A Travel Price Comparison for France Marseille vs. Lyon for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Marseille or Lyon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille or Lyon, 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.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Lyon

Lyon is a authentic, historic, and beautiful city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Marseille and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marseille or Lyon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lyon than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Lyon, Lyon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lyon is more popular for its museums, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Marseille is known for its nightlife, beaches, and christmas markets. Marseille is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. Lyon is popular for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also home to The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

How is Marseille different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Lyon 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, Lyon has many famous sights for visitors. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Foodies will find both Marseille and Lyon both to be amazing destinations.

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.

Many restaurants in Lyon have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Marseille has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

Lyon has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a nice place to visit for the beache. However, Lyon is not a beach destination.

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

Lyon is not a beach destination.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Marseille and Lyon both have amazing historical old towns that attract visitors.

The historic old town of Marseille is revered around 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.

With a famous historical old-town, Lyon offers plenty to see. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Is the Shopping Better in Marseille or Lyon?

Shoppers can find a variety of superb stores in both Marseille and Lyon.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Marseille. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Lyon is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a nice place to visit for its Christmas markets. However, Lyon 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.

Lyon does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Families?

Lyon 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 Lyon. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

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 Marseille or Lyon Better for Couples?

Marseille and Lyon are both superb to visit as a couple.

Marseille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Couples visit Lyon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

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

Is Marseille or Lyon Better for Students?

Lyon is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Lyon is a great destination for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Students come from all over to stay in Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

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

Lyon 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 Lyon can get you around easily. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

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 Marseille or Lyon a more walkable city?

Marseille and Lyon are superb when it comes to walkability.

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.

Lyon is very walkable. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Marseille?

How long in Marseille or Lyon?

In either Marseille or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Lyon than Marseille because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Marseille, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon 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 Lyon.

One day in Marseille or Lyon?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Marseille. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

People visit Lyon because there is so much to do. 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 Marseille or Lyon?

Marseille is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

People visit Lyon because there is so much to do. 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 Marseille or Lyon?

You'll find food and shopping around the energetic destination of Marseille. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Marseille or Lyon?

The vibrant city of Marseille offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Lyon 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 Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marseille and Lyon, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Lyon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lyon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lyon 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 Lyon.

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

Which is Bigger, Marseille or Lyon?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Marseille and Lyon, 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 Marseille or Lyon?

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 Marseille or Lyon in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Lyon. The summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.

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

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

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

Should I visit Marseille or Lyon in the Autumn?

Both Lyon and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during autumn. Marseille gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Marseille or Lyon in the Winter?

Both Lyon and Marseille during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lyon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lyon can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Marseille is much warmer than Lyon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Marseille in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Lyon averages at about 4°C (39°F).

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

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

Should I visit Marseille or Lyon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Lyon. Many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

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

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during spring. Marseille gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Lyon and Marseille