10 Things to Do in Marseille in June

The best things to see and do in Marseille are constantly changing throughout the year and this makes a lot of sense, as the cultural agenda in winter is definitely not the same as in summer. At the same time, there is the fact that June is a very special month to visit this southern French city, especially since the weather is favorable and the tourist influx is still moderate.

So I advise you to read this compilation of plans, activities and sites that I have organized for you. For each of these are presented as excellent entertainment alternatives on what to see and do in Marseille during the month of June.

On June 21 takes place the Fête de la musique, which is a festival that coincides with the summer solstice and celebrates what is known worldwide as the international day of music. This date is very special for the French, as throughout the country free and totally public events are organized in the main theaters as well as in squares, parks and cultural institutions.

Clearly, Marseille is no exception to this rule and therefore it is common for the city to organize a schedule that changes annually with a series of concerts covering a myriad of musical genres to attract the most diverse audience.

You also need to know that this is one of the best things to do with kids in Marseille for the simple fact that there are not only classical music concerts, but also dance, art and theater events. They all seek to incorporate music in the most didactic and interactive way possible.

Tennis is a very important sport for the European society in general and during the month of May and the month of June one of the most important tournaments worldwide is organized. It is the Roland Garros, an official tournament that is part of the Grand Slam. It has been organized since the 19th century under the auspices of the French Tennis Federation and is extremely important for the sporting identity of this country.

So one of the best things to do during the month of June in a city like Marseille would be to organize a simple visit to the various tennis courts of the Prado beaches to have a beer and enjoy a game of Beach Tennis while the bars broadcast the latest matches of this important tournament in the world of international tennis.

You are sure to find an extremely cozy atmosphere, as people will already be starting to enjoy these urban beaches due to the high temperatures of the month. Even more knowing that the whole country usually sees this event as a real party that puts France in the spotlight for a few days and Beach Tennis is a great sport to celebrate with the locals.

You also have to know that if you want to complement this plan with another activity that will take you to live a sporting experience in first person, you can participate in one of the best bike tours in Marseille with which you can tour as many neighborhoods of the city in the shortest time possible.

This festival, which follows the European trend of taking advantage of the summer to enjoy open-air cinema, is organized from mid-June to September. This means that when you arrive in the city during this month you will have the opportunity to enjoy the first Ciné Plein-Air Marseille screenings , which take place in public squares and parks throughout the city on various days of the week.

This is one of the best things to do in Marseille during the summer because the screenings are totally free to the public and the films are of great quality. So it is a way to enjoy the urban space of this metropolis in a very different way that is suitable for people of all ages.

Moreover, it is one of the favorite activities for young locals who take advantage of the start of the French school vacations, which occurs in June, to attend the open-air cinema.

If we talk about outdoor plans to do in the month of June, you can not miss shopping in the markets of the city. These abound in different neighborhoods of the oldest part of Marseille, among which Le Panier stands out with its narrow and steep streets.

The Quai des Belgues is also a highlight if you want to live the experience of shopping outdoors in Marseille, as there is a fish market that can be very entertaining and interesting for you. Another recommended visit is the Marché des Capucins for its oriental character that is directly inspired by the Arab souks that have a direct connection with the history of this city for its port character. You can find it in the heart of the bohemian district of Noailles.

Anyway, you have to know that if you visit this market in June the tourist influx is much less significant. That does not mean that it is no longer a good choice of things to do in Marseille in August or September, but June is definitely a much more appropriate month for this tourist experience.

Montpellier is another great city on the French Mediterranean coast and this one is about a two-hour train ride from Marseille. Visiting it in June can be a good idea, as the influx of tourists is less strong than in other summer months. In addition, you can enjoy the festival called Montpellier Danse.

This is an event that takes place between mid-June and July organized by the city council of Montpellier. It aims to encourage the development of contemporary dance in all kinds of public spaces throughout the city.

It is now a much more diverse event, incorporating different dance forms from all over the world during the 15 days it lasts. The event also attracts talented choreographers from all over the world and, although it has special activities all over the city, it usually takes place in the heart of the old city in the old convent of the Ursuline nuns.

The schedule of activities changes every year. It is certainly an excellent event for those who make a four-day trip to Marseille, since on the fourth day you may have enough time to travel to Montpellier and return to enjoy a last Marseillaise dinner.

