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

Should you visit Geneva or Marseille?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Marseille. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Geneva

Geneva is a international, professional, and classy city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Geneva and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Marseille?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Geneva than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Geneva, Geneva has more sights and attractions for tourists. Geneva is better known for its museums, shopping, and big city activities, while Marseille is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Marseille is more touristy than Geneva and is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. Geneva is well known for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. Also, Geneva is famous for The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau).

How is Geneva different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Geneva is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Geneva can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Marseille is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through Marseille, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Geneva has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Marseille is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a good destination for its beaches. However, Geneva is not a beach destination.

Marseille offers a nice beach destination. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Geneva is not a beach destination.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Marseille offers plenty to see. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Geneva. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Marseille?

Geneva is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Geneva specifically to go shopping. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

Marseille is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a good destination for its Christmas markets. However, Geneva does not offer Christmas markets.

Visiting the Christmas markets is popular in Marseille. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Geneva does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Families?

Geneva is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Geneva is a family-friendly city. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

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 Geneva or Marseille Better for Couples?

Marseille is a great destination for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

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.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marseille is a good destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Marseille. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Geneva or Marseille Better for Students?

Geneva and Marseille are great places to visit for students.

Many students visit Geneva. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Marseille is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

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

Geneva is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Geneva can get you around easily. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

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 Geneva or Marseille a more walkable city?

Geneva and Marseille both are great when exploring on foot.

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

Marseille is a very walkable city. 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 Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Marseille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Geneva and Marseille. In our opinion, Marseille has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Marseille than Geneva. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Geneva, and 2-3 days is enough time in Marseille.

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

Couples should spend more time in Marseille than Geneva. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Marseille that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marseille than Geneva 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 Marseille.

One day in Geneva or Marseille?

People visit Geneva because there is so much to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Geneva has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Marseille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Geneva or Marseille?

People visit Geneva because there is so much to do. 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.

Marseille is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Geneva or Marseille?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the international city of Geneva. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the shopping. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marseille. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Geneva or Marseille?

Geneva is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Marseille. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Marseille, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Marseille much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Marseille would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marseille and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Marseille.

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

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva 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 Geneva or Marseille?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Geneva or Marseille in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Marseille. Many visitors come to Geneva in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Geneva is generally around the same temperature as Marseille. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Geneva this time of the year. In the summer, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets more rain in July than Marseille. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Marseille in the Autumn?

Both Marseille and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Geneva for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Geneva is cooler than Marseille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Geneva usually receives around the same amount of rain as Marseille. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Geneva or Marseille in the Winter?

Both Marseille and Geneva during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Geneva because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

The weather in Geneva can be very cold. In the winter, Geneva is much colder than Marseille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Marseille averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets more rain in January than Marseille. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Marseille in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Marseille. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Geneva this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Geneva is generally cooler than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during spring. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Marseille. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Geneva