What to see and do

Stroll to the basilica NOTRE-DAME de la Garde is the city symbol of Marseilles, a hilltop Catholic basilica built in the mid-19th century with a tower topped by a giant golden statue of Mary and baby Jesus. It’s a fair walk from the port to the entrance. You can catch a return journey on a little train-shaped tourist vehicle for £7 return. notredamedelagarde.com; petit-train-marseille.com Ferries to the islands A BRILLIANT day trip is to the islands of If and Frioul each around 20 minutes away (tickets £14). From the islands it’s great to gaze back at Marseilles with its sandcoloured buildings and marina. Entrance is £5 to the evocative Chateau d’If (inset above left), a former prison where the author Alexandre Dumas set parts of The Count Of Monte Cristo. frioul-if-express. com; chateau-if.fr

Old Town graffiti THE Old Town dates from Greek times and is in a web of streets off the Old Port where bright street art-style murals with African influences and wacky cartoons can be found fo (inset left). Stop for a crepe cr or a pastis (aniseflavoured fl local spirit) at a cafe ca or bar along the way to admire ad nearby works and watch w local life pass by.

Free museums ON THE first Sunday of each month, m museums are free, including in the excellent Musee des d Beaux-Arts ( culture. marseille.fr) and the History Museum of Marseille ( musee-histoire-marseillevoie÷

Picnic on Fort Saint-Jean THERE’S a fantastic herb and olive tree garden at the top of this ancient fort guarding the Old Port’s entrance. It’s free — no need to pay to enter the museum below. Shaded picnic tables and benches are provided.

Buy a City Pass A 48-HOUR City Pass costs £28, allowing free use of public transport, island ferries, trips on the ‘tourist train’, entrance to museums and much more. The 83 bus goes to the popular beaches to the south near Parc Borely, from where it’s around an hour’s walk back along the Corniche — perhaps with a stop-off for a £2.60 pastis at Le Sunset brasserie. marseille-tourisme.com