask, though this is generally believed to be an apocryphal legend. Read more
Château d'If
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