10 Things to do in Marseille with Kids

France is a country that is full of places with such a significant beauty that make them some of the best tourist destinations in Europe. At the same time cities like Marseille stand out among the various alternatives for having enough plans for both single tourists and those traveling with children and family.

I advise you to continue reading this publication that I have prepared for you, as I have grouped much of what to see and do in Marseille, putting the focus on what children can enjoy more.

France is a country characterized by the quality of its public spaces and Borely Park is, according to some specialists, one of the best gardens in the country. It is a meticulously manicured green space stretching across some 17 hectares south of Marseille where you will find different activities.

These range from the possibility of renting bicycles to having a little ride on an artificial lake or having the children play in a playground. You could also simply take a stroll along the various trails.

The name of this park comes from a magnificent castle that is located at one end of the grounds and visiting it is also a good idea if you are interested in learning a little about decorative art, ceramics and fashion. Along this site you will also come across some cafes and even a lakeside restaurant.

You have to know that the park is part of some of the best tours of Marseille and it is definitely a recommended activity for family entertainment where you are betting on savings, as the access is totally free.

Details of interest:

• Hours: every day of the week from 06:00 to 21:00.
• Location: Avenue du Parc Borély, 13008 Marseille, France

Amusement parks are a good entertainment alternative in most cities around the world and Marseille is no exception. If the idea of playing among trees through hanging trails that go from branch to branch sounds interesting to you, then you have to visit the Ecopark Adventures - Marseille Saint-Jérôme.

This site is located northeast of the city about 5 km approximately from the center of Marseille. In total, it offers about eight routes that allow you to climb between ropes. It also has a mini-park with much safer and more adapted spaces for the little ones. The park as such consists of two routes for teaching the basics of climbing, while the other six will increase your adrenaline level.

The most demanding route of all has a zip line with a free fall of 170m. If safety is something that worries you you have to know that all routes use lifelines that guarantee the physical integrity of adults and children.

Details of interest:

• Hours: open from Wednesday to Sunday from 13:00 to 19:30.
• Location: 20 Boulevard Madeleine Rémusat, 13013 Marseille, France.
• Prices: admission for over 13 years old is about 22 euros while children between 7 and 12 years old pay about 19 euros.

The Parc National Des Calanques is one of the great natural treasures of the French Riviera. For many it is the most faithful representation of the beauties that the Mediterranean coast can offer and it is a rather wild and rugged terrain of about 20 km long and about 4 km wide.

All along this route, turquoise waters allow the navigation of kayaks and small boats and is undoubtedly one of the favorite destinations for Marseille families.

So a trip to the national park, located a few kilometers from the center of Marseille, is an excellent decision. In fact, it is one of the best things to do in Marseille in summer, since the water temperatures make it an excellent plan to escape the heat that prevails in Europe during this time of the year.

You have to know that getting to this site is quite easy because there are public transportation alternatives that take you to some of the nearest coves or even a private cab ride is a favorable and economical alternative.

Fortunately, amusement parks abound in Marseille and Le Bois des Lutins is one such site you can't miss on your visit to the city if you're looking for children's entertainment plans. It is a picturesque natural attraction that today features an adventure park that is inspired by elves.

The land occupies about 4 hectares in total and makes available to all visitors a wide variety of totally environmentally sustainable activities such as pedal cars, zip lines, water slides or hanging trails.

The site also has a number of other very practical facilities such as a restaurant, a toilet stall, a first aid center and some cafeterias. So you have everything you need to enjoy an excellent plan if you are looking for activities that are mainly focused on children's entertainment.

This is undoubtedly one of the best activities to do in Marseille in June for the simple fact that it is the holiday season. As such, the park often organizes special events to further complement its commitment to quality children's entertainment.

Details of interest:

• Hours: during the summer they are usually open every day from 10:00 to 19:00. The rest of the year Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Location: ZI de, 13124 Peypin, France.
• Prices: rates range from 8 euros for children under 5 years old to 15 euros for those over 5 years old.

Children should be entertained with activities that are appealing to them. In this context, a small train that runs through the most touristic areas of the city is a good way to visit the city while the children have fun.

This is known as the Petit Train de Marseille and is basically a train that runs through the streets like a bus along a route that goes all along the coast of the city to the iconic Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

It is a good opportunity to enjoy privileged views of the center of Marseille and a fairly comfortable transportation alternative. I recommend you to book your tickets well in advance, as during the tourist season there may be several minutes of waiting time.

