Dating in Marseille, from the Old Port to the Calanques

Old Port and Le Panier

Founded by the Greeks more than two thousand six hundred years ago, the Old Port remains the beating heart of Marseille, with its morning fish market on Quai des Belges and its mirrored canopy by Norman Foster. You then climb up to Le Panier, the oldest district of the city, with its colourful shutters, and the Vieille Charité, a former hospice around a baroque courtyard. A late-morning date here easily turns into lunch.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde and MuCEM

Perched a hundred and fifty metres high, Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, the Bonne Mère, overlooks the entire bay of Marseille. You climb on foot, by car or by little train, for a panorama that runs from the Frioul islands to the Château d’If. By the sea, the MuCEM, opened in 2013 for Marseille-Provence 2013, forms with Fort Saint-Jean one of the finest cultural walks in the South of France. A date between ancient stones and concrete lace.

Calanques and corniche

From the little port of Callelongue, a path leads down to the Calanques of Marseille, part of the national park: turquoise water, white cliffs, pines. A picnic at Sormiou, a hike to En-Vau: that is a quintessentially Mediterranean outing. In town, the Corniche Kennedy and the Longchamp Palace complete the picture. On Lyad, Marseille singles share their favourite coves; it is up to you to find someone to take the next coastal stroll with.