Les Petits Trains are the little road trains that leave from the Old Port of Marseille and climb to places that are hard work on foot. The best known route runs along the coast and up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, the basilica 162 metres above the city that locals call the Bonne Mère; a second route winds through Le Panier, the oldest part of Marseille. They are not a landmark in themselves, but they are a simple way to see two of the city's main sights in one go.
Les Petits Trains at a glance
- Where: departures from the Quai du Port, on the north side of the Old Port (Vieux-Port).
- Routes: Notre-Dame de la Garde via the Corniche; Vieux Marseille through Le Panier; and, in summer only, a short circuit on the Frioul islands.
- What it is today: a tourist service with recorded commentary in several languages, including English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
- Time needed: about 1 hour 15 minutes for the Notre-Dame de la Garde route, including the stop at the top.
Two routes through 2,600 years of history
Marseille was founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea, who called it Massalia, and it is often described as the oldest city in France. The Vieux Marseille route goes back to that beginning: the hill of Le Panier, above the north side of the Old Port, is where the Greek town stood. Today it is a maze of steep lanes, stairways and small squares, and the train passes the Vieille Charité, a 17th-century almshouse now used for museums, and the huge striped Cathedral of La Major before ending by the waterfront and the Mucem.
The other route heads south and west along the sea. It passes the Palais du Pharo, the Abbey of Saint-Victor and the little fishing harbour of the Vallon des Auffes, with the Frioul islands and the Château d'If on the horizon, then climbs through the hillside houses of the Vallon de l'Oriol to Notre-Dame de la Garde. The basilica, built in the mid-19th century in a Romano-Byzantine style, is crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin and Child that you can see from almost everywhere in Marseille.
What to look for
- The Old Port at the start: fishermen selling their catch on the Quai des Belges in the morning and the mirrored canopy of the Ombrière.
- The Vallon des Auffes: a tiny harbour of fishing boats tucked under a road viaduct on the Corniche.
- The Château d'If out at sea, the island fortress made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo.
- The view from Notre-Dame de la Garde: the whole city, the port and the islands in a 360-degree panorama from the hilltop.
- In Le Panier: the arcaded courtyard of the Vieille Charité and the colourful street art on the walls of the lanes.
- The Cathedral of La Major, with its domes and bands of green and white stone, beside the Mucem by the sea.
How the Notre-Dame de la Garde stop works
On the Notre-Dame de la Garde route the train does not wait for you at the top: you get off for a stop of at least 20 minutes and then return on one of the following trains. That gives you time to walk up to the terrace and the basilica itself. Trains run frequently in the main season, so you can stay longer if you want to visit the interior with its ship models and votive offerings left by sailors.
Tips for your visit
- Go early in the day in summer: queues at the Old Port grow quickly, and the light over the sea is softer in the morning.
- At Notre-Dame de la Garde, take at least half an hour; the terrace views are the main reason to make the trip.
- Dress modestly if you plan to go inside the basilica, as it is an active place of worship.
- Use the Panier train to get your bearings, then come back on foot to explore the lanes properly.
Nearby
- Old Port (Vieux-Port): the harbour where the city began, lined with cafés and the fish market, right at the departure point.
- Le Panier: the oldest quarter, a few minutes' walk uphill from the Quai du Port.
- Mucem and Fort Saint-Jean: the museum of Mediterranean civilisations, linked by footbridges to the old fort at the harbour mouth.
See Marseille with World City Trail
Our Marseille scavenger hunt turns the city into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 51 minutes of walking. It includes places such as the Old Port and Le Panier.
If you prefer a different format, Marseille also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Marseille scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Marseille →
Play the outdoor escape game in Marseille →
Facts checked in October 2026.