Getting There and Away

Written by Camille Laurent, Celine Fournier, Marcus Kayode, Sebastien Simon
30/08/2025
View of Marseille harbor featuring a speedboat and historic buildings on a sunny day, capturing the essence of Mediterranean coastal living.
alex ohan, Pexels

Marseille's primary transport hubs include Marseille Saint-Charles, a central railway and intercity bus station, and Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), the main international airport. The city also features a significant ferry port that connects to various Mediterranean destinations.

Flights:

Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) serves as the main international gateway, located approximately 25-27 km northwest of the city center. One-way flights can start from $54, with return fares from $66. To reach the city center from the airport, a shuttle bus (Navette Marseille Aeroport line 91) operates every 15-20 minutes, taking 25-50 minutes, with tickets costing around €10-€10.90. Alternatively, a free shuttle connects to Vitrolles-Aéroport-Marseille-Provence train station (5 minutes), from where a TER train reaches Marseille St-Charles in 18-20 minutes. Taxis are also available 24/7, with fares to the city center typically ranging from €50-€60 during the day and €70-€100 at night.

Trains:

Marseille Saint-Charles is the central train station, offering high-speed TGV services. Direct TGV trains from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Marseille take approximately 3 hours 2 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes, with tickets from €19-€27. Journeys from Lyon can take about 1 hour 45 minutes, and from Avignon, as little as 55 minutes. Direct international train services are available from cities like Milan (under 8 hours) and Barcelona (just over 7 hours).

Buses:

The intercity bus station is integrated with Marseille Saint-Charles train station. Companies such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus provide services. Bus travel from Paris typically takes 9-11 hours, with fares starting around €27. Shorter routes, like from Aix-en-Provence, take 10-30 minutes and can cost as little as €1-€9.

Ferries:

Marseille's ferry port handles passenger routes to Corsica, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Major operators include Corsica Linea, La Méridionale, and Algérie Ferries. Journeys to Corsican ports like Ajaccio or Ile Rousse can take 7 to 14 hours, with deck seats starting from €33-€50. Routes to North Africa (e.g., Algiers, Tunis, Tangier Med) generally range from 24 to 48 hours, with deck seat prices starting around €100-€150.

Car Rental:

Car rental services are available at Marseille Provence Airport and city locations, including Marseille St-Charles Railway Station, from companies like Europcar, Hertz, and Avis. Daily rental rates at the airport can start from approximately $70. Navigating Marseille's city center by car can be challenging due to traffic and narrow streets.

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