Marseille Shore Excursions: Private Days to Aix, Cassis and Provence
Marseille is the gateway to Provence: France’s oldest city on one side, Aix-en-Provence, Cassis and the Calanques on the other. Riviera Come True meets you at your cruise terminal with a local French guide and a luxury 8-seater van reserved for your party alone, so you skip the port shuttle and go straight to the first stop of your day. Every tour is fully customized to you: it is your day, and everything is possible. Your day is designed personally around your wishes. For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender.
Marseille port at a glance
| Dock or tender | Docking port, no tender. |
|---|---|
| Where ships dock | Most at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, north of the center through Gate 4; some at the J4 terminal beside the Old Port. |
| Where we meet you | At your terminal, confirmed once we know your ship. |
| Getting back | At least one hour before departure. |
| Distances | Aix-en-Provence about 30 kilometers; Cassis about 30 minutes. |
| Your guide | A local French guide with more than 15 years of experience. Our guides speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic and Chinese. |
| Good to know | The Route des Crêtes above Cassis is closed to traffic on Sundays and can close in summer. |
Docking in Marseille? Send us your date, your ship or where you are staying, and your group size. We reply personally in under 24 hours.
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Where does your ship dock in Marseille?
Marseille is a docking port, not a tender port. Most ships berth at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, in the commercial port north of the city center, reached through Gate 4. Passengers on their own take a shuttle bus to the Joliette district before they can even start walking to the Old Port. Some ships berth instead at the J4 terminal, right beside the Old Port, the cathedral and the MuCEM.
With a private day, your guide meets you at your terminal and the van takes you straight to your first stop.
What can we see on a Marseille shore excursion?
- Notre-Dame de la Garde: the basilica high above the city, with the whole coast below.
- The Old Port and Le Panier: the harbor where Marseille began and the old quarter above it.
- The MuCEM and the cathedral: the modern museum and the striped Cathédrale de la Major on the waterfront.
- Aix-en-Provence: the Cours Mirabeau, fountains and markets of Cézanne’s city, about 30 kilometers away.
- Cassis and the Calanques: the fishing port and the white limestone inlets of the national park.
- The Route des Crêtes: the cliff road between Cassis and La Ciotat, closed to traffic on Sundays.
- The Luberon: the perched villages of Provence, for a long full day.
Marseille shore excursion ideas
- Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. The elegance of Aix in the morning, then Marseille’s great viewpoints in the afternoon.
- Marseille essentials. Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Old Port and Le Panier on foot with your guide.
- Cassis and the coast. The Route des Crêtes when it is open, the port of Cassis and lunch by the water.
- Provence villages. A full day in the Luberon for guests who want the Provence of the paintings.
The secret spots around Marseille
The Marseille most passengers see is the walk from the shuttle stop to the Old Port. Your guide will show you the lanes of Le Panier, the viewpoints of the Corniche, the small fishing coves along the coast and the quiet squares of Aix where the fountains still set the pace of the day.
Staying in Provence?
We also collect guests from hotels and private villas in Marseille and across Provence, and return you to your door.
Why choose a private Marseille shore excursion?
- Local experts. Exclusively local French guides with more than 15 years of experience, never seasonal drivers from abroad.
- Your party alone. Our luxury 8-seater van with Wi-Fi, water and air conditioning, or on foot as a walking tour. Another car is possible on request.
- No wasted minutes. No stop-and-go, no tourist traps and no commission stops, and no perfume or chocolate factory or olive mill unless you ask for one.
- Proven. More than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor, and discretion is part of everything we do.
See why travelers choose Riviera Come True and how a private excursion compares with the ship’s tour.
Marseille shore excursion questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Marseille?
Most ships dock at the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal in the commercial port north of the city, reached through Gate 4. Some use the J4 terminal, next to the Old Port and the MuCEM.
Do we need the port shuttle in Marseille?
No. On their own, passengers at the main cruise terminal take a free shuttle to the Joliette district. With a private day, your guide meets you at your terminal.
Will we be back aboard on time in Marseille?
Yes. The main cruise terminal is north of the city, so we allow for the drive back, and for cruise guests we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender. We have never made a guest miss their ship.
How far is Aix-en-Provence from the Marseille cruise port?
About 30 kilometers, so Aix fits comfortably into a port day, alone or combined with Marseille or the countryside of Provence.
Can we see Cassis and the Calanques from Marseille?
Yes. Cassis is about 30 minutes from Marseille. The Route des Crêtes above it is closed to traffic on Sundays and can close in summer, so we plan around it.
Related tours and guides
Private shore excursions from every port on the Riviera and in Provence
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All ports at a glance: private shore excursions on the French Riviera and in Provence.
Plan your private day from Marseille
Tours are by enquiry only. Email info@rivieracometrue.com, call or WhatsApp +33 7 88 88 88 01, or send us your enquiry online. Tell us your date, your ship or where you are staying, your group size and what you love, and we will reply in under 24 hours with an itinerary designed personally for your party.