Aix en Provence to Marseille
 

We will be staying in Aix en Provence for several days in the fall and would like to do a day trip to Marseille before other member of our group arrive. Our questions -

Where is the local train station in Aix en Provence? Is that the St. Charles Station? Is there public transportation? Can you recommend a reasonable, safe hotel near the station?

Where is the station in Marseille? Is it anywhere near the port or is there a bus from the station to the port? Can you easily get to Notre Dame from the train station?

Many thanks

More convenient is a direct bus that leaves from the Aix bus station and goes to the Marseille main station (bus and train).

> Where is the local train station in Aix en Provence? Is that the St. Charles Station?

St.Charles is the Marseille main train station, from where the Vieux-Port is a 10-minute walk.

The local train station in Aix is right in the center of town (about a 10 minute walk from La Rotonde at one end of the Cours Mirabeau). The bus station Michael mentioned is also right in town - and also about a 10 minute walk from La Rotonde. Either would work fine and can't see a particular reason to try to stay in a hotel just nearby - any hotel in the historic center of Aix will work, as long as you don't mind a 10-20 minute walk.

- Kevin

Aix is amazing and the narrow street's have a surprise a minute with great food, wine and the French bread will make you crazy. Marseille is ok, but not my cup of tea. Lot's of crime in M. Agree with Kevin that the train and bus station are so close to the old town.

When the bus station in Aix was closer to the center, bus was a better choice. Now, equal, as kevin_widrow notes.

You could go by train and return by bus. Different views?

> Lot's of crime in M.

Marseille got negative reputation (rightfully or wrongfully) but not so true any longer ( not at all as far as I'm concerned and most repeaters/locals to Marseille agree - see tripadvisor forum for example) and the Old Port area should look much better and pedestrian friendly right now after constrcution ( seems almost finished ) for something called European City of Culture 2013. I have been returning to the city (and the calanques) since about 15 years now, a few times a year.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Provence.html

For Notre-Dame de La Garde, you can walk from St.Charles to the Vieux-Port via Rue Canebière, and take BUS No.60. It's about 15 minutes ride. You can also walk down to the Vieux Port toward Quai Rive Neuve side. At the end of Canebière street almost facing the port, Marseille Tourist office there. You can ask infos there and pick up a free map.

You have all been most helpful. I willl pursue all the options. Please keep the comments coming. Thanks

<< Lot's of crime in M.>>

Old news.

Does anyone have any idea as to the cost of the train and/or bus from Aix to Marseille? What are the hours?

We visited Marseille for a night in 2009 and had an enjoyable time. We purchased a City Pass from the tourist desk on the Canabeira for €20,00 each, which included a boat ride to Isle de If and Frioul Islands, as well as the petit-train, which takes you up to Notre Dame, a wonderful nautical church still riddled with bullet holes from WWII. The view is great - you don't realize how large Marseille really is.

http://www.petit-train-marseille.com/

If you have some extra time, check out Maison Empereur, France’s oldest hardware store, dating from 1827. It's located on Canabeira.

The reason we decided to visit Marseille was to eat authentic Bouillabaisse from the town where it was invented. We chose Restaurant Miramar for our culinary experience, and we were not disappointed. (Look out for your wallet.)

http://lemiramar.fr/site/

Our only word of caution: Beware of the taxi drivers. We arrived by train at St. Charles Station with our luggage and thought a taxi might be easier than figuring out the public transportation. As we approached the taxi stand, the waiting drivers started towards us. The first one to us tried to grab one of our suitcases while barking, "where do you want to go". The hairs on the back of my neck started to rise - I had read about this scam - they get you in the taxi before you have a chance to think, and then they charge you a large fare once you get to your destination. So I grabbed my suitcase back and asked how much to Hotel Kyriad. When he barked €30,00, I knew we had almost been scammed. It cost us €1,50 each to take the Metro 2 stops to the Vieux Port, where our hotel was located. If you are going to take a taxi, be sure to negotiate the fee before you get inside.

Other than that incident, we had a great time in Marseille and never felt unsafe (of course, we use caution).

Robyn :)>-