Train to Marseille - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Destination station: Marseille Saint-Charles, Square Narvik, 13001 Marseille - it stands on a hill in the centre, and you can walk to the Vieux-Port in a few minutes via a characteristic staircase

• Character of the city: the second largest city in France, founded around the 6th century BC by the Greeks as Massalia. Mediterranean port with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and Provençal cuisine

• Local transport: metro, tram and buses serve the entire city; a single ticket is a few zlotys and a daily ticket a dozen or so

• Best time to go: spring (April-May) and early autumn (September-October) - the daytime temperature is 18-25°C and there is less tourist traffic than in summer

• How much to go for: a weekend (2-3 nights) is enough for the Old Port, Chateau d'If and the main districts; 4-5 days allows you to add the countryside and beaches in the Calanques

• Practical tip: there is a luggage storage facility at Marseille Saint-Charles station - useful if you arrive in the morning and don't check into your hotel until the afternoon

The best choice is spring or early autumn, when daytime temperatures are 18-25°C and accommodation prices are lower than in summer.

Spring (March to May)

• Daytime temperatures are 13-24°C and the gardens and parks are in full bloom - Parc Borély and the gardens of the Longchamp Palace look at their best then.

• Queues for the ferry to the Château d'If are shorter than in summer.

• Easter lifts tourist traffic in the centre and at the Vieux-Port.

Summer (June-August)

• Daytime temperatures are 25-32°C and the beaches at the Calanques are crowded - accommodation is worth booking well in advance.

• In July, the Marseille-Provence festival takes place with concerts and outdoor performances.

• The sea is at its warmest in August, but this is also when the centre and beaches are at their busiest.

Autumn (September-October)

• Daytime temperatures are 19-27°C, and in September the sea is still suitable for swimming.

• Accommodation prices are lower than in summer and there are fewer tourists in the Le Panier and Noailles districts.

• Autumn is the season for grapes and local culinary festivals in Provence.

Winter (November-February)

• Daytime temperatures are 10-17°C, and you can visit museums and galleries without queues - especially La Vieille Charité and the Marseille History Museum.

• The Mistral, a strong cold wind from the north, can make walking along the waterfront difficult.

• In December, Christmas markets increase footfall in the centre, but outside the festive period the city is quiet.

You will reach Marseille with one change in Paris.

From Kraków to Marseille

• Getting from Kraków Główny station takes approximately 10-12 hours with a change at Paris Gare de Lyon station.

• You first travel to Paris and from there take a high-speed train to Marseille.

• The Paris–Marseille leg takes about 3 hours.

• You change trains at the same Paris Gare de Lyon station.

From Warsaw to Marseille

• You travel from Warsaw Central station to Paris and change trains only once at Paris Gare de Lyon station.

• The entire journey takes approximately 11-13 hours.

• You can choose either a day or night connection to Paris and continue to the south of France.

• The Paris–Marseille leg takes approximately 3 hours.

From Wrocław to Marseille

• The route from Wrocław Główny station takes you via Germany or the Czech Republic to Paris.

• The journey takes approximately 11-13 hours.

• At Paris Gare de Lyon station you change to a train to Marseille.

• The Paris–Marseille leg takes around 3 hours.

From Poznań, Gdańsk, Katowice and Łódź you can also reach Marseille with a change in Paris, in a similar journey time. Seat reservations are compulsory on the international leg. You can buy your ticket on Europodróże without registering, and after purchase you will receive it by e-mail and SMS. 30 minutes before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats. See the refund and exchange policy for details - with PKP Intercity you can get a refund up to 20 minutes before departure and make an exchange up to 30 minutes before departure.

You get around Marseille mainly on foot and by public transport. A distinctive carved staircase leads from Marseille Saint-Charles station to the Vieux-Port - you will descend it towards the Old Port.

Marseille has a network of metro, trams and RTM buses. A single ticket costs a few zloty and a daily ticket costs a dozen. For several journeys a day, a daily ticket will be more convenient. You buy your tickets from vending machines at metro stops and stations.

At the station you will find a taxi rank and you can use the shuttle apps - a useful solution with luggage or when arriving late. There are also Le Vélo city bikes operating in the centre with stations at the main attractions.

You get around the centre of Marseille mainly on foot and by public transport. The main attractions around the Vieux-Port are a short walk or a ride on public transport.

