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During the 2026 All Saints’ Day break, several venues in Marseille are offering experiences that are especially suited for children. Some are specifically planned for the school break, while others are classic attractions that are particularly well-suited for families.
Here are seven ideas for exploring Marseille with kids, combining culture, adventure, and the great outdoors.
During the All Saints' Day break, the Mucem is offering a program designed especially for young children.
From October 18 to 31, 2026, the En Ribambelle! festival returns to the museum, focusing on the arts of puppetry and object theater. Shows, hands-on activities, and guided tours allow children to explore the collections in a more playful way than during a traditional visit.
The museum also features the Fabuleux Terrier, a play area for children ages 5 to 11. It’s a great way to alternate between exploring the exhibits, learning, and taking a more relaxed break.
The tour can then continue outdoors at Fort Saint-Jean. Walkways, ramparts, gardens, and views of the Old Port offer a welcome change of pace after exploring the museum’s galleries.
In practice: Allow about two to three hours to enjoy the museum and outdoor areas at a leisurely pace. Some activities are geared toward specific age groups, so it’s best to check the program before your visit.
Check out the "En Ribambelle!" program at the Mucem
Located near the Mucem, Cosquer Méditerranée is one of the most immersive attractions to visit with children in Marseille.
The original Cosquer Cave is now partially submerged beneath the Mediterranean Sea and is not open to the public. However, its reconstruction allows visitors to discover the paintings, engravings, and traces left behind by prehistoric humans.
Part of the tour takes place aboard small exploration modules that gradually make their way through the cave’s reconstruction. The darkness, the cave walls, and the depictions of animals make the experience much more vivid than a traditional exhibition.
The Mediterranean Gallery then continues the exploration, notably with life-size representations of prehistoric animals.
Practical information: The full tour lasts about two hours. Children under 3 years of age are not permitted in the cave reconstruction area. Tickets are valid for a specific time slot and are neither exchangeable nor refundable; therefore, it is best to make a reservation once your schedule is set.
Planning a Visit to Cosquer Méditerranée
For All Saints’ Day 2026, the Natural History Museum is offering a new attraction that’s especially family-friendly.
The exhibition “Dinosaurs of Provence,” on view from October 10, 2026, to June 20, 2027, transports visitors back to Provence as it was about 73 million years ago.
Eggs, bones, teeth, footprints, and scientific discoveries help us understand which dinosaurs lived in the region and how paleontologists are now reconstructing their environment.
The exhibition is designed to be an immersive and fun experience. Among other things, it offers visitors the chance to learn about the Rhabdodon, a herbivorous dinosaur whose key fossils are preserved in Marseille.
After the tour, the Palais Longchamp makes it easy to extend your outing outdoors. Its park, fountains, and wide paths give children some space to run around after visiting the museum.
Practical information: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. It will be closed on November 1, 2026. At the time of this article’s publication, admission to the special exhibition is €6 for general admission and €3 for reduced-rate admission. Please check the terms and conditions before your visit.
Explore the "Dinosaurs of Provence" Exhibition
The colorful streets of Le Panier are a must-see in Marseille, but with young children, the uphill slopes and numerous flights of stairs can quickly make the walk take longer.
The Little Train lets you explore part of it in a different way.
The tour of Old Marseille includes stops at the Major Cathedral, the Vieille Charité, Le Panier, the Mucem, the Docks, and the Terrasses du Port.
For children, the trip itself is already an activity in its own right. For parents, it’s also an easy way to get a first impression of the neighborhood and identify places they can return to later on foot.
Practical information: The Little Train runs year-round, with schedules that vary by season. In 2026, the advertised fare is €11 for adults and €6 for children. Be sure to check the departure times on the day of your visit.
Information About the Marseille Mini Train
When you're traveling with kids, the adventure begins right at the Old Port.
The boat leaves the docks in Marseille and reaches Château d’If Island in about 20 minutes; the island is dominated by the fortress built under Francis I in the 16th century.
Formerly a state prison, the castle is best known to the general public thanks to Alexandre Dumas and *The Count of Monte Cristo*. For children old enough to appreciate adventure stories, the cells, the ramparts, and the tale of Edmond Dantès immediately add another dimension to the visit.
From the terraces, the view of Marseille and the Frioul Islands is also worth the trip.
Practical information: Allow about half a day between the ferry ride and the tour. The ferry ticket and admission to the monument are sold separately. The Château d’If is closed on Mondays, and departure times may be subject to change depending on the weather.
Plan a trip to the Château d’If and Frioul
For a more relaxed outing, the Frioul Islands offer a completely different side of Marseille.
Ratonneau and Pomègues are full of trails, rocks, coves, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean. With kids, there’s no need to plan a long hike. A few hours are enough to walk from the harbor, take in the scenery, and turn the island into a little playground for exploration.
The trails allow you to head toward Ratonneau or reach Pomègues by crossing the causeway that connects the two main islands.
On All Saints' Day, temperatures can be pleasant for walking when the sun is out, but Friuli is still very exposed to the wind.
In practice: The crossing from the Old Port takes about 30 minutes. Be sure to bring water, sturdy shoes, and a windbreaker. Boats run year-round, but schedules and crossings are subject to weather conditions.
View the shuttle schedules to Frioul
For more ideas on places to visit around the Old Port, the Mucem, the Panier, and the islands, the “Tourism in Marseille” page on the Hôtel La Joliette website lists the main attractions to explore from the neighborhood.
After visiting several museums and sightseeing, setting aside half a day without a packed schedule can be a great idea.
Covering 17 hectares, Borély Park is one of Marseille’s most enjoyable green spaces for families. It features two playgrounds, large lawns, a pond, and various gardens.
Depending on the season and park hours, bike rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, and boat rides are also available. The park can therefore be enjoyed as a quick break or as a full-fledged activity lasting a few hours.
The botanical garden rounds out the walk with approximately 3,000 plant species spread across several themed areas.
Practical information: Admission to Borély Park is free, and it is open every day in 2026. In the fall, some activities may be weather-dependent. Two or three hours is plenty of time to enjoy the park with children.
Located at 49 Robert Schuman Avenue,the Hôtel La Joliette by Esteem offers guests the opportunity to stay near several of the activities in this selection.
The Major Cathedral is about an 8-minute walk away, the Mucem and Fort Saint-Jean are about a 10-minute walk away, and the Old Port is about a 15-minute walk away. The Joliette metro station also provides easy access to other neighborhoods in Marseille.
The hotel offers rooms that can accommodate up to four people, which is convenient for planning a family vacation.
And after a day spent visiting museums, taking a boat ride, and going for walks, the hotel’s heated indoor pool offers another way to enjoy your vacation. It’s open year-round, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and reservations are recommended at the front desk.
Each BWH Hotels property is individually operated by an independent owner.