At the same time, if the idea of leaving Marseille for a couple of hours still seems interesting to you, then you cannot miss another great event that takes place in the surroundings of this city during the month of June. It is a festival dedicated to the lyrical art and it is organized in the nearby community of Aix-en-Provence.

Throughout this festival, which usually takes place between the end of June and the beginning of July, all kinds of events related to lyrical music are held, as well as the interpretative art that incorporates music. Therefore, there are opera, concerts and plays taking place in some of the most important cultural buildings of this town, such as the Théâtre de l'Archevêché, the Grand Théâtre de Provence and the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume.

At the same time, the idea of attending some of the concerts of this festival, which are usually free, is quite convenient for those who are interested in participating in some of the best tours in Provence from Marseille. Especially knowing that this city is one of the most picturesque in the region and at the same time one of the closest to the great metropolis of Marseille.

However, to enjoy real natural attractions, it is not necessary to leave the metropolitan area of Marseille. In fact, one of the most attractive corners of the French Mediterranean is located a couple of kilometers south of the city and it is the national park Des Calanques.

This site is a riviera with turquoise waters that resemble the Norwegian fjords and are the product of a geological formation that creates perfect coves for the enjoyment of Marseille and tourists throughout the summer.

In this case you have to know that it is one of the best plans to do during the month of June in this city for the simple fact that it is a good escape from the heat that already begins to feel strongly in the middle of this month and the influx of tourists is less significant than the rest of the summer. In addition, Les Calanques is one of the typical stops for the best boat trips in Marseille.

Venturing out to explore the best of the local gastronomy is another of the great plans you can enjoy when visiting Marseille during the month of June. Many of the city's most sought-after restaurants will still have tables available that are accessible to you without the need to book too far in advance or deal with long hours of waiting at the door.

June is actually the best month of the entire summer to take part in the best food tours in Marseille, as you can still explore the markets and restaurants without having to deal with a large number of tourists.

Also, appreciate the fact that June represents the change between spring and summer. This means that many ingredients that are in short supply during the hottest season of the year will still be accessible for the city's best chefs to experiment with.

Similarly, participating in an architecture-focused tour of Marseille is a much more favorable activity in June than during the rest of the year. This is due to the simple fact that tourist demand is high enough for this type of activity to take place. Also due to the fact that being the beginning of the student vacations, this kind of plans abound all over the city for university students, tourists and young people interested in architecture.

It should be noted that the old port of Marseille together with the modern constructions that have been developed around it present one of the most interesting urban panoramas of all the French Mediterranean. In addition, you can also enjoy throughout the city of great works of one of the great exponents of urbanism in this country, Le Corbusier.

So if you are interested in architecture should not fail to participate in such plans, even more knowing that they are part of the best tours of Marseille.

By the month of June the heat is already felt more strongly throughout Marseille and if the beaches of the city are seeming insufficient then you can have a trip to the west or east to continue exploring the best of the French Mediterranean. The coves between Marseille and Nice are a good alternative, but going to the sandy coasts of Occitane can also be an excellent way to escape the heat that defines this time of the year.

The best thing about this whole thing is that visiting any coastal town near Marseille to visit its beaches is something that can be done in a couple of hours due to the excellent railway network of France. As well as its geographical proximity to each other.

Throughout the month of June in Marseille still enjoys temperatures that can be considered quite pleasant and is that the maximum temperatures are usually around 32 ° C while the minimum can still be kept above 20 ° C.

The tourist influx in Marseille in June is one of the great advantages of visiting this city during this month compared to the rest of the summer. And it is that for July and August the number of visitors arriving will be much larger and this complicates the enjoyment of many tourist services.

There is not much difference between the prices in Marseille during the month of June with respect to the rest of the summer. At least for those activities and services that are not in high demand and do not have a relatively limited offer.

However, visiting Marseille during the month of June is a much more expensive experience than visiting during an autumn week or even during an early spring week.

During the month of June you can't miss a good sunscreen in your suitcase to avoid the possibility of suffering from sunstroke. But above all you have to bring plenty of breathable clothing, because the truth is that this is a city where you will walk a lot and it is important that you stay cool to avoid great discomfort due to the temperatures of the month.