Musée d'Histoire de Marseille
Musée d'Histoire de Marseille
Musée d'Histoire de Marseille
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.5
641 reviews
Excellent
375
Very good
185
Average
56
Poor
18
Terrible
7
antoncarth
High Wycombe, UK825 contributions
Mar 2020
It's a very nice museum to learn about the city of Marseille and how civilisation developed in this region, if only you can read French. In whole the museum there are only a few signs in English explain to the visitor the history.
There are a lot of exhibits from Greek and Roman period but for some reason only one to six exhibits has a sign with some lines in English to explain you the origin and the story behind every piece.
Even the video you can see inside the museum is in French, there are no English subtitles unfortunatelly, neither English audioguide.
Maybe they expect only French speaker visitors.
It's really sad in such a nice and big museum to notice the lack of second language in exhibition area. This is not acceptable.
There are a lot of exhibits from Greek and Roman period but for some reason only one to six exhibits has a sign with some lines in English to explain you the origin and the story behind every piece.
Even the video you can see inside the museum is in French, there are no English subtitles unfortunatelly, neither English audioguide.
Maybe they expect only French speaker visitors.
It's really sad in such a nice and big museum to notice the lack of second language in exhibition area. This is not acceptable.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandy c
Copenhagen, Denmark662 contributions
Oct 2020
With 26 centuries of history, you're not going to get the most in-depth information on everything, but as an overview I found it quite comprehensive. From the Gauls and Romans to the 20th century, there's a lot of ground covered.
Now as I don't use a mobile phone, much may have been inaccessible to me. I think they have a feature where you can look at reconstructions through the ages on your screen. Innovative maybe, but not my thing.
There was not a whole lot of info in English (this is France after all!) but again, maybe with a mobile or audio guide you'd get more.
I'm not sure about the admission charge or special exhibitions- I don't recall paying a fee, but maybe this was a special promotion.
Now as I don't use a mobile phone, much may have been inaccessible to me. I think they have a feature where you can look at reconstructions through the ages on your screen. Innovative maybe, but not my thing.
There was not a whole lot of info in English (this is France after all!) but again, maybe with a mobile or audio guide you'd get more.
I'm not sure about the admission charge or special exhibitions- I don't recall paying a fee, but maybe this was a special promotion.
Written 16 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin S
London, UK27 contributions
Aug 2020
Great museum for all ages. I visited in Aug 2018 with my partner and 13yr old son. Spent a good 2 hours looking round. The displays are very detailed with good translation provided by the QR tech. Lots of eras covered with obvious attention on the Roman exhibits which were superb. Worth the entry fee.
Written 22 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boudewijn d
The Hague, The Netherlands171 contributions
Mar 2020
The museum is located near archeological excavations. It describes the development of Marseille from the very early beginning. I expected more about the history of Marseille in the 20th century. But displays are very nice and quite interactive (to a degree).
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
64Kay2602
Hertfordshire, UK49 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
On arrival we asked if the museum was open as it looked rather quiet . We were told it was but after going inside only a small part was open as the rest was under refurbishment which two members of staff failed to explain . So we were rather underwhelmed to say the least . Need more signs to explain to visitors .
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foodange
Manchester, UK4,098 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
Trying too hard, this was a confusing museum, purporting to tell the story of Marseille. Compared to others we’ve visited, it was dull.
There was far too much on Roman times, maybe as it was on the site of discovered foundations.
Little on present day Marseille, France’s second biggest city.
Good temporary exhibition on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his ‘Le Petit Prince’, not so good one on Sport in the city.
Wonder why they missed a mention or two of Bernard Tapie!
Passed an hour or so but not really worth the diversion.
There was far too much on Roman times, maybe as it was on the site of discovered foundations.
Little on present day Marseille, France’s second biggest city.
Good temporary exhibition on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his ‘Le Petit Prince’, not so good one on Sport in the city.
Wonder why they missed a mention or two of Bernard Tapie!
Passed an hour or so but not really worth the diversion.
