Private Tour: Marseille City Sightseeing and Chateau d'If

Following an afternoon pickup from your Marseille hotel, meet your guide and hop into your private minivan to begin your Marseille sightseeing tour. Widely considered among France’s finest cities, Marseille boasts a wealth of fascinating history and culture alongside beautiful Mediterranean coastal scenery.

Take a spin out through the city to the iconic Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, fondly known by the locals as ‘la bonne mère’ (the good mother). Explore the historical church and crypt with your guide and learn of its Neo-Byzantine heritage. Take in panoramic views over Marseille and the Old Port, and soak up the fresh sea air from your vantage point on the hillside.

Continue on to the spectacular Cathédrale de la Major — Marseille’s famous cathedral — and admire its impressive stone exterior before heading inside for a guided visit. Afterward, enjoy free time to wander around the ancient fortification of Fort Saint-Jean at your leisure. Built in the late 17th century by King Louis XIV of France to protect Marseille from attack, the fort is today home to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Mediterranée) and an attractive Mediterranean garden.

Head to the Old Port of Marseille and hop aboard a shuttle boat out to the islands of the Frioul archipelago. Here, discover the imposing sea fortress of Château d'If, built in the 16th century by King Francis I of France. Visit the château’s ancient prison and castle — made famous in Alexandre Dumas' well-known French novel The Count of Monte Christo — and gain insight into its checkered history from your informative guide.

When it’s time to leave Château d'If behind, hop back aboard your boat and return to the old port for the onward journey back to your Marseille hotel, where your tour comes to an end.