Flights from Montreal (YUL) to Marseille, France
Here is what to know before booking a flight to Marseille from Montreal.
From Montreal, fares to Marseille usually run between $860 and $2200. The best fare spotted recently is $699 (about 46% below the typical price).
Marseille is France's oldest city, founded by Greek sailors some 2,600 years ago, and it is still a working Mediterranean port with a direct, multicultural character of its own. Fishermen sell the morning catch on the quay of the Vieux-Port, the lanes of Le Panier climb the hill behind it, and the gilded statue of the Virgin atop Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde watches over it all. Just past the southern neighbourhoods, the white cliffs and turquoise coves of the Calanques begin, with trails to swimming spots inside the city limits.
When to go
Marseille is sunny for much of the year. May, June and September are the sweet spot, with warm sea water by early summer and fewer crowds than in July and August, when the city is hot, the beaches are packed and the boats to the islands fill up. In summer the Calanques massifs can close on days of high wildfire risk, and access to the Sugiton cove has required a free online booking at peak times, so check the national park's website the day before you go. Winter is mild, but the mistral, a cold, dry northwesterly wind, can blow hard for days at a time.
Getting there from Montreal
From Montreal (YUL), seasonal nonstop flights to Marseille have operated in some summers; otherwise expect one connection through Paris or another European hub. From Quebec City (YQB), add a first leg through Montreal or Toronto. Marseille Provence airport is in Marignane, about 25 km northwest of the centre, and the shuttle bus to Saint-Charles station takes roughly 30 minutes. You can also fly into Paris and take the TGV, which reaches Marseille Saint-Charles in a little over three hours.
What to see and do
- The Vieux-Port and the old lanes of Le Panier
- Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde and its view over the city
- The MuCEM and its footbridge to Fort Saint-Jean
- Hiking and swimming in the Calanques National Park
- A boat to the Château d'If and the Frioul islands
Good to know before you go
The RTM network has two metro lines, three tram lines and plenty of buses, and in the warm months its boat shuttles cross the bay from the Vieux-Port to L'Estaque and Pointe-Rouge; the small electric ferry across the Vieux-Port is a local institution. Uber and taxis cover the rest, and the levélo bike share suits the flat centre. The currency is the euro and cards are accepted almost everywhere. French here carries a strong Provençal accent, and the dishes to try are bouillabaisse, panisse chickpea fries and orange-blossom navette biscuits. Tap water is safe; for the Calanques bring plenty of water and proper shoes, since there is no drinking water on the trails, and watch for pickpockets and phone snatching around the Vieux-Port and Saint-Charles station.
Entry requirements and health
No visa needed
Good news: with a Canadian passport you can just show up for a short tourist stay, no visa needed. Keep an eye on how long you're allowed to stay so your trip fits.
General orientation for a Canadian passport on a short tourist trip, not legal or medical advice. Confirm with official sources, and see a travel health clinic four to six weeks before departure.
Travel information is provided as a guide and can change. Always confirm fares, schedules and entry requirements before booking.
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