Hop-on hop-off bus or CityPass in Marseille: which one is worth it?
5 min read
The answer first. If you want an overview of Marseille and will get off at only a few stops, the Colorbüs hop-on hop-off ticket is simpler, from €25 for one day. If you also plan to ride the metro and trams, enter the Mucem and take a boat to an island, the 24-, 48- or 72-hour CityPass is the better tool, from €36. It includes the same bus.
Check availability and prices for the hop-on hop-off bus
What the bus ticket gives you
The ticket is valid for one day on a panoramic bus with more than 10 stops. The page adds an audio guide in the Colorbüs app (11 languages; bring your own earphones), real-time bus tracking and free Wi-Fi on board. The starting point is the Voûtes de La Major below the cathedral, at 40 Boulevard Jacques Saadé. Buses run every day from 10 a.m., but times depend on the season and run more often in peak season. According to the page, the buses are accessible to people with reduced mobility, subject to availability.
The page also gives advice that is worth following: get a first impression, then get off at the stop nearest to what you want to see in detail, for example the Mucem, the Corniche or Notre-Dame de la Garde. If you arrive by cruise ship, the page names the free 35T bus between the cruise terminal and Place de la Joliette.
What the CityPass adds
The CityPass is sold by the Tourist Office and is for individual visitors, up to nine people. The description lists:
- unlimited bus, metro and tram travel
- one entry each to the Mucem (closed Tuesdays) and the Regards de Provence museum (closed Mondays)
- one tour on the small tourist train and one day on the Colorbüs
- one entry to Château d’If
- one choice between a return boat trip to the Frioul or If islands and an entry to the Cosquer cave; using one removes the other
- a guided tour free with the 72-hour pass, or 30% off with the 24- and 48-hour passes
Two practical rules come from the page. You must exchange your voucher for the pass at the Tourist Office, 11 La Canebière, open daily from 9 am to 6 pm (closed 25 December and 1 January). And activities cannot be booked in advance; the pass is validated at each provider’s ticket office, so there is no direct access. Access to the castle depends on the weather.
Side by side
| Option | Valid for | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorbüs hop-on hop-off | 1 day | €25 | 4.0 stars, 3,642 reviews | a first overview |
| CityPass 24, 48 or 72 hours | 1 – 3 days | €36 | 4.4 stars, 905 reviews | museums, transport, an island trip |
When neither is worth it
Skip both if you stay in the old town and want to walk. The walking tours in our guide to the Old Port, Le Panier and Notre-Dame de la Garde cover that ground better. The CityPass also asks you to plan around closing days and to fetch the pass in person; it lists mobility impairments as not suitable.
Our recommendation
For one day, book the bus. For two or three days with museums and a boat, take the CityPass and add up what you will really use before you buy. Our guides to Château d’If and the Frioul islands and to the Mucem and Cosquer cave show what those two choices involve.
