Marseille is an excellent city for a holiday and a great starting point for a trip to the expanses of Provence And the South of France as a whole. In itself, it offers a wealth of entertainment options, from its famous beaches to impressive architectural structures, nightlife, culture and fine cuisine.
If you have closed or are considering closing Flight ticket to MarseilleHere I will fill in the missing information for you with car rental options in the city at the most affordable prices.
Haven't decided exactly what destinations to visit in or outside Marseille yet? I invite you to also visit my comprehensive guide. To France for a traveler, where you will find a wealth of information.
Recommended car rental sites in Marseille
Booking.com
Personally, the first site I look for a rental car is…Booking.com. No, I wasn't confused, it turns out that for several years now you can find not only hotels and apartments but also car rental services on this site. I like this site because it is very, very user-friendly, the prices are not bad at all and they can even become even friendlier if you are a VIP customer of Booking.com. So if you are looking for a car to rent, this is the site where I would start.
Click here to rent a car from Booking.com
Car rental through rentalcars.com
The site rentalcars.com Owned by the well-known travel company booking.com, you know this is a reliable car rental service. In fact, this site connects you to different car rental companies with the click of a button, so you can review the offers and take the car that best suits your style, budget, and stay in Paris.
The car rental booking terms are flexible, and you can cancel or change most types of bookings for free up to 48 hours before picking up the car. Among the companies from which you can rent a car through the website: Avis, Sixt, Europcar and more.
Click here to rent a car in Paris from rentalcars.com
Car rental in Paris with Economy Bookings
A large website that allows you to compare prices between well-known (and lesser-known) car rental companies, and find the best deal for renting a car in Paris. The website offers car rentals through 800 different companies, so you can probably find something that suits your needs. Economy Bookings offers car rentals in more than 180 countries around the world. Among the car rental companies here you can find Hertz, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Sixt and more.
Click here to rent a car in Paris through Economy Bookings
Other car rental companies
Over the years, I have rented a car quite a few times in France (and in Paris, of course) and over the years I have created a sort of “toolbox” of websites where I check rental prices from different companies.
I have compiled all these sites on this page. The Francophile's toolbox And I highly recommend going to each of these sites and checking, because there are often differences between the prices you get on each site.
Driving tips in Marseille
Remember when I mentioned that Marseille is a dense city, and is actually the second most densely populated city after Paris? This fact is worth taking into account when deciding to drive there with a private car.
Driving is unpleasant, especially in the central area, which is prone to heavy traffic and is characterized by narrow alleys and driving conditions that require some familiarity or adaptation. In addition, many describe the local drivers as no less bad than the wild Israeli drivers.
On the other hand, renting a car in Marseille for travel outside the city is considered particularly efficient, as it is networked with interurban roads to cities and well-known tourist areas. From Marseille you can reach a variety of Riviera cities such as Nice, or drive to the border with Italy, drive north towards the expanses of southern France (or to To Paris If you want within about 8 hours).
Park & Ride car parks are an efficient solution in Marseille, especially during the busy summer months. The car park at the Velodrome stadium, for example, offers easy access to public transport into the city centre. With Park & Ride you can park in peace and avoid dealing with the congestion of city centre parking.
Marseille is a city with a diverse transportation system, including highways and toll roads. Apps like Ulys or Bip&Go will help you pay tolls quickly. If you plan to travel to other nearby coastal towns like Cassis, this is a convenient solution that eliminates the need for manual payments.
Marseille's peak hours are mainly on weekends and during tourist seasons. If you're planning to visit popular tourist attractions like the Old Port (Vieux-Port) or the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, it's a good idea to plan a visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid traffic and enjoy the area in relative peace.
Some streets in Marseille are one-way and there are speed limits in major cities throughout the region. Be sure to keep up with local traffic signs to avoid fines, especially in historic areas where the speed limit is sometimes as low as 30 km/h. Navigation apps like Waze will help you avoid traffic jams and find the shortest and most convenient route.
Like many cities in France, Marseille is known for annual events such as the Festival de la Fiori and the celebrations at the Old Port, which sometimes close streets and cause traffic jams. If you are arriving during one of these events, make sure you have a safe parking option outside the city center, or plan your route in advance.