Frequently Asked Questions

What are the market days? How can we access the beaches of the Côte Bleue? When can I do nautical activities?
Find here the questions you ask us regularly at the reception of the Martigues Tourist Office.

Prepare my stay

I am looking for accommodation. How can I make my choice?

The destination offers a wide choice of accommodation types. In the city center, you can enjoy hotels and vacation rentals.
By the sea, you will rather find campsites, holiday villages and tourist residences.
If you wish to favor proximity with the inhabitant, our hosts will be happy to welcome you.

Can I book accommodation on martiguestourisme.com ?

The martiguestourisme.com site does not offer online reservations,
but the "Where to sleep" section offers a very complete listing of accommodation in Martigues and around Martigues.
The reservation is then made directly with the professional.

Where are the motorhome areas in Martigues?

The first is located on the port of Carro (78 pitches)
and the second is at the La Source campsite (9 pitches).
They are open year round, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.

Do you offer a "Destination Pass" to visit cheaper tourist sites?

All cultural places to visit in Martigues are free.
This is the case for museums, churches and chapels.
Certain places of entertainment are also free, such as
the educational farm of the Grand Parc de Figuerolles.

What activities are planned during my stay?

You can select your dates of stay from our agenda section.
You can filter the events taking place this weekend, the week, or this month.

We come as a family for a stay in Martigues, what do you recommend?

We have listed all the entertainment, activities and walks to do with the family in the Family section.You will also find suitable accommodation, restaurants with a children's menu and shops dedicated to children.

What are the monuments and tourist sites not to be missed?

A lift bridge which allows liners to pass through the city center,
the "Miroir aux oiseaux" site which has inspired many painters,
a Chapelle de l'Annonciade whose decorations are exceptional, beautiful walks between sea and pond ...
There are so many peculiarities to discover! Discover without further delay the TOP10 of Martigues.

What sites and structures are suitable for people with disabilities?

To welcome you, the destination providers have equipped themselves to facilitate your stay in Martigues.
Find all the information in the dedicated section

Make the most of the destination

I heard about "La Venise Provençale", where is it?

This is Martigues without its ensemble. The city is divided into three city centers crossed by canals and connected by bridges.Start your visit with the Miroir aux oiseaux located right next to the Martigues Tourist Office and continue your discovery towards the statues of Bourvil and Fernandel in homage to the filming of the movie "La cuisine au beurre".

I do not know Martigues, what advice do you have?

In the city center or on the Blue Coast for a day or a weekend, we have concocted the best itinerary for you.
Follow the guide and enjoy a memorable stay in Martigues.

Do you offer tours of Martigues?

Every summer, we offer boat tours on the canals of Martigues (45 min) and commented by the captain.
All year round, it is possible to take a self-guided tour by visiting the heart of the city or to download our tourist guide.

I have heard of "La poutargue", a martégale specialty. Where can I find it?

The bottarga is a kind of caviar made from eggs of mullets poutarguiers (female mullet or mullet).
Bottarga can be found from June to the end of February at Calen, where it is directly fished.
If you like culinary specialties, we also advise you to try the terracotta or the pearls of the pond.

Where can I rent a boat and / or practice nautical activities?

For the day or half-day, several boat rental companies are available in the town of Martigues.
Whether you prefer to practice a board sport (surfing, stand-up paddle, canoe-kayak, jet-ski, towed buoy ...)
or scuba diving or fishing (at sea or on board).

Do you offer hiking tours in the heart of nature?

We offer a variety of routes for all ages. On the sea side, you can follow the Grand Sentier de la Côte Bleue (62km)
which consists of 17 internal loops (2 to 12 km).
These walking routes run along the coast from Martigues to Niolon via Sausset-les-Pins, Carry-le-Rouet and Ensuès-la-Redonne.
Pond coast, the Between sea and pond trail (90km) connects the municipalities of Martigues,
Port-de-Bouc and Saint-Miter-les-Remparts by 8 loops (from 4 to 14 km).

Daily questions

I am looking for a restaurant, can you help me?

We have put everything in place to facilitate your search in the dedicated section.
Depending on the type of cuisine, specialties or the location of the restaurant, you will inevitably find the one that suits you.

