As prices continue to rise, we’re always on the lookout for free bargains. The good news is that, while not in the majority, there are plenty of free activities in Marseille. Walks, free museums and monuments, art galleries… (Re)discover France’s second-largest city for free!
Free activities in Marseille to reconnect with nature
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Visit Marseille’s botanical gardens and discover thousands of plant species.
Created in 1918, the Marseille Botanical Garden is located in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, not far from Parc Borély. Organized into nine themed gardens, your stroll alone, with family or friends will enable you to discover some 3,000 species of plants from all over the world.
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Enjoy free entertainment at the Cascade des Aygalades every 1st Sunday of the month.
The Cascade des Aygalades is one of Marseille’s most unusual waterfalls. Nestled in the heart of the 15th arrondissement, this 9-meter waterfall is a magnet for the curious in search of nature. Every 1st Sunday of the month (except August and January), on a day called “Un dimanche aux Aygalades”, you can enjoy free activities, entertainment and food trucks in Marseille. Take a look at the program.
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Enjoy the beauty of the calanques – free activities in Marseille for your physical and mental health
Beaches of fine sand, calanques with turquoise waters… The city of Marseille has the particularity and good fortune to be surrounded by an abundance of nature and sublime places to swim. In summer, access to the Sugiton calanque is by QR code, but other parts of Marseille offer sublime walks.
Free activities in Marseille to learn and marvel at
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Visit free museums on the 1st Sunday of the month
This is a must for free museum lovers. In fact, the 1st Sunday of the month is a date to look forward to when you can visit these cultural sites without paying a penny. To make things easier for you, Marseille Secrète has compiled a list of all the museums in Marseille that are open free of charge on the 1st Sunday of the month.
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Free admission to the Palais Longchamp museums and observatory
In addition to its magnificent architecture, the Palais Longchamp is home to two fine museums. The left wing houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, while the right wing is home to Marseille’s Natural History Museum. The observatory is located on the Plateau de Longchamp and is considered Marseille’s oldest scientific establishment. Activities dedicated to astronomy, planetarium… the observatory is also free to visit.
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Marvel at Marseille’s art galleries
Marseille’s art galleries are intimate, ever-changing places where you can discover the works of artists of all stripes. Don’t hesitate to push open the door of an art gallery to add a little beauty to your day. And if, unlike museums, art galleries allow you to buy the works on display, no one forces you to buy. So you can just go and have a look for free!
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Have fun and learn with the 1st free escape game to raise awareness of ocean protection!
Located on Marseille’s Borély beach, L’ÉMERGENCE offers a unique experience as the first free escape game. Its aim is twofold: to entertain you, your family and friends, while raising awareness of the need to protect the ocean. Immersed in a realistic submarine setting, you have 60 minutes to solve a series of puzzles together. In this way, you can immerse yourself in Captain Gaïa’s experiments on pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. L’ÉMERGENCE will reopen its doors in September 2024. But you can now reserve your place for this enriching experience.
Free activities in Marseille for sport and relaxation
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Yoga classes for all with Nour Yoga
Nour invites you to discover yoga in all its forms! Whether to relax or tone up. With committed, caring teachers, classes are suitable for all levels, even if it’s your very first try at yoga. Every week, you can sign up for sessions in Marseille with no obligation, just a comfortable outfit and a mat. Nour offers a system of free contributions, enabling people in precarious situations to practice in their turn. And if you’re on welfare, a student or unemployed, classes are free! So, ready to give yoga a try?
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Outdoor fitness using the machines available in Marseille
Have you heard of Street Workout? It’s more or less the same as a gym, but free and outdoors! There are several available in Marseille, notably in Parc Borely or on David beach in the Prado seaside park. And as the weather is often fine in Marseille, why not plan a sports session in a park or on the beach? You can also run on the Corniche Kennedy – it’s free and soothing!