Once the flight or train is booked, the next question is usually: how do I get around once I'm there? Good news, Marseille has an RTM transit network that's more than enough to visit without a car, and the city centre is very walkable. Here's how we get around ourselves.
The metro, 2 efficient lines
Marseille has two metro lines, M1 and M2, covering about 29 stations across roughly 20km. They run from 5am to 1am. The key stations for a visitor: Saint-Charles (the main station), Castellane, Vieux-Port and La Timone. It's the fastest way to cross the city from one point to another without worrying about traffic.
The tram, running along the centre
Three tram lines (T1, T2, T3) round out the network, with about thirty stations. Line T2 is especially useful for a visitor: it serves the Vieux-Port, La Canebière and its shopping, the museum district at Cinq Avenues, and La Joliette, handy if your trip starts or ends near the cruise terminal.
The bus, for beaches and outlying neighborhoods
The RTM bus network counts nearly 90 lines, covering everything the metro and tram don't reach: the hills, the Prado beaches, more outlying neighborhoods like the Sormiou or Callelongue calanques. It's the bus we take, for instance, to climb up to Notre-Dame de la Garde or reach the start of the trails toward the Calanques.
The plan's already built, route included
Our 6 ready-made day itineraries spell out the exact route between each address, so you never waste time in transit.
See the itinerariesThe water bus, in summer
From April to September, a water bus connects the Vieux-Port to La Pointe Rouge on one side and L'Estaque on the other, hugging the coastline. It's both a practical way to get around and a little improvised cruise along the bay, with a view you don't get from the road.
Tickets, fares and passes
The system is integrated: a single ticket, about €2, is valid for 1 hour with transfers across metro, tram, bus and water bus. For a multi-day trip, a day pass or multi-day pass is noticeably better value if you're stringing together several rides a day, which is almost always the case while sightseeing.
On foot and by taxi/rideshare
The Vieux-Port, Le Panier and Cours Julien are all very walkable over short distances. For a one-off longer trip or late at night, rideshare apps (Uber, Heetch) are generally simpler and cheaper than traditional taxis, which often require cash.
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Unlock the complete guideFrequently asked questions about transit in Marseille
How do you get around Marseille without a car?
Very easily thanks to the RTM network: 2 metro lines, 3 tram lines and nearly 90 bus lines, with a single ticket valid across the whole network. Downtown and the Vieux-Port are also very walkable.
How much does a transit ticket cost in Marseille?
A single ticket costs about €2, valid for 1 hour with transfers across metro, tram and bus. For a multi-day trip, a day pass or multi-day pass is noticeably better value.
Does the Marseille metro serve the airport?
No, the airport is reached via a dedicated shuttle to Saint-Charles station (see our airport-to-centre article), not by metro.