10 Things to Do in Marseille in April

Marseille is a city that will captivate you from the very first moment, especially during the month of April, which coincides with the beginning of spring. You will discover beautiful natural and urban landscapes, take part in interesting traditional celebrations and, of course, visit the main historical sites.

Things to see and do in Marseille include gastronomic tours, exploring the city by bike or a panoramic tour by tourist bus. You can also take advantage of the spring weather to visit towns such as Cassis and Avignon from Marseille, surf the city's beaches, attend a range of festivals and much more.

April corresponds to the Easter season, so in Marseille and all over France, you will find a wide selection of sweet dishes, characteristic of this celebration. A good option is to take one of the best gastronomic tours through the streets of Marseille.

To start the tour, you can go to the city's Old Port. There, you'll find dozens of restaurants, food stalls, cafés and even bars, where you can explore various seasonal dessert options.

Some of the options to try include:

• Fouace de Paques: this is a must-try dessert during French Easter. It is a baked briche cake, flavoured with orange blossom or orange and candied fruit.
• Easter nest cake: This is another cake in the shape of a fluffy doughnut, which looks like a bird's nest. In the middle is a speckled Easter egg.
• Easter eggs: this is perhaps the most emblematic traditional sweet of the celebration.
• Omelettes with chocolate: a preparation that dates back to Napoleon's time.

This is an activity that you can do on your own or, if you wish, connect with a specialised guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.

Among the best tours of Marseille that you can enjoy during your visit in April are the walking, cycling and sightseeing bus tours. You will take a quick stroll through the main tourist destinations, discover the history of each place and enjoy the spring weather.

Walking tour

The walking tour of Marseille can be done on your own, but if it is your first time in the city, it is recommended that you connect with a guided tour of the historic centre. This way, the assigned local guide will take you directly to each destination, while telling you the history of the monuments and streets visited.

• Price: if you choose the guided tour, the price of the activity starts at €50 per person.
• Duration: from two to six hours, depending on the route you wish to explore.

Bicycle tour

Another good alternative is to explore the city by bicycle. To do this, you can use the bike-sharing service and move freely through the streets, creating your own adventures.

You also have the option of taking part in one of thebike tours in Marseille, which includes a local guide and a pre-established route, according to your tastes and needs.

• Price: if you choose the guided tour, the price of the activity starts at €58 per person. On the other hand, if you rent a bike, the price starts at €24.
• Duration: from two to six hours, depending on the route you want to explore.

Sightseeing bus

With the Marseille sightseeing bus, you will enjoy a panoramic tour of Marseille lasting approximately two hours. You will be able to observe the streets, monuments and the Mediterranean Sea from the first floor of the bus, while listening to an audio guide and enjoying the warm April weather.

In addition, this bus offers several circuits with a series of stops. So you can hop on and off as many times as you like over the course of 24 or 48 hours and visit the places of interest.

• Price: from €19 per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours (the panoramic route without stops).

The beaches of Marseille in April are the perfect place for surfing enthusiasts. The Mediterranean coast during this month is constantly buffeted by strong winds which, in turn, create small, regularly occurring waves.

You can visit L'Huveaune Beach, which is approximately 45 minutes away by bus and 14 minutes by private car. There, the sand is thin, the water is blue and a little cold. The waves are suitable for beginners, as they reach a maximum height of two metres.

Similarly, the Prado Beaches, right next to L'Huveaune Beach, are ideal for surfing. In fact, you can go kitesurfing, windsurfing, swimming and take a boat trip at sunset to admire the view.

If you're visiting the city during the first week of April and you're a comic book enthusiast, then the Marseille Comic Strip Festival is an annual event. This is an annual event.

To enjoy this activity you should head to the Luminy Campus at the Euromed Management Business School, located approximately 35 minutes by car or one hour by bus from the city centre.

During the event you will enjoy various activities. For example:

• Exhibition halls, with hundreds of comics and collectible figures.

• Reading areas, where you can sit comfortably and read comics, fanzines (magazines made and edited by fans) and manga.

• Demonstrations by colourists, which will allow you to learn how these artists bring warmth and emotion to each comic vignette.

• Autograph session, with guest comic artists and mangakas.

Meanwhile, the children's entertainment section is ideal if you've decided to visit Marseille with children, as the little ones will enjoy the colourful atmosphere. And, if they're lucky, they might even meet one of their favourite characters in some of the lounges.

• Price: free of charge.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Your itinerary of at least 3 days in Marseille during the month of April will not be complete if you miss the Easter Egg Hunt. This is a fun activity, held annually in major parks all over France.

The egg hunt is completely free, as it is an initiative of the city council, local entrepreneurs and locals, who keep this ancient tradition alive. All you have to do is go to the Palais de Pharo, the city's Botanical Gardens, the Parc de la Mline, and the Jardin de la Colline Puget, among others.

At these destinations, you should start your search for this delicious dessert, considered a symbol of French Easter. You can also take the opportunity to have a picnic with your family or friends, while enjoying the tranquillity and scenic beauty of these natural spaces.

