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

Should you visit Marbella or Marseille?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Marseille, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Marbella

Marbella is a glamorous, fun-filled, and high energy resort town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, 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.

Marbella and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marbella or Marseille?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Marbella than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Marbella, Marbella has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Marbella is more popular for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Marseille is known for its food, historical sights, christmas markets, and quaint atmosphere. Marbella is popular for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife. It is also home to Plaza de los Naranjos. Marseille is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

How is Marbella different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Marseille is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Marseille is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Marbella area. The area is filled with tourists, so finding an authentic dining experience can be difficult. Several favorite dishes include croquetas, boquerones, and pulpo.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

The amazing nightlife scene is relatively similar in Marbella and Marseille.

Marbella is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. European tourists flock to the town for its beaches and resorts. The town has a glamorous nightlife scene with exclusive clubs and ritzy cocktail bars, particularly in Puerto Banus and along the Golden Mile.

People head to Marseille just to party. 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.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Music?

Marbella is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Marseille is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Marbella has diverse options. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.

Marseille is not a live music destination.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Resorts?

Marbella is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Marseille is not a resort destination.

Marbella offers an unforgettable resort vacation. From luxury to family-friendly, this area has plenty of resorts to choose from. Popular resorts in the area include Marbella Club Hotel, Puente Romano Marbella, and Don Carlos Resort and Spa.

Marseille is not a resort destination.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Marbella is a world-class destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Marbella specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. There are more than 100 dive sights and endless snorkeling opportunities in the area. There are deep offshore reefs that you can explore as well as shallower wrecks and caves.

Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Marbella is a world-class destination for the beach. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

The beaches in Marbella are among the best in the world. The area boasts some of the best beaches in Europe. They are hubs of activity with lots of energy, and there are more than 18 miles of sandy beach in the area. Popular options include Guadalmina Beach, San Pedro de Alcántara Beach, and Nueva Andalucía Beach.

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.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is very popular for its old town. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town charm.

Marseille has a world-famous historical area. 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.

Marbella offers a nice historic old town area. Head into the old town to explore a quaint area with small, meandering streets, churches, restaurants, shops, and cafes.

Is the Shopping Better in Marbella or Marseille?

Marbella 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 Marbella specifically to go shopping. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.

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 Marbella or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a nice place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, Marbella does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille has Christmas markets worth visiting. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Marbella does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Families?

Marbella 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 Marbella. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.

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 Marbella or Marseille Better for Couples?

Marbella is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Marbella has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The area has luxury resorts, nice beaches, water sports, golf, and water activities that are perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend or a honeymoon.

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 Marbella or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marbella and Marseille are both good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Marbella. There are a few good hostels in the area for backpackers who want to enjoy this part of Spain's cost. There's also a lively nightlife scene and plenty of opportunities to meet others.

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

Is Marbella or Marseille Better for Students?

Marseille is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Marbella is not popular with students.

Marseille is a great city to visit as a student. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Marbella is not popular with students.

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

Marseille is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Marbella is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Marseille has some public transit options. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Public transit is generally limited in Marbella. There is a bus system through the area, but most visitors prefer to get around by car.

Is Marbella or Marseille a more walkable city?

Marbella and Marseille are superb when it comes to walkability.

Marbella is a very walkable resort town. The old town is particularly walkable and there are a number of hotels and nice resorts within a short walk of the town along a nice promenade.

Marseille is a very walkable destination. 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 Marbella Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Marbella?

How long in Marbella or Marseille?

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

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

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

One day in Marbella or Marseille?

You'll find nightlife and live music around the resort town of Marbella. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

The beautiful city of Marseille offers nightlife and food. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Marbella or Marseille?

You'll find live music and food around the glamorous destination of Marbella. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Marseille is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Marseille, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Marbella or Marseille?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the fun-filled resort town of Marbella. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this resort town makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer.

Marseille is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Marbella or Marseille?

Marbella is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marbella and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Marbella much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Marbella would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marbella 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Marbella.

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

Which is Bigger, Marbella or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Marbella. When comparing the sizes of Marbella 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 Marbella 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 Marbella or Marseille in the Summer?

Both Marseille and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Marbella because of the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

In the summer, Marbella is around the same temperature as Marseille. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marbella in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Marseille averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. Marbella usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during summer. Marbella gets 348 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Marbella usually receives less rain than Marseille. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Marbella or Marseille in the Autumn?

Both Marseille and Marbella during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marbella this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Marbella is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 19°C (67°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Marbella. In the autumn, Marbella often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille. Marbella gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets less rain in October than Marseille. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Marseille in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Marseille. Many travelers come to Marbella for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Marbella is much warmer than Marseille in the winter. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during winter. Marbella gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Marbella usually receives more rain than Marseille. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Marbella or Marseille in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Marseille. Many visitors come to Marbella in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Marbella is a little warmer than Marseille. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marbella in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Marseille averages at about 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marbella this time of the year. In the spring, Marbella often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Marbella gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets less rain in April than Marseille. Marbella 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 Marbella