If you are looking for accommodation, the Noailles district and the area around Vieux-Port give you the widest choice of hotels and flats. In the Le Panier district you will find quieter streets, local cafés and a short walk to the port.

Where to stay overnight:

• Noailles and the Vieux-Port area - the largest choice of hotels and flats, close to the main attractions

• Le Panier - quieter streets, local cafés and a short walk to the port

Vieux-Port (Old Port)

This is the oldest port in the city, operating for over 2,600 years. Come in the morning to the fish market, where fishermen sell their morning catch directly from the boat. It takes 1-2 hours to tour the quay and surrounding area. Admission is free.

Castle d'If

The island with its fortress-prison was made famous by Alexandre Dumas' novel 'The Count of Monte Christo'. You get here by ferry from Vieux-Port and the trip takes a dozen minutes. The tour of the island and fortress takes 1.5-2 hours. There is an entrance fee. It's worth booking the ferry in advance to have time for a leisurely tour and views of the city from the island.

Le Panier district

This is the oldest part of Marseille with narrow streets, colourful street art and local cafes. It takes 1-2 hours to walk around the district. In this part of the city , you'll get the best sense of Marseille's everyday atmosphere.

La Vieille Charité

This is a 17th-century asylum with a baroque chapel, today operating as a cultural centre with museums of Mediterranean archaeology and African art. There is an entrance fee and the tour takes 1-1.5 hours. The arcaded courtyard itself is very impressive even without entering the museum.

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Cathédrale de la Major)

This is a 19th-century cathedral in neo-Byzantine style standing by the harbour. The monumental facade of striped stone is visible from a distance. Admission is free and the tour takes 30-45 minutes.

Longchamp Palace

This is a 19th-century palace with a magnificent fountain and gardens that houses the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum. Entrance to the gardens is free and there is a fee to enter the museums. A tour of the entire complex takes 1.5-2 hours.

Plan for day 1

1. In the morning - fish market at the Vieux-Port and coffee at the quay.
2. Before noon - walking tour of Le Panier district and La Vieille Charité.
3. Afternoon - ferry to Chateau d'If, tour of the fortress and views of the city.
4. Evening - dinner at the Old Port and bouillabaisse at one of the restaurants on the quay.

Plan for the weekend (2-3 nights)

You can arrange the first day in the same way as the plan for day 1.

Day 2:

1. Morning - St Mary's Cathedral and a walk along the quay.
2. Before noon - Longchamp Palace with gardens and museum.
3. Afternoon - Endoume district and view of the Calanques bay from the Corniche Kennedy.
4. Evening - dinner in the Noailles district and multicultural cuisine.

Day 3 (optional):

A trip to the Calanques National Park will take a full day. There you'll find rocky coves with turquoise water and hiking trails along the cliffs. You will arrive by bus from the centre of Marseille. It's worth taking water, comfortable shoes and swimming trunks if you're going from May to October.

What to eat

Bouillabaisse is a traditional Marseille fish soup made from several species of fish and seafood, served with croutons and rouille sauce. Restaurants along the Vieux-Port serve it as a main course, and a portion replaces an entire dinner.

Navettes are oblong orange blossom biscuits, a traditional sweet of Marseille. You can buy them in bakeries and patisseries all over the centre. The most famous bakery, Four des Navettes, has been operating since 1781 on Sainte Street.

Tapenade is a paste of olives, capers and anchovies, a classic Provençal delicacy sold at markets and delicatessen shops. It tastes good on a fresh baguette.

Where to eat:

• The market on the Vieux-Port - operates in the morning and sells mainly fish and seafood straight off the boat. It's worth arriving before 9am before the best produce is gone.

• Noailles district - a multicultural market with products from North Africa and the Middle East - spices, olives, dates and fresh vegetables. Prices here are lower than in the tourist centre.

Souvenirs

• Marseille soap (savon de Marseille) - the city's most recognisable souvenir. The authentic one is made from olive oil - look for the mark "72% huile d'olive" on the bar. You can buy it in the shops in the centre and at the markets.

• Olive oil, herbs de Provence and lavender in sachets - another souvenir that can easily fit in your luggage.

Amounts given in PLN are approximate ranges. The euro exchange rate fluctuates, so check the current conversion rate before departure. The budget option assumes a hostel or cheap B&B, food at the market and in bistros, and mostly free attractions. The comfortable option includes a 4-star hotel, restaurants at the port with bouillabaisse and taxi rides instead of public transport.

The earlier you buy your train ticket, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price.