Marseille Photo Spots

We easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip forever. Today we asked our local photographers to show us around all the best places to take photos in Marseille. 📸

Founded all the way back in 600 BC, Marseille is the oldest city in France and the next biggest after Paris. Located in the south of France on the French Riviera‌, Marseille is the capital of Provence and truly one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit, thanks to its Mediterranean climate, clear turquoise water, 300 days of sunshine, dramatic coastline, picturesque landscapes, cypress trees, and gorgeous lavender fields‌. ☀️ 🌊 🌳 🪻

TLDR

1. La Calanque de Saména: A small but must-see beach known for its rocky coastline, beautiful flora, and turquoise water.
2. Palais Longchamp: Arguably Marseille’s most notable landmark, it’s a simply stunning building and a miraculous feat of architecture.
3. Le Panier: An open-air museum and the oldest district in Marseille, packed with small designer shops, cultural sites, street art, and quaint café terraces.
4. Notre-Dame de la Garde: A towering Catholic basilica that challenges the Palais Longchamp as Marseille’s most recognizable symbol.
5. Vieux Port: The oldest port in Marseille and has been the natural harbour of the city for thousands of years.

Photo: Florent in Marseille for Flytographer. City photos of Marseille.

1. La Calanque de Saména

La Calanque de Saména, known as the “terrestrial heart of the Calanques National Park,” is a small but must-see beach, arguably one of the most Instagrammable places to take photos in Marseille! 😉 Its rocky coastline, beautiful flora, and turquoise water are extremely inviting, and if you’re interested in snorkeling, its underwater relief, full of small caves and drop-offs, is a haven for sea critters such as starfish, small octopuses, rockfish, scorpionfish, and dozens of other species. 🐙 🐟

That said, it’s an unsupervised beach, and when the swell is strong, swimming is not advised. But that shouldn’t stop you from soaking up the sun, exploring the rocky coastline, or casting your reel and going fishing! 🎣

Photo: Lucille in Marseille for Flytographer. Arnold and partner celebrate a proposal in Marseille with a proposal photoshoot in La Calanque de Saména.

2. Palais Longchamp

The Palais Longchamp is arguably Marseille’s most notable landmark. It is a simply stunning building and miraculous feat of architecture that is not, in fact, a palace. Instead, it houses two museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, both of which flank the gorgeous fountain called the Château d’Eau. ⛲️

The Palais Longchamp was built to commemorate a major feat of engineering that occurred during the 1800s. Although Marseille sits next to the sea, the city was frequently overwhelmed by drought, and the lack of water meant it had to be rationed by the authorities. After a cholera outbreak, city officials were forced to act and engineers were contracted to create 18 aqueducts, a number of underground waterways, and an 80-kilometer-long canal to draw water from the Durance River in the Alps. Still to this day, two-thirds of the water in Marseille comes from the Durance. 

It took 15 years to complete and, once it was, city officials decided it should be celebrated with a grand monument. Thus, the Palais Longchamp was born … well, not exactly; it actually took 30 years to build! ✨

Do not, under any circumstances, miss a photo op with this breathtaking work of art when you’re in Marseille! 📸

Photo: Florent in Marseille for Flytographer. Jafet and partner celebrate an anniversary in Marseille with an anniversary photoshoot at Palais Longchamp.

3. Le Panier

Le Panier is an open-air museum and the oldest district in Marseille—it was founded by settlers from Greece in 600 BC! These days, it’s filled with small designer shops, cultural sites, colourful narrow streets, street art, and plenty of quaint café terraces that offer spectacular views of the ocean. All of which make for perfect places to take photos in Marseille! 

Get ready for some exercise, as there are loads of stairs; a perfect way to work off all of that bouillabaisse and rosé! To reward yourself for all your hard work (those stairs don’t climb themselves!), grab an apéro in the charming square, Place de Lenche, and take some shots of the Notre-Dame de la Garde, which towers over the city. 🍷

Photo: Lucille in Marseille for Flytographer. Sarah and family capture memories in Marseille with a family photoshoot in Le Panier.

4. Notre-Dame de la Garde

The Notre-Dame de la Garde (known locally as “La Bonne Mère” or “The Good Mother”) is a stunning Catholic basilica that challenges the Palais Longchamp as Marseille’s most recognizable symbol. It is the most visited site in Marseille and the site of the popular Assumption Day pilgrimage, which occurs every August 15.

The basilica was built on the foundations of an ancient fort on the highest natural point in Marseille, a limestone outcropping on the south side of the Old Port of Marseille. The bell tower is topped by a 41-foot belfry that supports a huge 37-foot statue of the Madonna and Child that’s made from copper gilded with gold leaf. 🔔 🔔

In other words, it’s tough to miss (and fit into your camera’s frame!).

5. Vieux Port

The Vieux Port (“Old Port”) is, as the name implies, the oldest port in Marseille and has been the natural harbour of the city for thousands of years. According to legend, this is where Greek settlers first landed in 600 BC. The port has since been renovated to become a large public square that acts as the social and cultural centre of the city. It has the largest concentration of bars and restaurants and tons of incredible places to take photos in Marseille! 

It’s also the starting point for many excursions. Take a boat out to visit the imposing fortress, Château d’If, on the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago, Île d’If, a famous setting from The Count of Monte Cristo. 🚤 🏝️ 🏰

If you’re in the mood for some culture, you’ll find the Museum of Civilizations (also known as MuCEM) on the far end of the port. This is a modern art building made of metal latticework that’s full of artifacts dedicated to Mediterranean civilizations. And best of all, there’s a beautiful terrace on the roof where you can grab a coffee on one of its lounge chairs and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Talk about Instagrammable! 

Photo: Lucille in Marseille for Flytographer. Photo of Vieux Port.

Capturing Memories in Marseille

With its dazzlingly dramatic coastline, diverse landscape, Mediterranean climate, clear turquoise water, storied history, and year-round sunshine, Marseille is a picturesque Instagram destination not to be missed. ❤️

Since Marseille is filled with so many beautiful locations, we’ve included a few honourable mentions:

• Vallon des Auffes (an old fishing village‌)
• Cours Julien
• Cathédrale La Major
• Les Calanques
• Noailles
• Sofitel (Luxury hotel)
• Cassis

Flytographer pairs you with travel photographers around the world so you can enjoy a professional photoshoot wherever you travel. We have talented photographers located in Marseille, as well as many popular destinations across France and Europe, including Paris, Rome, Lisbon, London, and many more!