Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Valencia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Valencia 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.
Valencia is a friendly, coastal, and cultural coastal 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. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.
Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Valencia. Although Valencia and Marseille are roughly the same size, Valencia has more sights and attractions for tourists. Valencia is more popular for its museums, resorts, hiking, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Marseille is known for its christmas markets and quaint atmosphere. Valencia is popular for its rich cultural, world class museums, beautiful old town, and local cuisine (which includes paella). It is also home to La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. Marseille is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Marseille and Valencia. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Valencia 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 Valencia can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is famous for its architecture and culture. Most of the main attractions are concentrated in Ciutat Vella and can be easily accessed on foot. Notable landmarks include La Lonja de Seda, Catedral de València, and Plaza de la Virgen. There are also several world class museums including Oceanogràfic de València and La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències de València.
Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.
Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Valencia and Marseille can be difficult as they are each amazing in their own way.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Valencia is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city is famous as the birthplace of paella, which is one of Spain's most famous dishes. Beyond the paella, there are a number of other amazing traditional dishes. Fideuà is similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice. All i pebre is an eel and potato dish and clóchinas are tiny local mussels. For dessert make sure you try the flan de calabaza, which is pumpkin flavored. Many restaurants also have tapas that can be shared. Restaurants in the old town are charming and delicious, but out by the beaches the quality isn't as good.
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.
Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Valencia and Marseille.
Valencia has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Dinner starts late, so you can expect the nightlife to pick up even later. During the summer there are all night terrace parties and year round you'll find nightclubs filled from evening to dawn. If all night raves aren't really your thing, you'll also find plenty of local bars where you can hang out with friends in a more relaxed setting. The nightlife scene really is varied enough that there's something for everyone.
Marseille is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.
Valencia is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Marseille is not a resort destination.
Valencia has a few great resort options. You can choose between staying near the old town (Ciutat Vella) or out by the beach. One of the best beach areas is El Cabanyal. It's still close enough in to be well connected by public transit but offers a great coastal vibe as well.
Marseille is not a resort destination.
Both Valencia and Marseille have good beaches worth visiting.
Valencia has a beach worth visiting. There are several urban beaches in town that are accessible by public transit. Many offer surprisingly long stretches of sand with wide beaches and plenty of activity. The beaches can get crowded during the summer months, but they are generally large enough to accommodate the crowds. La Malvarrosa Beach is one of the most popular because of its proximity to the city. El Saler Beach is further out and popular with the locals and Port Saplaya is a colorful area with shopping and beaches.
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.
Valencia and Marseille both have amazing historical old towns that attract visitors.
Valencia offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. For culture, history, and the majority of the city's attractions, you'll want to spend your time in Ciutat Vella (old town).
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.
Valencia is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Marseille is not a hiking destination.
Valencia has hiking trails worth exploring. Most people miss out on the beautiful hikes through the nearby countryside, but if you venture out of town you can enjoy some beautiful walking trails. Many run along the coastline or pass through rolling hills. There is varied landscape in the area with pine forests, orange groves, and vineyards all common.
Marseille is not a hiking destination.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Marseille and Valencia.
Valencia is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. As the third largest city in Spain, you'll find most designer brands around town. The main shopping street is Calle Colon where you'll find the well-known European brands mixed in with the lesser-known Spanish brands. For a more local experience head to Mercado Central where you'll find local produce, colorful seafood, and a unique foodie vibe.
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.
Marseille is a nice place to visit for its Christmas markets. However, Valencia 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.
Valencia does not offer Christmas markets.
Valencia 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 Valencia. The city has some kid-friendly museums, an impressive zoo, and the largest aquarium in Europe (with its own dolphin show). Head to the Science Museum or simply wander around the museum complex. There are water activities and a beautiful futuristic style that attracts families and influencers with its photogenic atmosphere. There are also countless playgrounds of all sizes around town and a number of parks and outdoor spaces where kids can run around. There's a city park that runs through town and has playgrounds and bike trails. You can also spend a fun-filled day at the beach.
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.
Valencia and Marseille are both superb to visit as a couple.
Couples visit Valencia frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city is filled with interesting culture, beautiful weather, and delightful cuisine. There are sandy beaches and luxury hotels that will make for an amazing romantic getaway. There are also many beautiful gardens and charming neighborhoods that you can explore. Couples can split a paella and sip sangrias in one of the many charming restaurants around town.
Marseille is a great coastal city if you're traveling as a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.
Valencia 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 Valencia. It's often overlooked for more popular destinations, but this city has plenty to offer in the form of affordable accommodation and food as well as interesting sights.
Marseille is a good coastal city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.
Valencia is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.
Valencia is a great destination for students. The city is young and vibrant with a lot of culture and beautiful neighborhoods. It's also well connected to the rest of Spain with a convenient central train station.
Students come from all over to stay in Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Valencia and Marseille.
You'll find some public transit in Valencia, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Public transit is available in the form of buses and a tram/metro system but the system isn't as comprehensive as it could be and much of the city is surprisingly dependent on cars.
While Marseille offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.
Valencia and Marseille both are superb when exploring on foot.
Valencia is a very walkable coastal city. Walking is the best way to explore many parts of the city and you can walk from one side of the Ciutat Vella to the other in about 20 minutes. This area is where you'll find most of the city's main attractions. There are other neighborhoods that are a bit less pedestrian-friendly.
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 Valencia Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Valencia and Marseille. In our opinion, Valencia has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Valencia than Marseille. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Valencia than Marseille. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Valencia, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Valencia than Marseille. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Valencia that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Valencia 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 Valencia.
People visit Valencia 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.
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.
People visit Valencia 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 coastal city has to offer. This coastal city 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.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the friendly coastal city of Valencia. 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.
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.
Valencia 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 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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Valencia is €123, while the average daily cost in Marseille is €148. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Valencia and Marseille in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Valencia or Marseille? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valencia:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Marseille and Valencia change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valencia.
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few typical costs in Valencia for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Valencia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Valencia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valencia and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Valencia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valencia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valencia 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 Valencia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Valencia Expensive? and Is Marseille Expensive?.
Valencia has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Marseille. When comparing the sizes of Valencia 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Valencia as well as Marseille. The summer months attract visitors to Valencia because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, 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, Valencia is around the same temperature as Marseille. Typically, the summer temperatures in Valencia in July average around 25°C (76°F), and Marseille averages at about 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 Valencia this time of the year. In the summer, Valencia often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Valencia gets 303 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.
Valencia usually gets less rain in July than Marseille. Valencia gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Marseille and Valencia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Valencia this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Valencia is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Valencia average around 19°C (66°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. Valencia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during autumn. Valencia gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Valencia usually receives more rain than Marseille. Valencia gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Marseille and Valencia during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Valencia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Valencia is much warmer than Marseille in the winter. The daily temperature in Valencia averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In the winter, Valencia often gets more sunshine than Marseille. Valencia gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.
Valencia usually gets less rain in January than Marseille. Valencia gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Valencia and Marseille. Many visitors come to Valencia in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Valencia is a little warmer than Marseille. Typically, the spring temperatures in Valencia in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Marseille averages at about 13°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Valencia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Valencia usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during spring. Valencia gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Valencia usually receives less rain than Marseille. Valencia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Valencia | Marseille | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
May | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Jul | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |