Marseille France for 4 days + Family friendly recommendations
– TRAVEL TIPS –
Marseille was such a special stop for me on our 5 country tour with an 18 month old. I have lived and breathed to see France since I was a teen and being especially drawn to water, I couldn’t wait for our seaside stop in Marseille. Prior to bebe, we liked to travel without an itinerary. Our favorite trips were completed winged. We’d show up in a town and talk to the locals about what we should see and where to go. We did that for our entire tour of Sweden and it’s still hands down one of the best trips we’ve ever taken. You can see more of that adventure over here .
We landed in Marseille much like we traveled in Sweden years earlier just Colin and I. We didn’t know where we’d end up in France. Paris was an obvious stop on our first trip to France, but we also wanted to see the water scene somewhere in the south of France. I had kept in touch with a friend I’d only known through Instagram who was currently living in Marseille and she gave us a list of family-friendly site seeing locations and restaurants we could check out. This Europe trip was a fast awakening to the fact that we could no longer wing our trips with a toddler. Previous to Marseille, we were scrambling to find family friendly areas for food and play. And I was more uneasy than I’d like to admit about my feisty toddler challenging every decision at each meal in trendy restaurants and cafes.
So it was a bit of relief to get recommendations from a mama with a little one herself. She knew all the places to go and we were so relieved to have some guidance from a local Marseille resident. So why didn’t we just google some children appropriate areas? Great questions. I blame the intense jet lag and first sleepless weekend in Oslo beginning our Euro trip for my lack of planning. And the fact that I don’t plan trips either. Until now.
If you find yourself in Marseille, my friend Maddie shared all these recommendations that I will happily pass along. We didn’t get the chance to see even half of these sites, but I hope you will be able to check these locations off your bucket list if you decided to stop in Marseille.
Parc Borély – A beautiful, massive park with different play areas, open fields, and food
Vieux Port – “Old Port” views of the marina and fun shops around the city center
Le Petit Nice – A distinct yellow and white house built in La Corniche with swimming areas below the rocky cliffs. People hang out on the rocks to swim, eat, and just chill.
Tuba Club – A scenic restaurant nestled on the rocks just above the water. We heard the food is amazing but you’ll definitely need a reservation.
Vallon des Auffes – A picturesque spot just below La Corniche where boats anchor to watch the sunset. Restaurants are all around and it’s a great spot to grab a bite or a drink and take a stroll around the water.
Notre Dame de la Garde – The church at the center of the city: this location gives you 360 views of Marseille. Unbelieavable views!
Palais Longchamps – A scenic park with beautiful architecture but lots of steps, so come prepared. (*not stroller friendly)
La Plage Du Prophète – a baby friendly sandy beach! We confirmed it. Indie loved it.
Les Calanques – Popular waterside cliffs for hiking and walking. Try Sormiou.
Otto – A true French lunch or dinner experience. The space is tiny, so make a reservation!
Maison Empereur – One of the oldest shops in Marseille filled with good old fashion home staples and basics like cookware, home and cleaning supplies, Marseille soap, etc. The upper level has old fashioned toys that are so fun for little ones! It’s located 1-2 blocks from the nice shopping area so plan to hit up those shops and cafes next!
Oui Mums – A perfect little stop if it gets too hot out and you need a little break. It’s a children’s boutique with a small, contained play area and mini cafe where you can make your own salads (pasta or greens) during lunch hours while the bebe plays.
Big thanks to Maddie Broderick Litaise for sharing all these lovely recommendations! We can’t wait to get back and finish checking out all these little local gems she shared with us.