Anyway, you should know that this is not the only option to involve your children in an entertaining way to tour the city. And is that the best bike tours in Marseille are also a good way to exercise with the kids while touring the real architectural treasures of this locality.

Details of interest:

• Hours: they change depending on the time of year, but in high season it is from 9 am to about 7 pm with a one-hour break at noon.
• Prices: rates vary between 10 and 5 euros for adults and children depending on the route chosen.

Museums can be quite an entertaining activity for children depending on their age as well as their interests. In the case of Marseille, you should know that the city's history museum is a very appropriate place to learn about the extensive past of this city, which was founded approximately 600 years BC. C.

This is definitely one of the best museums in Marseille. It is a building that is located in an archaeological site very close to the old port. There are many exhibits that are fully interactive designed so that children can learn about history while having fun in the process

On site you will also find audio guides available that are in both French and English and are quite appropriate to make learning a little more dynamic for both adults and children.

Its strategic location also allows it to be an activity that you can complement with other plans in the same day and it really is one of the great cultural treasures of the city.

Details of interest:

• Hours: open every day of the week except Mondays from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Location: 2 Rue Henri Barbusse, 13001 Marseille, France.
• Prices: general admission costs approximately 6 euros.

A ride on the Marseille tourist bus can also be a great way to entertain children in the city. Especially because it is a very practical means of transportation that allows you to move through the most touristy and interesting areas of the city at a low cost and in a two-level, fully open-top vehicle that will help you explore the city in a much more fun way.

This one makes stops at the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica or also the city's town hall located in the Old Port. You can buy one or two-day bus tickets. In addition, you can get on and off as many times as you want.

Depending on the time of year, it is possible that the schedules of service and circulation of Marseille Hop On Hop Off buses may change a little. However, they are usually available to you from early morning to late afternoon.

Public squares lined with restaurants and cafés are another cultural highlight of the French identity. So it's no surprise to learn that one of the best things to do with kids in Marseille is a visit to one of these pleasant urban spaces.

One of the most appropriate and fun of all is the Cours Julien and is distinguished by its elongated and narrow shape that stretches for 800m. It is located to the west of Marseille's old port and along the entire length is flanked by cafes, restaurants, galleries and both clothing and art stores.

It exudes a rather bohemian and modern vibe and is a great place to enjoy urban art and graffiti in an atmosphere that feels very familiar. In fact, right in the center of the space is a playground for children to enjoy while parents rest.

This place, with its excellent culinary offerings, is part of some of the best gastronomic tours of Marseille, which are a good way to get to know the city through the palate.

Details of interest:

• Location: Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille, France.

The Château d'If is one of the most important attractions in Marseille. At the same time it is an activity that can be quite interesting for children as it is located on a fortified island bearing the same name.

Therefore, to reach it it is necessary to take a small boat. In fact some of the best boat tours in Marseille include this place as one of the essential stops on the route.

It is a 16th century fortress that became world famous during the 18th century for being a main setting of a novel by Alexandre Dumas known as The Count of Monte Cristo. The site itself is quite beautiful, but at the same time it stands out because it offers extremely privileged views of the city of Marseille.

The island today offers you the opportunity to eat in a beautiful restaurant with a terrace and enjoy the views of this perfectly preserved historic site that is part of the great cultural heritage of this French city.

Details of interest:

• Hours: open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Prices: the entrance to the castle costs about 6 euros, but it is usually included in the boat tours around the bay.

A couple of meters from the Borely park are the Prado beaches. These are that stretch of the coast of Marseille which is composed of white sands and extends for about 3 km approximately between the nautical center of Roucas and the old port of Le Pointe Rouge.

It is part of the Prado Maritime Park and is an urban space that includes about seven beaches and a variety of facilities for the entertainment of tourists and locals.

If you decide to visit this place during the summer you have to know that you will encounter a large number of people. However, just like during the rest of the year, it is a good place to enjoy with the family while playing on the different volleyball courts and skating rink, enjoying the climbing wall or eating at some of the different food stalls or restaurants in the area.

Details of interest:

• Location: 108 Allée du Prado Bleu, 13008 Marseille, France.