Family Days in Marseille: Beaches and Cave Pods
Family Days in Marseille: Beaches and Cave Pods
A good family day in Marseille mixes one indoor highlight with plenty of air and water. These plans run from a half-day to a full day.
Morning: Cosquer Méditerranée
The cave replica next to the MuCEM takes visitors through a flooded Paleolithic cave in small electric pods. Audio guides tell the story of the wall paintings in language children can follow. Entry is €18 for adults, €11 for ages 10 to 17 and €6 for ages 6 to 9. Weekday hours outside holidays are 09:30 to 18:00. The weekend and school-holiday closing time is 19:30. Pre-booking is available at grotte-cosquer.com .
Midday: ferry-boat and picnic
Cross the Vieux-Port on the old ferry-boat between Place aux Huiles and the Hôtel de Ville quay. The ride lasts about three minutes and costs €0.50, free with an RTM pass. Buy picnic food from the shops nearby and eat on the harbour front.
Afternoon option 1: Parc Borély and the Prado beaches
Parc Borély has 17 hectares of lawns, a lake with pedal boats, a carousel and a rose garden, and entry is free. The sandy Plages du Prado lie across the avenue, with shallow water and playgrounds. Buses 83 and 19 run there from the centre.
Afternoon option 2: the Petit Train
The train leaves from the Quai du Port and climbs to Notre-Dame de la Garde for a stop of roughly 20 minutes before the descent. The round trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and sources quote about €8 to €11 for adults and €4 to €6 for children. Pay on board. At the basilica, the terrace costs nothing and the view stretches to the Frioul islands.
Rainy-day backup: Palais Longchamp
The park around the palace is free, with fountains and wide lawns. Marseille’s zoo shut in 1987, so the animals in the old cages are fibreglass sculptures. They are fun to climb around, and children can still make a game of finding each one. The two museums charge about €5 each.
Getting around with children
The RTM 24-hour pass is €6.70 and the 72-hour pass is €14, with a single ticket at €1.70. See rtm.fr for child fares and maps. If you arrive by air, the airport shuttle (line A1) costs €15 single and €26 return to Saint-Charles.
Staying comfortable
Summer afternoons are hot, so schedule indoor stops between noon and four. Carry water, and keep a close hold on bags at Saint-Charles station and along the Vieux-Port, where pickpockets operate. For a family-focused guided day, browse kid-friendly Marseille tours on GetYourGuide and read the age limits first.
See the Marseille sightseeing page and the 2-day Marseille itinerary for ways to link these stops.
Tip: do the pods at opening time and leave the beach for the late afternoon.