Marseille Airport (L'aéroport de Marseille Provence or MRS for short) is located near the city of Marseille, 27 kilometers west of the city, about a half-hour drive by private car.
It is one of two airports located in the Provence region, and it is considered the main one, as it is the fifth largest airport in all of France in terms of the scope of activity.
If you fancy a trip around the Provence region, this is undoubtedly the airport where you will be met when you get off the plane.
In the following article, I will try to give you all the information about the airport, to ensure you have a soft landing in France and a successful start to your trip.
Flights to Marseille – everything you wanted to know
Which airlines fly to Marseille?
You can reach Marseille Airport using 2 major airlines:
- El Al operates regular and direct flights.
- Ryanair – a low-cost airline with attractive prices that also operates regular flights to the airport. March 2024 Update: Currently, Ryanair has stopped its flights to Israel.
How do you find cheap flights to Marseille?
There are quite a few websites for searching for flights to France. If you would like to know which websites I use when planning my trips, you are welcome to visit the article Flights to France.
Information about takeoffs and landings in Marseille
You can find more details about departures to or from Marseille as well as flight tracking. Next link.
Marseille Airport – Traveler Information
Airport structure
Marseille Airport consists of two terminals, each of which is named MP, meaning MP1 and MP2.
Terminal 1 is for regular flights, and if you arrive by El Al, this is the terminal where you will meet. Terminal XNUMX is for low-cost flights, that is, if you choose Ryanair.
Car rental at Marseille Airport
Since this is a central airport and a hub from which many embark on trips to the French Riviera and Provence, it is not surprising that you can find the best international rental companies here.
If you want to rent a car there, I recommend reading this article. Car rental in France, where you will find several booking sites that I use to find the best and cheapest deal.
Transportation to and from Mercure
If you have decided to visit Marseille only, there is no reason Rent a car for this. And pay quite a bit of money for parking and speeding tickets (Marseille is networked with speed cameras and I left with 2 tickets). Since it is a central airport, it offers a wide range of public transportation options, all of which are convenient and some of which are particularly affordable. Here I will bring you all the options.
Uber
A location-based app. If you haven't used it yet, chances are that after one try you'll be completely hooked. After you download the app and enter your credit card details to pay for your trips (don't worry, the app is completely safe and widely used worldwide), a map will open up for you.
You just pin your location, and Uber will scan and find drivers near you. You'll often be surprised to find that Uber is more affordable than a special taxi.
If you haven't downloaded the app yet, you can find it here:
Bolt
Another app that is very reminiscent of Uber. Its interface works on the same logic. I highly recommend downloading both because market research can always save a few euros, and I also found Bolt to be more affordable for long trips.
You can download the app from these links:
Buses
The most convenient way to get to Marseille from the airport (other than a taxi or Uber/Bullet) is by bus. There are 5 different bus lines that leave from the airport to the outskirts of Marseille. 3 of them are express lines that can significantly reduce the time you spend getting to your destination, and 2 are regular lines.
Information about the various bus routes can be found atLink this.
trains
As befits such a central airport in France, Marseille Airport is connected to an extensive network of public transportation.
There is a train that connects the airport to the city. To get to the station, you will need to take a free shuttle bus that leaves from the airport. If you are looking for the shuttle, ask where the bus that connects to Vitrolles-Aéroport-Marseille-Provence station is.
There are two other train stations, but this is the closest station, and the only one you can reach as part of the airport services.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the article. Trains in France – How to travel quickly and comfortably without a car.
Marseille airport hotels
Many flights to Marseille arrive late at night and some depart early in the morning. In such a case, I would highly recommend staying overnight at one of the airport hotels. I did so in November 2019 at the hotel Best Western Marseille Airport And it was just fine. The price was pretty low, the rooms were clean, and even the breakfast was reasonable plus.
If this hotel is not available or you want to look for another hotel, you are welcome to click on theLink this.
Tax refunds at Marseille airport
Did you make purchases in France over 175 euros including VAT? If you are ending your trip at Marseille airport, then it is important that you know where the customs offices are located where you can claim the tax back.
It is important to know that EU residents are not eligible for a tax refund, and the age of the person requesting the refund must be over 16. It is also recommended to prepare the forms in advance to save valuable time.
The offices are located at:
Terminal MP1, ground floor near the elevators.
Have you bought a plane ticket? Now it's time to plan your trip.
I assume that if you were looking for flights to Marseille, then you are probably going to travel to Provence. Therefore, I highly recommend visiting the page Provence and the South of France – Traveler Information, where you will find quite a few articles and useful information about Provence and the Riviera. This is also essential information for all of you who are looking for Marseille for a traveler, attractions and directions.
If you have decided to include additional districts in your trip, you are welcome to enter To the comprehensive guide for travelers in France, and start your journey on the site from there.
Hello. My name is Orly. My family and I (8 in number) will be flying to Marseille in April. We will be staying somewhere near Nimes, and if it is pleasant, I will write to you. I wanted to let you know that Ryanair has canceled all flights to Israel starting in April, so you should update the website. We booked seats on their flight. And since they canceled the flight (which was supposed to take place on April 20), according to their promise and according to international law, they were forced not only to refund us the money we paid but also to compensate us for the difference we paid in purchasing flight tickets on El Al. A friend told me about your website, and now I will continue to read it. I promise to let you know about additional details and additional recommendations, so that you can add to your website, if you wish.
Thank you very much for the important information!