Marseilles offers a wonderful array of parks, they practically all have small entrances but open up to a magnificent size. The Marseillaises are park lovers, that doesn't mean they take care of their parks but they go often and in large numbers. You'll find in Paris that you can't walk on the grass in 90 % of the public gardens without being whistled at by a man in uniform (the park intendant), here you can walk where you like, children play on the flowers while their parents are happy chatting to anyone who walks past.
You can just stroll along and discover the town  for yourself helped by red painted lines on the ground which indicate a nice walk to take, or you may be interested in a guided visit by foot offered by the tourist information office.
I've made a list by areas.
 

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Parc du Pharo
Parc Longchamp
Parc Borély and it's chateau, avenue du Parc-Borély
Big is the word to describe it, it homes merry-go-rounds, a botanical garden (jardin botanique E.M. Héckel), restaurant, you can hire bicycles, tandems, etc... It's Marseilles park
Parc Chanot
Jardin Valmer, 275 promenade de la Corniche
Every Saturday you see limousines parked outside this park, why?, because it has such a spectacular view of the sea and islands that newly weds come and have their photos taken here. Lovely and shady in the summer but very small, there's no play area and nothing to do but relax and smell the wonderful odeurs of the mediteranean plants.
 
 
 

BY FOOT
Anyone who comes to Marseille will (normally) want to see the "Vieux Port" to start with, you can get there by metro or numerous buses  this is highly recommended as you are right next to the tourist information office situated at the end of the famous Canebiere road. Go in and ask for a map (un plan) of the town, it's free, this will help incase you decide to go a rambling. Looking at the old port from the infront of Quick  (yes they're everywhere)  you will find Notre dame de la Garde to your left and a row of lovely old buildings, on your right you'll find a row of awful  looking concrete constructions with the town hall in the middle. Behind these eyesaws is the "Panier" area, don't be affraid to go and look. The odeurs of cooking, the clothes hanging from every window, the children playing in the street and the parents talking to their neighbour three houses along is caracteristic of this part of Marseille. This area was built on a hill, you'll find lots of windy little passages, it seems like it was constructed to shut out the sun. Interieur courtyards are hidden for the passer-by, if you get a chance take a look, if someone sees you just smile, say bonjour and indicate that you want to look around. Do this in the day and not at night. You'll find the Hotel Dieu towering in the middle, access to the garden is not allowed to the public but you'll see many, many cats living there, you'll discover little shops (open or boarded up), art galleries, bric a brac, you'll find churches and squares, stairways and brightly coloured buildings.

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If you're a walker you must visit the Calanques
 
 

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