If Marseille is loud, salty and sprawling, Aix-en-Provence is its refined, bourgeois opposite: a former capital of Provence of honey-coloured mansions, shaded squares and more than a hundred fountains, with a large university that keeps it young. The heart of the city is the Cours Mirabeau, a broad avenue under a double row of plane trees, lined on one side by 17th- and 18th-century hôtels particuliers and on the other by cafés, with the great Rotonde fountain at one end. North of it, the old town is a pleasure to wander: the morning markets on Place Richelme and around the town hall, the Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, the Musée Granet with its works by Cézanne, the Hôtel de Caumont art centre in a grand 18th-century mansion, and shop windows stacked with calissons, the local almond sweets. Paul Cézanne was born here in 1839 and painted the nearby Montagne Sainte-Victoire again and again. Note that his studio, the Atelier des Lauves, is closed for restoration from 1 November 2026. This page links to a Tiqets small-group tour from Marseille that combines Cap Canaille, Cassis and an afternoon in Aix.
How the tour works: it meets at 38 Quai de Rive Neuve on the Vieux-Port at 12:00 and lasts about seven hours, in an air-conditioned minivan with a live guide in English and French and no more than eight guests. The route stops at Cap Canaille for photographs, gives you free time in the port of Cassis, then continues to Aix for the afternoon, including the Cours Mirabeau, before returning to Marseille. A calanques boat cruise is not included. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before.
Going independently: frequent coaches run between Marseille and Aix in about half an hour to 40 minutes, and regional trains link the two city centres. Aix TGV station is outside the city, so check which station you need. The old town is compact and best explored on foot.
Making the most of it: if you go on your own, arrive for the morning market, spend the middle of the day on the Cours Mirabeau and at the Musée Granet or the Hôtel de Caumont, and save a café terrace for the late afternoon. Cézanne fans should plan around the closure of the Atelier des Lauves this winter and check the Cézanne sites for reopening news.
What to expect
The experience
A seven-hour small-group minivan tour from the Vieux-Port taking in Cap Canaille, Cassis and an afternoon in Aix, or an independent day trip by coach or train.
Best time
A dry day; independently, arrive in the morning for the markets and stay for a café on the Cours Mirabeau.
How long
About seven hours on the tour, or a full day on your own.
Tips
The Atelier des Lauves is closed for restoration from 1 November 2026, so focus on the Musée Granet and the old town this winter.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want a taste of genteel inland Provence alongside Marseille’s port city energy.
- Families
- The fountains, markets and calisson shops appeal to children; the minivan tour suits older ones best.
- Couples
- An unhurried afternoon on the Cours Mirabeau with a glass of rosé under the plane trees.
- Pair with
- Cassis on the same tour, or the Calanques National Park on another day.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the tour, a full day independently.
Good questions
How do I get from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence?+
Frequent coaches take about half an hour to 40 minutes, and regional trains link the two city centres. Aix TGV station is outside town, so check your station.
What does the linked tour include?+
A live guide in English and French, minivan transport from the Vieux-Port, a photo stop at Cap Canaille, free time in Cassis and an afternoon in Aix. A calanques cruise is not included.
Is Cézanne’s studio open?+
The Atelier des Lauves is closed for restoration from 1 November 2026, with no reopening date announced at the time of writing. The Musée Granet in the old town shows works by Cézanne.
What is the Cours Mirabeau?+
It is Aix’s grand avenue, shaded by plane trees, with mansions on one side and cafés on the other. The Rotonde fountain stands at its western end.
What should I eat or buy in Aix?+
Try calissons, the city’s almond and candied-melon sweets, and browse the morning produce markets. A café on the Cours Mirabeau is a ritual.
