Day Visit to Marseilles, France
Itinerary:
Geneva/ Marseilles (St. Charles) 0658H/1047H Change train in Lyon (Regional Express
and TGV from Lyon)
Marseilles/ Geneva 1907H/2233H No train change (TGV)
1. Travel to Marseilles from Geneva takes about 4 hours of travel time. Train arrives in Lyon-Part-Dieu at 08:47 and your next train for Marseilles departs at 09:07.
a. Train from Geneva to Lyon has no restaurant facilities. First class cabin have limited seats.
b. There are restaurant facilities from Lyon to Marseilles though food and drinks may be expensive. For example soft drink will cost Euro 3.50 per bottle while you can buy the same at Euro 2 per bottle at the station or Euro 1 from the supermarket or Tabac.
2. Travel from Marseilles to Geneva takes about 3:46 minutes via TGV. Train will have 5 brief stops, including Lyon, but there is no need to change train.
a. Restaurant facilities are available
3. There are other trains ( on each hour) that go to Marseilles from Geneva and back but many would require more than one train change and travel time may be longer.
Travel Arrangements
1. Eurail Pass holders need to reserve seats but there is no reservation required for onward travel from Geneva to Lyon .
2. Reservation costs are as follows:
a. Lyon Par Dieu to Marseilles (on TGV) : CHF 5.00 (First Class)
b. Marseilles to Geneva (on TGV) : CHF 10.00 (First Class)
3. TIP: Make sure you are able to reserve your seat ahead as there are limited number of seats reserved for Eurail Pass holders.
4. Checking of visa is upon entry to the TGV platform at Gare and also upon return also at Gare.
5. NOTE: European residents are not allowed to use Eurail Pass.
6. Gare station at Lyon is very busy and have lots of travelers moving around. It is best that you inquire from Geneva ahead of time on your arrival and departure gates in Lyon.
Arrival at Marseilles St. Charles
1. Marseilles Gare is also a busy station. Information Office have long lines and does not give tourism information (but they have maps available if you request). There are, however, train representatives in uniform that are moving around the waiting area whom you can approach for assistance on train matters.
2. There is a Metro Station at the lower level of the Gare Station.
3. There is McDo at the Gare Station and other good restaurant. There is also a bookstore and magazine store.
Moving Around Marseilles
1. We walked from the train station to the Old Port (Vieux Port) which took us just 15 minutes.
2. At the Old Port you will see the Tourism Office (which had long lines) and rows of restaurants (including Mr. Quick and McDo) around the Port. Being a Sunday, there was the usual fresh fish stalls and flea market that sold local products (Marseilles soaps, Avignon table cloths, lavender products, local delicacies, art works and souvenir stalls).
3. There are basically two activities at the Port:
a. A boat ride to see Islands (ticket office was very crowded) including the famous Chateau d’If (which you can see from the Old Port itself).
b. Little Train Tour with choice of two routes --- one cost Euro 7 per person and the other Euro 6 per person. Children pay Euro 4 for either trains. These Little Trains run every hour or less depending on the number of passengers waiting. Each tour takes at least an hour. Check schedule for the season as they may change (www.petit-train-marseille.com) .
Where and What to Eat
1. Eating may be expensive if you go to the usual restaurants for tourists though some serve the Italian Panini and Pizza. There are several restaurants in the Old Port area that serve Mediterranean cuisine to include kebab, shawarma sandwiches and greek salad.
2. Or, you can go the usual burgers offered by McDo or Mr. Quick.
3. Try the world famous Bouillabaisse soup (seafood meal), whose origin is Marseilles. Make sure you get the authentic one which will cost you Euro 16 to 21.
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