5 must-see museums in Marseille

Marseille has a wide variety of museum

Are you planning to visit Marseille ? Discover our selection of the 5 must-see museums in Marseille !

The Mucem – For its architecture

Mucem Museum

The architect Rudy Ricciotti has designed a transparent building of 15,500 square metres and 72 metres on each side for the J4: the Mucem. The building, whose base is immersed, offers 3600 m² of exhibition space on two floors and walkways between the interior and exterior.

From the outside, the building is strikingly romantic. Its slender structure, its fine lacework and, above all, its multiple viewpoints give it a poetic atmosphere. Although the Mucem regularly holds large exhibitions that promote the Mediterranean and its civilisations, the visit can also be enjoyed outside, in the corridors that offer a glimpse of the sea…

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations is the first major national museum dedicated to European and Mediterranean civilizations for the 21st century.

The Cantini Museum – For its major exhibitions

Cantini Museum Marseille

The Cantini Museum is housed in a 17th century mansion. It is a prestigious cultural institution that focuses on the so-called modern period of art, i.e. French painting and sculpture between the years 1900 and 1960.

The Cantini Museum is renowned for its majestic temporary exhibitions. It receives very large works, lent by the most beautiful museums in the world. A few years ago, it devoted an entire exhibition to surrealism and the representation of dreams, showing works by Dali, Max Ernst and Man Ray.

The Cantini museum houses one of the most important French public collections covering the period 1900-1960.

The Vieille Charité and its museums

In the heart of the Panier district, the Vieille Charité houses several museums and temporary exhibitions. It includes the Archaeology Museum, which has been completely renovated in 2019. As well as the Museum of African, Oceanian and Amerindian Arts. Admission to these museums is free.

Historic site offering temporary exhibitions and hosting the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, the Museum of African, Oceanic and Amerindian Arts.

Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology Marseille

Marseille Archaeology Museum

Located in the Vieille Charité, the Marseille Archaeology Museum offers a panorama of ancient Mediterranean civilizations.
Museum of African, Oceanian and Amerindian Arts Marseille open
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Nestled in the heart of the Vielle Charité, the Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens, Amérindiens (MAAOA) opened its doors in 1992 and presents works of art from three continents: Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

The Museum of the History of Marseille

Marseille History Museum

In this museum you will discover models, everyday objects, funerary monuments… but also what everyone talks about: the ancient Greek and Roman ships that are the pride of Laurent Védrine, the museum’s curator. And with good reason, as this is the largest fleet ever assembled.

The museum is dedicated to the origins of Marseille and is equipped with interactive technologies, which makes it an ideal museum to visit with the family. Augmented reality effects, 3D reconstructions, touch screens, sound effects, the public can feel the past. The origins of the Phocaean city with over 2600 years of history.

The Museum of Natural History

Museum of Natural History

Are you passing through Marseille? Visit the Natural History Museum! It offers an ideal visit for the family. At the crossroads of cultures and natural spaces of Europe and the Mediterranean, it regularly offers temporary exhibitions with an eco-citizen vision of biodiversity.

1200 m² of reference exhibitions open to the public where botanical, palaeontological, mineralogical and zoological specimens are displayed.

The list of museums in Marseille

Château d’If Marseille

Archipelago of Frioul

Château de la Buzine Marseille

House of Mediterranean Cinematographies with a cinema, a permanent exhibition and open spaces for temporary exhibitions. You can also enjoy its park!

Jardin des Vestiges – Ancient Port Marseille

Greek and Roman archaeological site in the center of Marseille

La Savonnerie du Midi Marseille

This is where the Corvette brand of soap is made. This soap factory has been steeped in history since 1870!

The Marseille Conservation and Resource Centre

Part of the MuCEM, this is the backstage area where the museum’s reserves and documentary collections are kept. Part of it is open to the public.

The Unicorn Soap Museum Marseille

La Savonnerie de la Licorne also has its own museum! See you on the Quai de Rive Neuve in Marseille.

Memorial of the Deportations Marseille

Memorial dedicated to the deportations during the Second World War

Musama Marseille opened

The brand new Musama Marseille Soap Museum opens its doors in Marseille.

Museum of Contemporary Art Marseille

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Marseille, known as the MAC, has a rich and varied collection of contemporary works.

Museum of African, Oceanian and Amerindian Arts Marseille

Nestled in the heart of the Vielle Charité, the Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens, Amérindiens (MAAOA) opened its doors in 1992 and presents works of art from three continents: Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

Museum of Earthenware Château Pastre Marseille

Art of earthenware

Museum of Motorcycles Marseille

Permanent exhibition

Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware and Fashion Marseille

Closed on Friday
The Château Borely presents collections of decorative arts, earthenware and fashion, from the 17th century to the contemporary period.

Musée des Beaux Arts Marseille

Beaux-arts Museum

Musée des Beaux Arts de Marseille, left wing of the Palais Longchamp

Museum of Roman Docks Marseille

Musée des Dock Romain

The Roman Docks Museum houses the remains of one of the few known Roman dolia warehouses in the world.

Grobet Labadié Museum Marseille

Musée Grobet Labadié

Museum currently closed for renovation.

Musée Provençal Marseille Closed on Friday

Located in the Château Gombert district, this friendly museum brings together an important ethnographic collection, presenting numerous objects from everyday life which retrace the history of the region and of Marseille in particular.

Marseille Terroir Museum. The museum retraces the life of the Marseilles countries from the 18th to the 19th century: furniture, costumes and objects recreating the traditional art of living in Provence. The collections of religious art, nativity scenes and santons evoke festivals and customs.

Museum Regards de Provence Marseille

Located in the former sanitary station, this museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and to the history of the area.

Museum of Natural History Marseille open

Palais des Arts – Carli Marseille

Conservatoire National à Rayonnement Régional Pierre Barbizet

Palais Longchamp Marseille

A 19th century historic site which includes the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History and the gardens.

Santons Marcel Carbonel, shop and museum Marseille

A Provençal know-how and a museum close to the Old Port in Marseille.

Further reading

• How many days do you need in Marseille ?
• Guide to Marseille, is it worth the visit? 10 things to do
• Calanques of Marseille : the guide
• A mini-stay for Valentine’s Day in Marseille
• Best souvenirs to buy in Marseille

The Edmond Rostand hotel is ideally located in Marseille, 10′ from the old port. Prepare your stay with us, contact us, we will be happy to answer you and book your room online.