A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Edinburgh vs. Marseille for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Backpackers

Should you visit Edinburgh or Marseille?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Edinburgh and Marseille can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a gothic, ancient, and charming city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and shopping.

Edinburgh and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Edinburgh or Marseille?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Edinburgh than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Edinburgh, Edinburgh has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Edinburgh is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, music, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Marseille is known for its food, nightlife, beaches, and christmas markets. Edinburgh is more touristy than Marseille and is known for its medieval Old Town, the Royal Mile, and its influence on the Harry Potter series. It is also home to The Edinburgh Castle. Marseille is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

How is Edinburgh different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Marseille and Edinburgh. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Edinburgh or Marseille?

Edinburgh is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Edinburgh has many famous sights for visitors. The most famous sights include the Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the National Museum of Scotland. There are also kid-friendly museums like Camera Obscura.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Theater?

Edinburgh is an excellent place to visit for its shows and theatre. However, Marseille is not a theatre destination.

Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Edinburgh. It's fun to see a live performance or attend one of the festivals in town.

Marseille is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Edinburgh or Marseille? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Marseille is terrific for its restaurants. However, Edinburgh is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Marseille have been singled out for their culinary prowess. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Edinburgh may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The city has some unique but famous dishes to try including haggis and black pudding. For slightly less intimidating options, check out the cullen skink, porridge, or smoked salmon. There are many fish and chips shops to choose from as well as a diversity of ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Edinburgh is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Marseille is a must-see party destination. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Edinburgh is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. With so many students, the nightlife stays very active. There are a wide range of bars and clubs to choose from as well as some of the country's oldest pubs. Tourists tend to frequent the Old Town area, but you'll find more locals if you head to the student and university areas.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Music?

Edinburgh is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Marseille is not a live music destination.

Edinburgh has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. In addition to a wide range of live music venues, there are also a number of music festivals held in town.

Marseille is not a live music destination.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a city with good options for the beache. However, Edinburgh is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Marseille. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Edinburgh is not a beach destination.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Both Edinburgh and Marseille have first-rate historic old towns worth visiting.

Edinburgh has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The city's Old Town attracts international visitors who come to see the Edinburgh Castle, the quaint streets, and the many shops and cafes. The Royal Mile is a popular area with pubs and souvenir shops. It connects the castle to the Scottish Parliament.

The old town of Marseille is one of the most recognized in the world. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

Is the Shopping Better in Edinburgh or Marseille?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Edinburgh and Marseille.

Edinburgh is well-known for its shopping. Head to Princes Street in the New Town to visit department stores and other name brand shops. Nearby George Street has more boutique style shops and less crowds. In the Old Town, Victoria Street is filled with Harry Potter shops and tourist stores where you can pick up a kilt or Edinburgh sweatshirt.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Marseille. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a city with good options for visiting Christmas markets. However, Edinburgh does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille is a nice place to see Christmas markets. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Edinburgh does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Families?

Edinburgh is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Edinburgh. Kids will enjoy wandering down Victoria Street and popping in the Harry Potter shops. There are also a number of fascinating Harry Potter tours that take you through notable landmarks where J.K. Rowling was inspired to write these popular stories. You'll even visit Tom Riddle's gravesite. Other highlights that families will enjoy include Edinburgh Castle and the Edinburgh Dungeon, which is best for older kids or kids that enjoy a good scare. Younger kids will enjoy a trip the illusions museum, Camera Obscura, which also offers one of the best views of the city.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Couples?

Both Edinburgh and Marseille are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

Edinburgh makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its castle and the Royal Mile, there are many romantic places to explore as a couple. There are also good restaurants and some nice hotels. Whether you're interested in history, food, or fun, this city makes for a great couples trip.

Couples visit Marseille frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Edinburgh is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Edinburgh, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has some good hostels and an active nightlife, so it's not hard to find other travelers to hang out with. It's a well visited city with many areas that attracted younger travelers or students.

Marseille is a good city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Students?

Both Edinburgh and Marseille are high quality destinations for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Edinburgh. This multicultural city is popular with international students because of its excellent research and academic centers as well as its unique history.

Many students visit Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Edinburgh and Marseille.

Edinburgh has some public transit options. Buses are the best way to get into town from the outer edges if you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Marseille, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Edinburgh or Marseille a more walkable city?

Edinburgh is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Edinburgh. The Old Town in particular is fun to walk around

Marseille is very walkable. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Edinburgh Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Edinburgh?

How long in Edinburgh or Marseille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Edinburgh and Marseille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Edinburgh than in Marseille. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Edinburgh, and 2-3 days is enough time in Marseille.

Families should spend more time in Edinburgh than Marseille. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Edinburgh, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edinburgh than Marseille if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Edinburgh.

One day in Edinburgh or Marseille?

You'll find nightlife and live music around the quaint city of Edinburgh. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the quaint city of Marseille. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Edinburgh or Marseille?

You'll find live music and shopping around the gothic destination of Edinburgh. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Marseille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Edinburgh or Marseille?

You'll find shopping and museums around the vibrant city of Edinburgh. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the energetic city of Marseille. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Edinburgh or Marseille?

Edinburgh is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Marseille is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Edinburgh and Marseille, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Marseille Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh and Marseille, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh or Marseille?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Marseille in the Summer?

Both Marseille and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Edinburgh is much colder than Marseille. Typically, the summer temperatures in Edinburgh in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Marseille averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during summer. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Edinburgh usually receives more rain than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Marseille in the Autumn?

Both Marseille and Edinburgh during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

In October, Edinburgh is generally much colder than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 10°C (49°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun.

Edinburgh usually gets less rain in October than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Marseille in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Marseille. The museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Edinburgh in the winter. Edinburgh is much colder than Marseille in the winter. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during winter. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Edinburgh usually receives more rain than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Marseille in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Marseille. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Additionally, many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Edinburgh is much colder than Marseille. Typically, the spring temperatures in Edinburgh in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Marseille averages at about 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. In the spring, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun.

Edinburgh usually gets less rain in April than Marseille. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Edinburgh