Best Ways to Travel from Paris to Marseille


 

Vacationing between Paris and Marseille is a bucket list endeavor for many a human being. It’s been said that these two destinations make for one dreamy French getaway, and I must humbly agree. 

With Paris in the far north, and Marseille in the far south, it can be quite the journey to move between the two. Luckily, it’s masses of charming French countryside that separate them, so moving by land is not as boring as it sounds. 

I’ll break down all of your best travel options later in this piece — stay with me!

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The Journey

The total journey between Paris and Marseille is just under 800km. Doing this journey in just one day, by land, is not uncommon for French locals. It’s a particularly easy trip to do if you have access to a car. 

A lot of travelers opt to spit their journey into two parts, doing 400km one day, and the last 400 the next. They’ll stay overnight in Lyon, giving them time to explore this historic city very briefly before hitting the road again. 

Lyon is a wonderful added attraction to any itinerary; if you can spare two nights en route to Marseille, I would absolutely recommend doing so.

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Visiting Marseille 

Marseille is an old port-side city on the southern coast of Franca. For years, it served as the primary portal for immigration for Greek immigrants looking to start a new life in Western Europe. 

Marseille is known for being a bit of a fishing town, but it is also filled with historic landmarks, including a Notre Dame Basilica of its own. It’s a wonderful thing to visit the one in Paris, and then to be able to do the same upon arrival in Marseille. 

By Erin Doering – Unsplash

As far as a vacation destination goes, Marseille is a holiday town on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s filled with hotels, restaurants, bars and varied nightlife. In the summer, Marseille comes alive, and visitors to the South of France flock to submerge themselves in this coastal heritage for at least a few days. 

Click here for 10 facts about the Port of Marseille!

Getting There

To get to Marseille from Paris, you have three main options for travel. Car, train, plane and bus can all get you to the coast, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend and how much time you have to waste. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each:

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By Car

If you’re traveling with one or more other people, hiring a car in Paris is not a bad idea for the purpose of making the journey to Marseille. If you want to do the journey in just one day, it takes roughly seven hours to complete. 

Again, stopping in Lyon is always an option. It divides the journey in half and gives you the opportunity to really explore the countryside en route. 

Be sure to check out these tips for renting a car in Paris!

By Train

Each day, there are multiple speed trains between Paris and Marseille. They depart every few hours from Gare de Lyon, and the journey takes just three hours! 

All of the trains do a stop in Lyon, so you’ll have the option of jumping off and exploring this city for a night or two, before resuming your train journey down to Marseille. 

Traveling through France by train is a beautiful way of enjoying the countryside without having to worry about being behind the wheel of a car. You can sit back, relax, and soak it all up. 

By Matthieu Da Cruz – Unsplash

By Bus

If you’re on a budget, traveling by bus is the most affordable route between Paris and Marseille. You can get tickets for as little as €20, if you know where to look! It’s the best option for backpackers and students. 

The overnight bus if, objectively, your best option for this journey. It departs from Bercy at 9pm each evening, and is an overnight trip of just 10 hours. You’ll arrive fresh and early in Marseille, ready to start your exploring.

There are cheaper busses that take the longer route, picking up people through the countryside along the way. The journeys take anywhere between 20 to 26 hours. It’s lengthy and rough to be in a single seat for such a long time, but it’s doable! 

By Plane

If convenience and time saving is your main concern, then you can simply catch a flight into Marseille from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

Marseille has its own airport, and direct flights take just an hour and a half. Take note that you need to account for the time it takes to get from central Paris to Charles de Gaulle (45 minute train journey), plus the waiting period in the terminal pre-flight. 

Once in Marseille Airport, you’ll need an additional 30 to 45 minutes to get to your accommodation in the town center. 

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.