nowthingstodo
Saved Tours
Cart
Marseille: From Arenc to MuCEM

Marseille: From Arenc to MuCEM

4.4(5 reviews)
8 hour(s)
english
Barcelona, Spain

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

Modify your booking anytime

No extra fees

Best price guarantee

No hidden fees

Opening Marseille to the sea through the Euroméditerranée project

Transformation of port areas into walking, recreational, and cultural zones

Creation of Boulevard du Littoral after burying the highway

Improved public spaces and reduced traffic along the coast

Explore The Modern Urban Transformation Of Marseille From The Quai De L’Arenc To MuCEM


The Euroméditerranée project aims to open Marseille to the sea by transforming the port into walking areas, recreational zones, and cultural attractions. Along the coast, the development of new spaces and roads—made possible after burying the highway and creating the Boulevard du Littoral—has helped calm traffic and establish a high-quality public space between the city and the harbor. We will begin our tour at the Quai de l’Arenc to see the CMA CGM Tower by Zaha Hadid.


Continue along Boulevard de Dunkerque, where you will find projects by Jean-Paul Viguier and the new FRAC designed by Kengo Kuma, leading us to Joliette Square. We will then move on to the area where the Cité de la Méditerranée is still under development, an ambitious project that includes the transformation of the docks’ walkways, the Maritime Station by Lanoire and Courrian, and the esplanade of La Major designed by Bruno Fortier and Jean-Michel Savignat, showcasing the city's architectural evolution.


The tour highlights the future Euromed complex by Massimiliano Fuksas, illustrating the scale of urban renewal currently underway in this historic port city. By connecting these modern landmarks, we gain insight into how Marseille is reinventing itself as a cultural hub while respecting its maritime heritage. The walk provides a unique perspective on the intersection of contemporary design and industrial history, offering a comprehensive look at the city's ongoing efforts to integrate the waterfront into daily life.


The tour ends at the Esplanade J4, home to the MuCEM, a stunning example of modern architecture that serves as a bridge between the past and the future. This journey through the changing face of Marseille is essential for anyone interested in urban planning, architecture, and the revitalization of historic cities. By the end of the walk, you will have a clear understanding of how these new developments are shaping the future of the Mediterranean's most vibrant port.

What's Included
  • Customised Guided Tour
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Price start from

$ 0

Contact us 24x7

This activity is managed by our trusted partner FareHarbor.

Additional taxes and fees may apply — total shown at checkout.

Secure booking powered by FareHarbor

Select Date & Time

Loading FareHarbor Calendar...

Select your preferred date and time from the calendar above.

Excellent
star
Trustpilot
Chat now

Pickup location

Address will appear once location is loaded.

Click "Show Pickups on Map" to open the interactive map and search for your hotel or nearby location.

Click any purple pickup marker to view its connection to your searched location and find the best pickup point.

Activity Provider: Artchitectours

Customer Reviews

4.4
Great
Based on 5 reviews
E
Eileen W.Google
November 12, 2025

This is definitely a must-do if you have time in Marseille, very interesting and well-thought out displays that were fun to go through, there were also explanations in English which helped. Going across the Sky Bridge and exploring the exhibitions and fort area was another bonus. Allow 2-3 hours at least!

J
Josh Google
November 09, 2025

This multi floor museum presents items and histories of Mediterranean cultures. Beyond Europe it particularly emphasizes Egypt and Tunisia. These respectively seem to be the most acceptable antique culture to Europeans and the place where France had the most headline making colonial history in the decades before the museum's construction. The displays smack of guilt. The supplemental exhibits focusing on similarities among cultures, in astrology or pottery for example, present insightful comparisons and fascinating example objects. The museum will probably never run out of topics for comparative exhibits (cooking, gardening, print making, etc), so living nearby and being able to see them all is enviable. The museum's ground and top floors both feature cafes, and there is an entertaining gift shop at bottom. The adjoining fort has been redeveloped into gardens and art displays. A walk along the ramparts provides wonderful views of the city and harbor.

I
Ivana O.Google
November 06, 2025

Architecturaly marvelous museum when you're looking the outside of the building, but a bit confusing interior with couple of permanent exhibitions. We had a pleasure to visit 4 of the exhibitions that were presented inside but to be honest long waiting in line to get inside and a bit confusing space kind of affected the overall expirience. Staff is pleasant, but not uniformed so it can be a bit confusing for visitors in case they want to ask something. You get some sprt of stamp on your clothes, even dough you bought the ticket and went threw the checks. It seems like there is a lot less people leaving the exhibitions then entering the space where they are curated. The Mediterranean civilizations is one of the permanent exhibitions, so you will have a chance to see even ancient Greek colonnades inside, as well as couple of well kept sculptures. There is a super sweet restaurant on top floor amd a bridge that is connecting Mucem museum and the fortress Saint Jain. It's one of the city's well known locations so you won't regret if you decide to visit it, but my overall expirience mostly because of a bit chaotic crowd inside is for a 3-star rating.

Explore More Marseille: From Arenc to MuCEM
Day In a City

Explore More Marseille: From Arenc to MuCEM

Discover the wonders of Barcelona, Spain with this unforgettable experience. We will then move on to the area where the Cité de la Méditerranée is still under development, an ambitious project that includes the transformation of the docks’ walkways, the Maritime Station by Lanoire and Courrian, the esplanade of La Major designed by Bruno Fortier and Jean-Michel Savignat, and the future Euromed complex by Massimiliano Fuksas. The tour will end at the Esplanade J4, home to the MuCEM (Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean) by Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Charter, along with the striking Villa Méditerranée building by Boeri Studio, forming one of the most iconic cultural hubs of modern Marseille. Highlights of your tour include: Opening Marseille to the sea through the Euroméditerranée projectTransformation of port areas into walking, recreational, and cultural zonesCreation of Boulevard du Littoral after burying the highwayImproved public spaces and reduced traffic along the coast. We will then move on to the area where the Cité de la Méditerranée is still under development, an ambitious project that includes the transformation of the docks’ walkways, the Maritime Station by Lanoire and Courrian, the esplanade of La Major designed by Bruno Fortier and Jean-Michel Savignat, and. This tour includes: Customised Guided Tour. One of the main objectives of the Euroméditerranée project is to open the city of Marseille to the sea by transforming the port into walking areas, recreational zones, and cultural attractions accessible to all citizens. Along the coast, the development of new spaces and roads—made possible after burying th...