Ideas for christmas holidays in Marseille

Santon fair and Christmas market

The first thing that springs to mind when you’re in Marseille during the Christmas holidays is of course the santon fair! It’s held on the Vieux-Port opposite the Samaritaine, and is open every day from 10am to 7pm, and until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s an essential part of Provencal traditions during the festive season. Not far from there, at the bottom of the Canebière, you’ll find the Christmas market. This year, a host of events in the city centre and in every district of the city will provide magical moments for all the family.

Christmas in Marseille in every district

Marseille comes alive and lights up during the festive season! Children’s villages, enchanting events, fireworks displays, shows, toboggan runs, ice rinks… Each district has its own festive events to share the magic of Christmas with family and friends.

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Discover the educational farms

Open every day during the holidays. Children will learn about the environment, farm animals and the natural world around them. Educational activities and events are on offer (gardening, plant discovery, introduction to organic farming, etc.). There are several educational farms in Marseille.

Take a breath of fresh air in Marseille’s flower beds

Fancy a nice winter walk with the family? Thanks to its topography, Marseille has a wealth of beautiful nature trails for everyone to enjoy, from breathtaking views to the forest. Here are our ideas for walks in Marseille and the surrounding area for a complete change of scenery.

And don’t forget our parks and gardens!

Marseille also boasts over 700 hectares of parks and gardens throughout the city. Make the most of your holiday to come and spend a lovely day out with the family. Some offer guided tours, such as the botanical garden at Parc Borely.

Explore the planets and stars

Visit the Planetarium in the heart of the Palais Longchamp gardens for a fascinating journey into the universe. A different programme awaits you every day during the school holidays, suitable for young and old alike.

Activities in the city’s museums

For curious little ones, visits and activities are planned throughout the Christmas holidays at most of the city’s museums. From nocturnal safaris at the Natural History Museum to nature-based art workshops at the Préau des Accoules, storytelling tours at the Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens, Amérindiens, Christmas creative workshops at Château Borely and themed courses and workshops at Château de la Buzine, there’s something for all tastes and ages!

For OM fans

Tours of the Orange Vélodrome stadium take place every day during the Christmas holidays, so your children will know everything there is to know about their favourite team!
Book your visit now!

Learn all the secrets of Marseille Soap

Marseille soap is famous the world over. But do you really know how this famous soap is made? During the school holidays, Marseille’s soap factories are offering free tours, but please note that these are by prior arrangement only!
You can visit the workshops of the Savonnerie du Midi or the Savonnerie du Fer à Cheval.
And if you want to extend the experience, the Musée du Savon, located on the Old Port, is also open to you.

The Museum of Illusion

The Musée de l’illusion is a real stunner! Covering an area of almost 700 m², the whole family can enjoy a series of astonishing and unsettling visual experiences that will turn your senses and your perception of reality completely upside down. An incredible experience to enjoy together.

You can take your children to the Bowl du Prado or the skatepark at the Friche Belle de Mai, two emblematic spots where they can have fun, work out and perfect their moves in complete freedom.
If they’re more in the mood for Tarzan, treat them to a tree-climbing outing and share an adventurous moment together on suspension bridges, zip-lines and tree acrobatics.

And as winter sets in, why not try your hand at a board sport?
Head for the Palais Omnisports Marseille Grand-Est, home to an ice rink worthy of the Olympic Games. The whole family can enjoy a frosty, fun-filled time discovering or rediscovering the pleasures of the ice.

Play parks

For the younger ones, Royal Kid or Dream Kidz are real play paradises where your children can play to their heart’s content in huge, safe, colourful structures. For older children and teenagers, multi-purpose areas such as Full In Park, KIP and Sensas offer a host of indoor activities: indoor go-karting, lasergame, giant trampoline, sensory courses and team challenges. They’re all great fun, even when it’s raining!

Escape games

Marseille has an abundance of escape games to suit all tastes: magical adventures for Harry Potter fans, mysterious investigations for the curious, film-inspired scenarios for movie buffs, or more intense rooms for teenagers and adults looking for a thrill.
From the most playful to the most frightening, everyone will be able to find the experience that’s right for them, with names like Time Out, Panic Room,Dark Dreams and Black Room.

For the more adventurous

Marseille’s climbing walls are just waiting for you! Suitable for all levels, including the very young, Marseille’s climbing gyms offer the ideal playground for discovering climbing as a family. Whether you’re looking for an introduction, a challenge or just a fun way to enjoy the sport, places like Altissimo, la boite à grimpe, Climb Up and many others offer a wide variety of routes and workshops for young and old alike.
Discover all the climbing gyms in Marseille