Travel, Leisure and Recreation

Marseille is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in France. There are flights from the UK to Marseille from both London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Marseille Provence Airport is the city’s main airport and is the fourth largest airport in France. Expect to see both tourists and business travelers crowding its terminals. The city also has an excellent public transportation system.

Marseille lies on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea on the southeast coast, the Cote-d-Azur, of France. It has the country’s largest commercial port. The Old Port that fell into disuse after the’70s oil crises has been redeveloped into a bustling residential and tourist destination with assistance from the European Community.

The completely refurbished Old Port is now home to hotels, restaurants, bars, and caf?s, as well as a private marina. This renovated port is north of the new active commercial port, where over 100 million tons of freight?the majority of it petroleum?pass every year. Marseille’s position as a hub for industry and trade is complemented by its excellent infrastructure for travel by air, land, or sea. It is one of the major ports of entry into France, especially popular with travelers from Italy, Spain, Greece, and the Middle East.

With its location on the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille has mild winters and hot summers. The coldest months of the year are January and February, with July and August being the area’s hottest months. Harsh, cold winds blow into the city from the Alps in the winter and spring.

It is also headquarters for the Marseille Provence Metropolis, the second largest research center in the country. Thousands of research scientists are employed at the Marseille Provence Metropolis.

But besides all the industry, UK travelers will find no shortage of museums, theaters, shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants in Marseille. Lovers of theater will be especially pleased by the wonderful repertoires of le Gymnase, the Teatre Toursky, and la Crie?. The opera season runs from September until June.

Like other areas of France, It is well-known for its incredible food. Local favorites include pastis, which is an alcoholic beverage similar to beer made with aniseed and spice. Other popular items are aioli (mayonnaise) served on fish or hardboiled eggs, tapenade, bouillabaisse, panisse and navette. All dishes are made with local ingredients, which make them very flavorful. Many restaurants can be found in the city’s Old Port area, which is the site of a daily fish market. The Old Port area is very beautiful at night, making it a popular spot for a long evening meal.

Beautiful architecture can also be found in Marseille, including the Abbey of Saint Victor, one of the oldest places of Christian worship in France, the Museum of Old Marseille and the Phare de Sainte Marie, a lighthouse on the inlet to the Old Port.

With everything that Marseille offers UK tourists, it is easy to see why it is growing in popularity as a vacation destination every year.

Tom Martens is the content coordinator for Bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel and Flights to Marseille