Written 2 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth S
Grapevine, TX214 contributions
May 2023
Great modern museum and it is free. The location was to be a parking garage when the site turned out to be historic. All of the exhibits are attractive and many have English descriptions. The English audio guide was very helpful. There were a number of wall video screens which the audio device could activate plus describing the display cases. The boat remnants were amazing. We only allowed 2 hours and felt we rushed thru. A real history buff could spend much longer. This is very close to the short side of the old port and we walked easily. The Apple GPS app took us to a hotel that backs up to the site so maybe use the address instead of the name. If we had been on the other side of the street we would have seen it anyway.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Callum B
4 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
A fantastic museum: free to enter, with free audioguides. A spectacular collection including Greek, Roman, and Ancient Christian artifacts. Highlights include: the old Roman port; an ancient cemetery; old Roman ships; and countless Amphora from antiquity. Definitely worth a visit: better than the much-lauded Mucem.
Written 23 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lindaMontreal_Canada
Montreal, Canada40 contributions
May 2016 • Family
We chanced upon this Museum while walking around Marseille. The entrance fee was very low ( E5 for adults, E 3 for students with an audio guide) so we decided to go in. There was also a special exhibit running till May 2017 on underwater exploration, for an additional E 3. Even without the special exhibit, this place is fascinating! The audio guide was very well done with just enough information to keep us interested in each object on display. The visitor's guide says that there are single items alongside animated series using a variety of multi media tools and that it is one of the largest history museums in Europe ; that it is a journey of experiences for children with historical stop off points . Indeed, we saw groups of schoolchildren excitedly going around. This museum is highly recommended for both adults & children. The displays are varied enough to keep everyone interested and there's lots of staff around eager to help. BTW, it is also very well located, right in the center of the city. It is housed in a building with a shopping mall in the upper level where we bought drinks and pastries in a coffee shop with very reasonable prices. This place should not be missed when you're in Marseille. Open everyday from 10 to 6, except Mondays. There's guided tours everyday except Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Written 25 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LondonTraveler008
London, UK125 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
Disorganised with limited cohesion. There was an English audio guide but it was dreadful...just some long stories completely unrelated to the exhibits or subject material...just vaguely linked to the correct time period.
The exhibits were dubious...mostly a load of old pots. Even if you like that, there's no English or other language descriptions on any of them so unless you speak French there's little to be learned.
I don't know why French museums don't make more effort to provide information in other languages. The French language is not going to die out just because you make better provisions in museums and other tourist attractions. It's this weird stoical senseless aim to make everybody speak French in France. Well, I can't speak French, and I'm in France. I can't learn a language that quickly, if I learned the language of every country I went to I'd speak 100s...nobody's going to learn French just for a holiday anymore. This isn't the 1970s where people are going to France year after year and do a beginner's French class to help when they're out there. All you're going to do is drive people away...maybe that's what they want.
The exhibits were dubious...mostly a load of old pots. Even if you like that, there's no English or other language descriptions on any of them so unless you speak French there's little to be learned.
I don't know why French museums don't make more effort to provide information in other languages. The French language is not going to die out just because you make better provisions in museums and other tourist attractions. It's this weird stoical senseless aim to make everybody speak French in France. Well, I can't speak French, and I'm in France. I can't learn a language that quickly, if I learned the language of every country I went to I'd speak 100s...nobody's going to learn French just for a holiday anymore. This isn't the 1970s where people are going to France year after year and do a beginner's French class to help when they're out there. All you're going to do is drive people away...maybe that's what they want.
Written 20 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there any fees to enter to museum? ( special prices for university students )
Written 28 October 2016
Regular admission is a low 5 Euro further reduced to 3 Euro for students. Quite a bargain!
Written 29 October 2016
s'agit-il bien du musée d'histoire de la ville dont vous parlez ici? Santons et savon dans ce musée?
Written 1 July 2015
Non le musée du santon c'est Aubagne la capitale du santon et non Marseille.
En ce qui concerne le savon, vous avez l'épopée industrielle et du commerce où là il est question de la fabrication et ça s'arrete là.
Written 3 July 2015
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