The small, picturesque city of Aix-en-Provence, or just Aix as the locals call it, is a bit over 15 miles (24 km) north of Marseille, the biggest city in the south of France. If you want to see the French Riviera like a local, this seven-day itinerary will take you to perfume-making in Grasse, market shopping in Nice, and explore Marseille, Cannes, and Monaco, as well as Aix-en-Provence.
If you have a few more days to spend in the region, this 11-day itinerary hits all the area's highlights, including Avignon, the Calanques National Park, Saint Rémy de Provence, the Gorges du Verdon, and several other small towns and villages—as well as both Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, of course.
By Private Transfer or Rental Car
Duration: 40 minutes
Several companies offer private transfers from Aix-en-Provence to Marseille. This is the priciest but easiest option.
If you are renting a car, take the A8 highway to the A51 and then on to the A7, which will take you into Marseille. The highway exits are clearly marked, but traffic driving into Marseille can make the drive stressful, so make sure to plan plenty of time.
By Bus
Duration: 40 minutes
There are 4 different public lines that go from Aix to Marseille: the 50 and 51 lines connect Aix and Marseille's bus terminals, while the less-central 49 and 53 lines leave from the outskirts of Aix and take passengers into Marseille. The Aix bus terminal is centrally located on the Boulevard Victor Coq and can be reached by car or private transfer. Once you are in Marseille, you can take also take a taxi or private transfer from the train terminal to your destination.
By Train
Duration: 12 minutes
There are TGV trains between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille roughly every hour to hour-and-a-half. This is by far your fastest option: both train stations are centrally located and accessible by private transfer, taxi, or public transport, and the journey itself takes less than fifteen minutes.
Map
