Boats, transfers and the port
Marseille Airport to the Vieux-Port: every transfer option compared
How to get from Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) to the Vieux-Port and the city centre: shuttle bus, train via Vitrolles, taxi, ride-hailing and private transfers, with realistic times, indicative costs and the mistakes to avoid.
You have landed at Marseille Provence Airport, code MRS, known to everyone here as Marignane. The Vieux-Port, where most visitors stay and where every one of our tours begins, is 27 km away. Here is how to cover that distance, with the times and costs we observe when we meet guests off their flights.
The options at a glance
| Option | Time to Saint-Charles / Vieux-Port | Indicative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus (navette) | 25 to 30 min + 12 min walk or metro | About 10 € per person | Almost everyone |
| Train via Vitrolles Aéroport | Free shuttle 5 min + wait + 15 min train | About 6 € per person | Budget travellers, motorway jams |
| Taxi | 25 to 45 min door to door | Fixed fare, roughly 50 to 70 € by day, more at night | Groups of 3 or 4, luggage |
| Ride-hailing | 25 to 45 min door to door | Often 35 to 60 € | Couples arriving off-peak |
| Private transfer (booked) | 25 to 45 min door to door | Quoted in advance | Late arrivals, families, cruise connections |
Costs are indicative and change with fuel prices and decrees; check the official displays at the airport on arrival.
1. The airport shuttle bus
The navette leaves from the bus station in front of Terminal 1 (follow the signs “Gare routière / Navettes”). Buses run every 15 to 20 minutes for most of the day and follow the flight schedule at the edges. Tickets are sold at the kiosk and on board by contactless card. The bus takes the A7 motorway and drops you at the Saint-Charles bus station, on top of the railway station.
From Saint-Charles to the Vieux-Port you have two choices: walk down the monumental staircase and the Boulevard d’Athènes, then the Canebière, about 12 minutes downhill; or take metro line 1 two stops to Vieux-Port. With heavy luggage, take the metro or a taxi from the rank outside the station.
What can go wrong: the evening rush hour, when the A7 slows to a crawl between 17:00 and 19:00, and summer Saturdays, when half of France is changing holiday rentals. Allow 45 minutes to be safe.
2. The train via Vitrolles Aéroport
A free shuttle bus links the terminals with Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence railway station in about five minutes. From there TER regional trains run to Saint-Charles in around 15 minutes, roughly every 20 to 30 minutes in the day. It is the cheapest option and immune to motorway traffic, but the two connections mean it rarely beats the direct bus. Buy the TER ticket from the machine on the platform or in the SNCF Connect app.
3. Taxi
Taxis wait at the rank outside the arrivals hall of each terminal. The fare between the airport and Marseille is set by the prefecture, with a day rate and a higher rate at night, on Sundays and public holidays; the current amounts are displayed at the rank. For three or four people with bags, a taxi costs about the same per head as the bus and delivers you to the hotel door. Payment by card is standard; ask before setting off if it matters to you.
4. Ride-hailing
The main apps operate at the airport with a dedicated, signposted pick-up zone. Prices are dynamic and often a little below taxi fares, except when several flights land at once. Off-peak, for a couple, this is a good option.
5. Booked private transfer
For a late arrival, a large family, or a connection to a cruise ship at the Môle Léon Gourret, a pre-booked transfer removes every uncertainty: a driver with your name, a vehicle sized for your luggage, a price fixed before you fly. We work with local transfer partners and can add an airport pick-up to any of our tours; just say so in the booking form and we quote it with the tour.
Arriving at the Vieux-Port
Whichever option you choose, you will step out onto the Quai des Belges with the harbour in front of you and Notre-Dame de la Garde above. Leave your bags, walk to the water and look at the boats. Then read our guide to moving around the city, and if the first day is already booked with us, we will be waiting under the Ombrière, the big mirror at the head of the port.
Going back to the airport
Reverse the same options, with one extra piece of advice: the shuttle bus from Saint-Charles fills up before early-morning flights, so arrive at the bus station 10 minutes ahead, and allow 30 minutes more than you think for the motorway between 07:30 and 09:00.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Marseille airport from the city centre?
About 27 km north-west, on the territory of Marignane. By road it is 25 to 30 minutes off-peak and up to 50 minutes in the evening rush hour or on summer Saturdays.
Where does the airport shuttle bus arrive in Marseille?
At the Saint-Charles bus station, on the upper level of the main railway station. From there the Vieux-Port is 12 minutes on foot downhill, or two stops on metro line 1.
Are there night connections from Marseille airport?
The shuttle bus follows the flight schedule and runs late into the evening, but there is nothing between roughly midnight and 4 am except taxis and ride-hailing. If you land very late, book a transfer in advance.
