Marine Museum

Marseille's connection to the sea goes back millennia, and even today the city has one of the largest, busiest ports in Europe. While perhaps not the hottest ticket in town, the Maritime and Commercial Museum of Marseilles (Musée de la Marine et de l'Economie de Marseille, or simply the Marine Museum) should still be a stop on any visitor’s agenda, as it is dedicated to what Marseille is all about.
Housed in the Palais de la Bourse, the former Chamber of Commerce, the Marine Museum charges 2 euro per ticket, which is definitely within any traveler’s budget. The exhibits focus mostly on modern maritime history, which spans the last 500 years or so, and provide a fascinating look into what has made Marseille a major player in the worldwide maritime economy.
The stars of this show are the to-scale boat models from centuries past, and the nautical maps are works of art in and of themselves. There are also items from the early days of scuba diving, which show modern divers just how much the equipment has changed.

Practical Info

The Maritime and Commercial Museum of Marseilles (Musée de la Marine et de l'Economie de Marseille) is located at Palais de la Bourse 9, in the Canebière neighborhood in the 1st arrondissement. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and entrance costs 2 euro per person.