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What to do on May 1st in Marseille

How to survive May 1st (labour day) in Marseille? No public transport, shops closed, museums closed (well, not all of them!) you’re thinking, what’s the point of going out? Well, think again! We’ve put together a list of places that are open (or closed, at least, so there are no surprises!) and things to do to get out and about on May 1st!

Published on 16 April 2025

Public transport

And yes, on May 1st, you won’t find any public transport in the Phocaean city, as in many other French cities. If you want to get around, you’ll have to use self-service bicycles, scooters or even … your feet. If you want to visit the city, the little tourist trains (Panier and Notre-Dame de la Garde) normally run all day, as does the double-decker bus: Le Colorbüs.
Maritime shuttles take you to Pointe-Rouge or Estaque.
The shuttle to Frioul operates as usual, but please note that the Château d’If will be closed on this day.

If you need to get to your cruise ship, the free shuttles will operate as usual.
(place de la Joliette <> Port de croisière)

Open or closed?

Closed sites

All municipal museums will be closed (weekly closure on Mondays), as will Mucem, Musée Regards de Provence and MX Expérience. The Orange Vélodrome will also be closed on Labor Day.

Places still open

But all is not lost! The replica of the famous Cosquer cave will be open all day, so take the opportunity to discover this jewel of prehistory! Notre-Dame de la Garde, the symbol of Marseille, is also open from 7am to 6pm.
You can also discover and enjoy the Musée de l’Illusion, a surprising experience!
If you’re in the mood for sport, head to the Palais omnisport (Le POMGE), where the skate park and ice rink will be open from 10am to 1pm ans to 2pm to 5pm.

This day is also an opportunity to visit Marseille in a different way, on foot. We’ve selected a wide range of urban walks to suit your mood and your time.

Our tours and activities

The Tourist Office is offering a wide range of activities and tours for May 1st. Treasure hunts in the city, electric bike rides, Tuk Tuk tours, orienteering races at Frioul or Pastré… the choice is yours!

All tours and activities

ColorBus-HD-©MP-8146.jpg — ©Matthieu Parent

Why do we celebrate May 1st?

Historically, May 1st dates back to 1886 in the United States. American workers’ unions demanded an 8-hour working day. For American companies, May 1st corresponds to the start of the new accounting year. On May 1st of that same year, thousands of workers demonstrated peacefully across the country.

In France, it was 3 years later, in 1889, during the centenary of the French Revolution, that it was decided that May 1st would be a day of pacifist demonstrations. The first demonstration took place in 1890. In 1891, the demonstration turned tragic, ending in a dozen deaths in Fourmies in northern France.

In 1919, the French Parliament decided that May 1st would be a public holiday. In 1941, it was celebrated as “Fête du Travail et de la Concorde sociale”. In 1948, a law definitively established May 1st as a paid public holiday. Today we celebrate “Workers’ Day”.

Traditionally, we offer a sprig of Lily of the Valley on May 1st. In fact, you’ll find vendors selling their lucky sprigs on every street corner!