What to do on May 1st in Marseille

How to survive May 1st 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!

Updated on 23 April 2026

Public transport

And yes, on May 1st, you won’t find any public transport in Marseille, as in many other French cities. If you want to get around, use the 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 long, as does the double-decker bus: Le Colorbüs.
Maritime shuttles will take you as far as the Pointe-Rouge or Estaque.
The shuttle service 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. (Ask your cruise operator for details).
(Place de la Joliette <> Cruise port)

Open or closed?

Places closed

All the municipal museums will be closed (weekly closure on Mondays), as will Mucem, the Musée Regards de Provence and Maison Yellow. Visits to theOrange Vélodrome will not be possible on this day either.

Places open

But all is not lost! The replica of the famous Cosquer cave will be open all day, so make the most of 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 feeling sporty, head to thePalais omnisport (Le POMGE), where the skate park and ice rink will be open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm.

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

Our tours and activities

The Tourist Office has a whole host of activities and visits on offer for May 1st. Treasure hunts in the town, electricbike rides, Tuk Tuk tours, boat trips in the Calanques, snorkelling… The choice is yours!

All visits and activities

Why is May 1st celebrated?

Historically, May 1st dates back to 1886 in the United States. The American workers’ unions demanded an 8-hour working day. For American companies, 1 May corresponds to the start of the new accounting year. On 1 May 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 1st May would be a day of pacifist demonstrations. The first demonstration took place in 1890. In 1891, the demonstration turned tragic and ended with a dozen deaths in Fourmies in northern France.

In 1919, the French Parliament decided that 1st May would be a public holiday. In 1941, it was celebrated as “Labour Day and Social Concord Day”. In 1948, a law definitively established 1st May as a paid public holiday. Today we celebrate “Workers’ Day”.

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