MARSEILLES
The Town
People
Working
Going out
Shopping
Accommodation
Round abouts
History/Old Harbour Language Companies Restaurants Fashion Hotels Islands
Monument-Museum Habits Development Pubs Markets Youth Hostels Estaque
Parks / Walks Pastis Conferences Cinema Specialities Renting Calanques
Getting around Sport Finding a job Theatre-Concert Areas Beaches
Weather Economy Tourist I Center Maps

There's nothing easier than getting around Marseilles. It may seem a little expensive at first but you have to know where to buy your tickets. There is a good bus and underground (or subway) system, there also many taxis at your disposal (if you can find one). By foot stays the best way of getting around, though by car is often easy if you can find a place to park.
 
 

CAR
If you're not an experienced driver then hold on tight, it's like being in a bumper car, people come from left and right, and sometimes face on. You'll be beeped at non stop if you haven't got 13 on the end of your number plate and you'll find people who just park their car infront of you at the traffic lights to go and buy a baguette or a packet of cigarettes, or worse he might see his friend which means he's not going to move for a while. Everybody ignores red lights, pedestrians as well, you'll find them in the middle of the road or trying to cross the motorway with their shopping. You may ask yourself, Where's the Police? Well he's double parked his car and gone to buy a packet of cigarettes as well. Never park in a police parking space, you WILL get a ticket. You'll also find that you're never alowed to turn left (the normal Marseillaises don't seem to see the sign) and so you'll have to learn the main roads like the back of your hand, don't trust a map, and I'm sure that you'll break the law, tut tut tut, at least once. There are many underground car parks in Marseille, if you need to leave your car for a few days and you think that no-one can get into it or steal it then you can leave it in the Parking du cours d'Estienne-d'Orves 35F for 24hrs. If you think your car is worth stealing then you must leave it in a private car park, with a security guard, you'll find them everywhere, in the side streets.
If you have an accident the french guy will shout alot (harmless expressionism) and want you to fill in a form, this is for insurance reasons, he'll ask you for his driving licence and will give you his, on the form you explain, from your point of view, what happened using drawings and words (in English is fine). The police will not come if no-one is hurt.

 top
BUS
The bus works very well, you can get almost anywhere you like by bus. The bus network is called the RTM, they have special bus lanes (though the normal Marseillaises behind the wheel of a car turnes into a madman and thinks if he drives quick enough in the bus lane no-one will notice him) You can pick up documentation concerning all the busses (bus routes and times) in the bus station, 6, rue Fabres 04 91 91 92 10. To buy your bus tickets it's a little more complicated, you can buy them individually from the bus driver. 9F or you can buy a card from anywhere showing the sign RTM the cards give 7 or 14 journeys (50 or 100F). Each journey lasts an hour, so if your quick you can go and come back on the same ticket (you must put it through the machine each time) this also means that if you have to take two busses, you've got an hour to get onto your sencond bus. This ticket also works with the underground. If someone hands you a bus ticket, it's because there is still time left on it and you can still use it.
The night busses work well too.

UNDERGROUND
or Metro is very efficient, very clean (not like the streets), it opens at 5am and closes at 9pm. There are two lines spread across Marseille, tickets are the same as for the bus, don't forget that once you've stamped your ticket you've got an hour's transport wherever you want, using the bus, metro or tramway.

TAXIS
If you talk to a Marseillaises about taxis he's bound to ask you if you've seen the film ! entirely filmed in Marseilles they're very proud of it.
Marseille Taxis 04 91 02 20 20
Taxis France 04 91 49 91 00
Taxis Tupp 04 91 05 80 80
Taxis Plus 04 91 03 60 03
Eurotaxis (bilingual drivers) 04 91 970 12 12
You'll also find a taxi rank at the beginning of the rue Breteuil

 top
FOOT
Definately the best way to see the town, though in the summer you may find it a little too hot. If you look on floor, around the vieux port, you'll find red lines painted on the pavement. These are actually visits and if you follow them you'll be taken around the beautiful sites to see, keep your eyes open, it's easy to miss things.

any questions, comments - send me a message