Car Hire in Marseille

Wherever you’re heading, you can choose how you start your car hire journey with Avis. At certain locations that can be the luxury of our Avis First concierge service, or for Avis Preferred members, bypassing the counter with our self-service key kiosks. There’s always the option of choosing QuickPass for faster pickup with minimal paperwork or you can simply check-in at the desk, where a friendly welcome and best local advice on your trip is waiting. 

• Go straight from plane to car with Avis First
  At select locations, for an additional fee via the booking panel, you can choose our first-class concierge service with Avis First. This fast-track option gets you from the plane and into the driving seat with no counter, queues or paperwork. Your concierge will meet you in arrivals and take you to your car which will be ready and waiting for you in a reserved area close to the terminal exit. 

• Self service collection
  Want to skip the queue without the extra cost? At certain destinations we operate a self-service key collection service option for members of Avis Preferred our free loyalty scheme. Just sign up to join and benefit from our key kiosk collection service as well as 10% discounts on your booking plus a range of partner offers.

• Cut the queues with QuickPass
  To cut the wait to collect your car, get the booking admin done before you travel with QuickPass our free pre-registration service. Just add your driving licence and payment details via our secure portal on the Avis website or app ahead of your trip. You’ll then be able to pick up your keys with minimal paperwork. 

• Check-in at the desk
  You can always choose to simply check in at the desk when you arrive at your destination. Perfect if you’re looking for a friendly welcome and best local advice on your trip, ideal for anyone who’d rather have their questions answered in person before hitting the road. 

Our car rental agencies in Marseille offer a selection of vehicles suitable for city driving, business trips and longer journeys. You can choose a practical city car perfect for navigating city streets or narrow winding routes through hilltop villages, a comfortable sedan or an SUV offering more space. Additional equipment is also available including GPS, child seats plus additional driver options.

Ahead of your Avis car rental in Marseille, you can enjoy discounts of up to 10% on your booking plus fast-track service and exclusive offers when you join Avis Preferred, our free loyalty scheme.

Can I pick up my rental car in Marseille and return it to another location?
Yes. One-way car rental with Avis makes travel easy. You can collect your rental car in Marseille and return it to another Avis office depending on your travel plans.

What are the age requirements for hiring a car in Marseille?
The minimum age to rent a car in France is 21. A young driver surcharge may apply to drivers under 25, and certain premium vehicle groups may have higher age restrictions.

Is it worth hiring a car in Marseille?
Hiring a rental car in Marseille gives you complete freedom to explore Provence and the whole of the South of France with its stunning coastal cities like Cannes and St Tropez, hilltop villages with easy access to the mountains from the Pyrenees in the west to the Alps in the east without relying on public transport.

What type of vehicle should I choose to get around Marseille? 
A compact car is generally suitable for navigating city streets and winding roads and parking in towns and villages. For greater comfort on longer journeys, a sedan or SUV may be more appropriate.

What is parking like in Marseille? 
Marseille has a good mix of parking from city centre car parks close to main attractions and around the old port area and metered on street parking. On the edge of the city, there are also plenty of park and ride options with direct connections to the city's metro network.

Winter in Marseille means mild Mediterranean weather with fewer crowds, making it an ideal time for scenic road trips. Here are five ways to enjoy Marseille and the surrounding areas during the colder weather. 

Take a stroll along Le Vieux-Port 

The old port has a lot to offer including its historic harborside. This is a great place to watch the local fishermen sell their catch, whilst also experiencing the festive lights and activities during peak winter months. From late November, the waterfront turns into a Christmas market filled with chalets offering handcrafted gifts, decorations, and local delicacies. 

Enjoy the festive flavours 

No Christmas in Marseille is complete without the 13 desserts which are a symbol of abundance and sharing, including dried fruits, nougat, dates, and pompe à l’huile. Navettes are also a local speciality – boat-shaped biscuits scented with orange blossom – which you can find in local bakeries and patisseries. In fact, you will discover a whole world of warming treats while walking through the streets of Marseille. 

Soak up the history of Marseille 

If you want to shelter from the colder weather then Marseille has a whole range of different museums, architecture, and exhibitions to explore. The Vieille Charité is a 17th-century museum which is home to numerous exhibitions throughout the year. La Friche de la Belle de Mai allows you to immerse yourself in contemporary culture, while the Marseille Soap Museum is an interactive venue which teaches you all about the city’s soap making. 

Take a road trip to Cassis 

If you want to go a little further afield then drive from Marseille towards the coastal fishing port of Cassis. Go towards the cliffside of Route des Crêtes to enjoy 360-degree sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea and white limestone cliffs without the summer traffic. Warm up at the end of your visit with a delicious bowl of seafood soup. 

Visit Aix-en-Provence 

Just a 35-minute drive away, head north on the A51 to the historic town of Aix-en-Provence. Winter is a great time to stroll down the gran Cours Mirabeau as it’s lit up for the festive period. You can also browse (and shop) in the upscale boutiques before relaxing in one of the many cafes with hot chocolate and a pastry.

You’ll discover layers of history in this busy port city. It’s now a dynamic hive of buzzing restaurants, bars and artisan boutiques, but old neighbourhoods such as Le Panier (the basket) hark back to its early life as an ancient Greek settlement. Marseille joined the picturesque Provence region during the 10th century and was pivotal in the French Revolution, with the country’s national anthem, Le Marseillaise, being born here.

Locals sip creamy Pastis in Marseille’s many outdoor cafés and bars during the balmy summer months—an excellent time to visit—and when the temperatures cool, enjoy a hearty bowl of bouillabaisse (a rich fish soup) or head to the nearby village of Carpentras to source black truffles at its weekly market.

The bustling Vieux Port at the end of La Canebière, Marseille’s main drag, is the busiest in France due to its position facing the Mediterranean. Relax with a café au lait and watch fishermen heading out to sea at sunrise and boats from the Frioul archipelago mooring throughout the day.

A typical to-do list includes the city’s archaeological museums, the imposing Basilique Notre Dame de la Gard and gracious Palais Longchamp, and of course, endless stretches of azure-fringed beach.
 

The south of France is all about indulging in fabulous food, perusing the organic produce at farmers’ markets, summery saunters along country lanes and exploring mountain-top hamlets and bijou boutiques. The birthplace of Cézanne and exquisite wine—most particularly rosé—many journey to Marseille simply to access the crumbling castles and blossoming lavender fields of Provence.

The glamour of the Côte d’Azur is a two-hour drive west of the city, but if you choose to head east instead, you will arrive to the spectacular Camargue nature park. At 900km2, it’s Western Europe’s largest river delta, fed by two arms of the Rhône, and is home to red salt lagoons, rice paddies, flamingos and wild horses.

Nearby Arles is also easily accessible in your hire car from Marseille. Its tall houses are chequered with the chaste wooden shutters often associated with towns in the south of France, and don’t leave without exploring the grand oval amphitheatre built in AD 90.

Journeying further takes you along the Rhône wine trail to popular towns such as medieval Avignon and historic Nîmes, while the bohemian streets of Montpellier are only two hours’ drive in your hire car from Marseille.