Leisure Options In Marseille

Being a large city and located on the Mediterranean means that Marseille has plenty of recreational and leisure opportunities. All the traditional sports such as golf and tennis are well catered to, and there are fitness centres all over town. Marseille is well known internationally for its football team and also for its sailing and boating. Nearby wilderness areas provide great hiking, fishing, snorkelling and diving. The traditional game of boule is very popular in the town and can be viewed on any night.

Football

Football is very passionately supported in Marseille and the city boasts one of the country’s finest teams, Olympique Marseille, which became the only French team to win the Champions League in 1993. The team is based in the magnificent Stade Velodrome, which can seat 60,000 people, although you’ll need to book tickets in advance if you want to watch a game, as the team’s loyal fans fill the stadium to full capacity at most home games.

Hiking

While most people would not associate hiking with Marseille, the nearby Calanques area is one of the most magnificent places in Europe to go trekking. There are dozens of hidden, isolated spots with stunning scenery that are only reachable on foot, and a well marked network of trails offers hours of great outdoor recreation.

Boating and sailing

The waters off Marseille are often ideal for boating and sailing. There are the small islands of Isle d'If and the Isles du Frioul just offshore, which provide pleasant destinations for half-day trips, while farther away are Corsica and Sardinia. Also spectacular is the Calanques region, where creeks enter the Mediterranean and create an unforgettable landscape.

Boule

This traditional game is performed in the central market squares that exist in every district around the city, most notably at Place aux Huiles. Whether or not you choose to join in, just watching the locals play is an enthralling experience in itself.