Summer days draw sunbathing locals to the manicured lawns surrounding Fort Saint-Jean, a defining landmark in the Old Port of Marseille. Admission to the fort is free, ensuring visitors access to year-round, rotating exhibitions staged by the adjacent Mucem. Outdoor performances, festivals, and shows enliven the fort grounds when the weather is fine, and the on-site restaurant, bookstore, and Mediterranean garden offer welcome respite on sultry days.
It's a great place for first-time visitors to get oriented—views from the fort’s tower extend across the Old Port.
Outdoor spaces at the fort are ideal for picnicking (but leave alcohol, glassware, and sharp knives behind).
This is one of the best places in the city to photograph Marseille Cathedral (Cathédrale La Major).
Fort Saint-Jean is located on Promenade Louis Brauquier in the Old Port of Marseille. Two footbridges gain access to Fort Saint-Jean: Passerelle Fort Saint-Jean leads to the Mucem, while the Passerelle Parvis Saint-Jean links the fortress with Esplanade de la Tourette. The metro line No. 1 and buses 49, 60, 82, 83, and 582 stop at nearby Vieux-Port (Old Port) station, a roughly 10-minute walk from the fort.
Opening hours at Fort Saint-Jean are Wednesday through Monday, midmorning through midevening. The grounds stay open later for free and ticketed special events, such as cinema and open-air performances. Events are listed on the Mucem website, alongside information on guided tours and museum exhibitions.
Open-air restaurants serve bouillabaisse to strolling crowds in the Old Port of Marseille, a neighborhood that’s also home to some of the city’s top sights. After visiting the fort and museum, plan to check out Marseille Cathedral (Cathédrale La Major), Saint-Ferréol les Augustins church, and Abbey of St. Victor (Abbaye Saint-Victor). The Old Port is also the place to catch the ferry to island fortress Chateau d’If, from The Count of Monte Cristo.