During your 1 or 2-day stay in Marseille in April, you might have the opportunity to attend the Latcho Divano festival. In this way, you will get to know the Romany culture and celebrate it.

The annual programme of this festival incorporates several activities, which you can enjoy throughout the first week of the month. For example:

• Art and poetry exhibitions, which will allow you to learn about the influence of Roma culture both in art and in European and African literature.
• Conferences in which experts will tell you why the Roma community is important and introduce you to the theme of cultural diversity.

You can also visit the Cinéma Les Variétés, where films and documentaries are shown. Also, if you go to the La Mesón Flamenco School, you can take part in group classes in gypsy dancing and singing. Meanwhile, on Canebière Street you can enjoy traditional gypsy music and gastronomy kiosks.

At the end of April, enjoy the French Reflets festival at the Les Variétés cinema in Marseille. You will be able to see a series of LGTB film productions, which promote respect for gender and identity.

You will see national and international films, with very human themes about the LGTB community. You will be able to participate in discussions after each screening. Basically, you will be very gently introduced to a topic that is still considered taboo and, in turn, will make you think.

Furthermore, you will discover the cinematographic work that hides each of the titles presented in this year's edition of the festival. For example, the graphic art, the photography, the music, the lighting, among other aspects of interest.

This activity usually lasts for a week, so you can dedicate at least a few hours of your 1-day itinerary in Marseille to visit the cinemas.

April in Marseille is a month that celebrates culture and the International Festival of Cities (Festictés). Every year, this initiative brings together the cities of Provence to share their local initiatives in the fields of theatre, literature, dance and other expressions.

There, you will enjoy various performances and activities:

• Live music, with original compositions and fusions, giving way to new genres. Such is the case of Pop Sebene (rock, reggae, Congolese rumba and pop).
• Collective poetry projects, which express their reflective words accompanied by guitar riffs.

You will also be able to join some workshops (string scenography, creative writing), watch art exhibitions and screenings. There will be a picnic area and food stalls. All this takes place at the Centre municipal d'animation Chartreux and at the Palais Longchamp.

This event takes place from the end of March and generally ends in the first week of April. It is therefore an ideal choice for your itinerary of at least 4 days in Marseille.

A good alternative during your trip is to go to Avignon from Marseille in the month of April, as during this time of the year you will be able to attend the famous African Festival held in the region. You will also enjoy the pleasant summer weather and beautiful scenery.

This is a trip you can do on your own or connect with a guided tour for small groups. Whichever option you choose, the route will take you from the centre of Marseille to Avignon, passing through Arles, Saint Rémy de Provence and Les Baux de Provence.

Avignon

Once in Avignon, you will be able to explore its streets and get to know the historical context of the place through its monuments. Such is the case of the famous Palais des Papes, among others.

Similarly, if your visit coincides with the last week of April, you will find the African Festival, with its craft market, food stalls and live music. A truly celebratory atmosphere with free admission.

Arles

When you visit Arles, you will be amazed by the city's imposing amphitheatre. And if you happen to be there in the last days of the first half of April, you can take advantage of the Easter Fair.

This is an annual event, which kicks off the French bullfighting season. While you may not have time in your itinerary to see a bullfight, you will always have the chance to see some of the equestrian shows performed throughout the day in the streets.

Saint Rémy de Provence and Les Baux de Provence

On your way back to Marseille you will pass through Saint Rémy de Provence and Les Baux de Proven ce. In both villages you can stop for a short break of at least 15 minutes each, to take in the scenery and take some amazing photographs.

April could be considered a suitable month to visit Cassis from Marseille, as it is the beginning of spring. Therefore, the weather is warm and very pleasant to explore this fishing village on foot and enjoy all its splendour in the sunshine.

You can travel to Cassis by rental car or by train. Alternatively, you can connect with a day trip to the Provence region from Marseille, which usually incorporates this and other destinations in its itinerary. It all depends on your tastes and time available.

When you arrive in Cassis, you will enjoy a privileged natural environment: vineyards, lavender fields, pine-covered landscapes and, of course, an incredible view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Places to discover in Cassis include the following:

• Cassis harbour, with its traditional architecture, terraces, boats and picturesque atmosphere.
• Cassis market, open on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Château de Cassis, accessible by a special route for a close-up view.
• Calanques National Park, with a hiking trail that has become a real tourist attraction.

Marseille in April is a city with a fairly mild climate compared to the high temperatures of the summer season or the characteristic cold of winter. However, during this month you can expect an average of 12 days of rain, so keep an eye out.

In this respect, it's best to bring an umbrella and a light coat. And of course, keep an eye on the weather forecast by installing a weather app on your mobile phone.

In Marseille, the fourth month of the year coincides with the spring season. Therefore, during your stay in the city you will enjoy a warm atmosphere, the average temperature of which usually varies between a maximum of 17°C and a minimum of 11°C.

In addition, throughout the month it generally rains an average of 37 millimetres. The average number of dry days increases to 18. Also, the recorded sea temperature in April is 16ºC, while the daily hours of sunshine increase to 10, giving you longer days.