Marseille Airport is 27 km from the city center. The good news: taxi fares are fixed by local authorities, so there are no surprises.
Shuttle bus — best value
The airport shuttle (Navette) to Gare Saint-Charles:
- Price: €10 single / €16 return
- Children 6-11: €5 single
- Under 6: Free
- Journey: 25 minutes
- Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes (5 AM to 12:15 AM)
- Buy tickets: Online (small discount), from machines at the stop, or from the driver
The shuttle drops you at Gare Saint-Charles, Marseille's main train and metro station. From there, the metro takes you anywhere in the city, or walk 10 minutes downhill to the Vieux Port.
Aix-en-Provence shuttle: A separate bus runs to Aix, also about €10, every 30 minutes, takes 30 minutes.
Taxi — fixed fares
Marseille taxis from the airport use prefecture-set fixed fares (forfait):
| Destination | Day fare (6am-7pm) | Night/Sunday fare |
|---|---|---|
| Marseille center (any arrondissement) | €50 | €58 |
| Aix-en-Provence center | €60-70 | €70-80 |
These are flat rates — the meter doesn't apply for airport journeys. Drivers must honor them. The fare is posted inside the taxi and at the airport.
Extra charges:
- 4th passenger: €3 extra
- Luggage surcharge: None for standard bags
Pre-booked transfer
| Vehicle | Price to Marseille | Price to Aix |
|---|---|---|
| Economy sedan | €45-55 | €50-65 |
| Comfort sedan | €55-70 | €60-80 |
| Minivan | €60-90 | €70-100 |
| Luxury sedan | €80-110 | €90-120 |
Transfer prices are competitive with taxi fixed fares, with the added benefit of meet-and-greet and pre-booking.
Full comparison
| Transport | Cost | Time to center | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus | €10 | 25 min | To Gare Saint-Charles |
| Taxi (day) | €50 | 25-35 min | Fixed fare, door-to-door |
| Taxi (night) | €58 | 25-35 min | Fixed fare |
| Transfer (sedan) | €45-70 | 25-35 min | Meet & greet |
| Transfer (minivan) | €60-90 | 25-35 min | Groups, families |
No Uber, no metro
Two things that would change this picture don't exist at Marseille Airport:
- Uber: Barely operational in Marseille. Don't rely on it.
- Metro/train connection: No rail link to the airport. The shuttle bus is the only public transport.
This means your choices are genuinely limited to the shuttle bus, taxis, transfers, or car rental.
Going further in Provence
| Destination | Distance | Transfer cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cassis | 45 km | €75-100 |
| La Ciotat | 50 km | €80-110 |
| Arles | 80 km | €110-150 |
| Avignon | 80 km | €120-160 |
| Toulon | 80 km | €120-160 |
| Nice | 200 km | €250-320 |
For Provence destinations, renting a car is usually the best value. The region has limited public transport between towns.