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

Should you visit Paphos or Marseille?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos 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.

Paphos

Paphos is a ancient, beautiful, and cultural town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

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.

Paphos and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Paphos or Marseille?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Paphos than Marseille, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Paphos is better known for its museums, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Marseille is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, christmas markets, and quaint atmosphere. Paphos is well known for its historical sights, rich culture, and beautiful churches. Also, Paphos is famous for Paphos Archaeological Park. Marseille is well known for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

How is Paphos different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Paphos 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, Paphos has many famous sights for visitors. The area is well known for its impressive archeological ruins, many of which are found at Paphos Archaeological Site. Other impressive sights include the Tombs of the Kings, the Chrysopolitissa Basilica & St. Paul's Pillar, Agia Paraskevi, and Paphos Fort.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at amazing restaurants in both Paphos and Marseille.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Paphos is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Food is a huge part of the culture and family life in the area. The cuisine is influenced by the surrounding areas and you'll see similarities to Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Popular dishes include koupepia (vine leaves stuffed with a filling called gemista), souvlaki (a meat and salad filled pita), and makaronia tou fournou (a pasta dish made with halloumi and béchamel sauce).

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.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is renowned for nightlife. Also, Paphos is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Marseille is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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 Paphos has a few options to choose from. Most people think of history, culture, beaches, and wine, but the city also has its share of clubs and bars. It's not the party-hard beach destination that you'll find at some Mediterranean tourist areas, but there are still plenty of bars and clubs with atmosphere and style. Head to Agiou Antoniou Street for the most action.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Resorts?

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

Paphos offers an unforgettable resort vacation. The area is filled with all types of resorts. There are many all-inclusive resorts that cater to families, honeymooners, or luxury vacationers. If you want to experience more of the local culture, there are also smaller boutique hotels or local apartments available.

Marseille is not a resort destination.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Paphos is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Paphos has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are many snorkeling and dive spots that aren't far away. You'll also find a number of scuba or snorkeling excursions that you can join. The water conditions for snorkeling and diving are best during the summer months.

Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Paphos 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 Paphos are among the best in the world. Many people head to the area specifically for the beaches. This region has the longest coastline of any region in Cyprus, but keep in mind that some of the best beaches are found outside of the main tourist areas. However, they most are usually accessible by city bus with many remote stretches found along the Akamas Peninsula. Within town the beaches are often rocky and pebbly.

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 Paphos or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Paphos is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.

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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Paphos. The old town is a pleasant area to walk around with a number of interesting buildings.

Is the Shopping Better in Paphos or Marseille?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Marseille and Paphos.

Paphos is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are outdoor markets, major shopping streets, and international fashion brands. You can pick up local souvenirs or beach gear that you may have forgotten.

Marseille is well-known for its shopping. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

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

Paphos does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Families?

Paphos 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 Paphos. There are plenty of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Head to the beach or take a walk along the coastline. Animal lovers will appreciate a visit to the zoo, bird park, or aquarium and young thrill seekers will enjoy a day at the Aqua-park of Aphrodite. And, of course, there's also the ruins that kids can have fun exploring.

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 Paphos or Marseille Better for Couples?

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

Paphos has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Honeymooners who enjoy history, nature, beaches, and culture will find it all in the area. There are stunning beaches where you can relax in the sun, world renowned archeological ruins where you can immerse yourself in a historical world, and beautiful views around every corner. There are also excellent restaurants and wine tasting opportunities that will make for a memorable 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 Paphos or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Paphos 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 Paphos. The area is generally accessible with a few good hostels and budget accommodation options sprinkled about. There are great beaches and restaurants as well as plenty of beautiful places to enjoy a walk.

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

Is Paphos or Marseille Better for Students?

Marseille is a great destination for students. However, Paphos 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.

Paphos is not popular with students.

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

Paphos is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Paphos can get you to most places easily. It's possible to get around by city bus to most places. Buses connect many touristy areas such as Kato Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Chloraka, Kissonerga, Coral Bay and Paphos Center.

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 Paphos or Marseille a more walkable city?

Marseille is a great destination for its walkability. Also, Paphos is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

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

Paphos is a somewhat walkable place. The main tourist area is Kato Paphos which is small, compact and easy to walk around, but if you want to head to areas further away then you likely won't be able to travel on foot. It's important to understand where your hotel is located if you're planning to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Paphos?

How long in Paphos or Marseille?

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

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

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

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

One day in Paphos or Marseille?

You'll find nightlife and food around the town of Paphos. 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.

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 Paphos or Marseille?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful destination of Paphos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This town 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 Paphos or Marseille?

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

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 Paphos or Marseille?

Paphos 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant 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 The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Paphos or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos 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 Paphos 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 Paphos or Marseille in the Summer?

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

In July, Paphos is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Paphos average around 27°C (80°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 Paphos this time of the year. In the summer, Paphos often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille. Paphos gets 388 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.

Paphos usually gets less rain in July than Marseille. Paphos gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Paphos or Marseille in the Autumn?

Both Marseille and Paphos 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 Paphos this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Paphos is a little warmer than Marseille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Paphos averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Paphos. Paphos usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Paphos gets 270 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Paphos usually receives less rain than Marseille. Paphos gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Paphos or Marseille in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Paphos is much warmer than Marseille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Paphos in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Marseille averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Paphos often gets more sunshine than Marseille. Paphos gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.

Paphos usually gets more rain in January than Marseille. Paphos gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Paphos or Marseille in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Paphos and Marseille. Many visitors come to Paphos in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Paphos is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Paphos average around 17°C (62°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Paphos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Paphos usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during spring. Paphos gets 270 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Paphos usually receives less rain than Marseille. Paphos gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Paphos