What are the market days?

The markets in downtown Jonquières / Ferrières take place every Thursday and Sunday morning from 8:30 am to 1 pm.
The La Couronne and Carro markets take place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
As for the fish market in the port of Carro, it is held every morning from 8:30 am depending on the catch of the day.
The Saint-Julien-les-Martigues farmers market takes place Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
From April to October, a farmers' market is held in downtown Ferrières every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where can I do my daily shopping?

We have listed the shops that are useful during your stay in Martigues.
You can easily find everyday shops as well as shops to have fun.
Even easier, locate local shops according to your accommodation thanks to our interactive map.

Where are the beaches located? Are dogs allowed?

The beaches are located on the Côte Bleue coast at La Couronne (Sainte-Croix beach, Saulce beach, Couronne-Vieille beach
and Verdon beach), at Carro (Carro beach), at Laurons (Plage de la Bonnieu, Laurons beach).
They are all of fine sand and run along the Mediterranean Sea.
Only the Sainte-Croix and Verdon beaches offer private beaches (mattress and parasol rental).
You can also enjoy a beach in downtown Martigues, on the Berre pond side. Dogs are not allowed on all the beaches of Martigues.
Cavaou beach in Fos-sur-Mer is the closest dog-friendly beach.

What can I do if it rains?

You can take advantage of indoor infrastructures such as cinemas, museums (free)
and whose content is also accessible to children, the media library ...
and why not, work out at the municipal swimming pool whose water is at room temperature throughout. the year.

How to get a city map?

The Martigues city map is available at the reception of the Tourist Office and in tourist information points (summer season).
It is free in paper format, and downloadable here.

Transportation

What's the best way to get around Martigues city center?

The most practical is the maritime shuttle which offers continuous rotation free of charge.
How to combine business with pleasure and enjoy a stroll on the canals while moving from one district to another?

Where to park for free in Martigues?

The particularity in downtown Martigues is to offer part of the parking lot.
The seats in the first rows are chargeable while the back rows are free.
For quick trips, places with the logo "Heart of the city" allow you to take advantage of free travel within one hour
(you will have to collect a ticket from the parking meter provided for this purpose).
On the other hand, the car parks located around the Martigues Tourist Office are completely free.

I don't have a personal vehicle, what can I do?

The urban transport network is developed in Martigues thanks to the Ulysse bus lines and the interurban network thanks to the LeCar network.
It is also easy to get around by using a taxi.

From the city center of Martigues, how can I reach the beaches of the Côte Bleue?

Line 30 of the Ulysse network serves the beaches of Sainte-Croix (La Saulce stop),
La Couronne beach (La Couronne beach stop) and Carro beach (Carro beach stop).
It also passes through the village of La Couronne (La Couronne stop) near the SNCF train station.

Is the city of Martigues well equipped to be able to circulate by bike?

It is easy to park a bike in Martigues and to get around thanks to the many cycle paths and greenways.

I arrive by train in Marseille (Gare Saint-Charles), how can I come to Martigues?

It is easy to reach Martigues by the Côte Bleue train which offers a view overlooking the creeks and beaches of the Mediterranean coast.
The train (L07 - Marseille / Miramas via Martigues) stops at La Couronne station (near the beaches) and Martigues main station (Lavéra).
It is also possible to reach Martigues by LeCar coach (line 34 - Marseille / Martigues).

I arrive by plane at Marseille Provence airport, how can I reach Martigues?

You can take line 38 of the LeCar network which serves Vitrolles-Martigues via Marseille Provence Airport.

The bonus question

Où m'inscrire pour être figurant dans la série TV "Camping Paradis" diffusée sur TF1 ?

The series "Camping Paradis" is shot in Martigues, and more precisely in La Couronne.
A call for applications is posted on the TF1 site, do not hesitate to consult the site regularly. Every summer, we offer tours of the series' filming locations
(unless the film crew is still on site), registrations begin in June at the Martigues Tourist Office.

Can not find the answer to your question ?

You can chat online with an advisor from the Martigues Tourist Office during our opening hours
or leave a message in the dialog box to receive a personalized response by email.