Notre-Dame de la Garde: Free Entry, Hours & CityPass Details
30 - 60 min
Roman-Byzantine Basilica & Panoramic Viewpoint
Built 1853-1864 on a 13th-century fortified hilltop chapel site; belfry statue added 1870
Rue Fort du Sanctuaire, 13007 Marseille, France
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
Free (basilica entry)
N/A — entry is free for everyone
Confirmed open daily, approximately 07:00-18:00 year-round per the Marseille Tourism Office's own listing (some independent sources report slightly longer summer hours). The adjoining Musée de Notre-Dame de la Garde keeps separate hours, daily 09:00-17:00.
No ticket, reservation, or booking needed to enter the basilica. The small on-site museum charges its own separate admission (EUR4 full rate, EUR2 reduced/child).
| Option | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basilica entry | Free | No ticket needed | |
| On-site museum | €4 (€2 reduced/child) | On-site, no advance booking required | |
| With Marseille CityPass | Free (as always) + 1 mini-train ride included | Present the CityPass for the mini-train |
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Ticket Options
Free (basilica entry)
Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.
See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & History
Notre-Dame de la Garde, affectionately called "la Bonne Mère" (the Good Mother) by locals, crowns the highest natural point in Marseille and is the city's single most-visited monument — drawing an estimated 1.5 to 2 million visitors a year. Built in Roman-Byzantine style with striped polychrome stonework, domes, gilding, and mosaics, it's topped by a bell tower carrying a monumental gilded bronze statue of the Virgin, visible from across the city and from ships entering the harbour. Beyond the basilica itself, the hilltop terrace delivers a 360-degree panorama over Marseille, the Vieux-Port, the Frioul islands, and Château d'If.
What to See: Top Highlights
The Mosaic-Covered Interior
Alternating bands of pale limestone and dark green stone frame an interior rich with gold mosaics, marble columns, and votive offerings left by generations of sailors and fishermen.
The Belfry & Gilded Virgin
A 41-metre bell tower is crowned by an 11.2-metre bronze statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, gilded with gold leaf, watching over the city and the sea.
The 360-Degree Panorama
The hilltop terrace surrounding the basilica offers Marseille's best free viewpoint, taking in the Vieux-Port, the Calanques, and the Frioul archipelago on a clear day.
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Is Notre-Dame de la Garde Included on the Marseille CityPass?
Compare Marseille PassesThere's no admission fee here for any pass to include — the basilica is free for everyone, with or without the Marseille CityPass. What the CityPass actually adds is a bundled mini-train ride up the hill to the basilica, a transport convenience rather than a waived entry fee. The separate on-site museum is not confirmed as a CityPass inclusion.
Marseille CityPass
Basilica entry is free regardless; the pass adds one mini-train ride up to Notre-Dame de la Garde.
Individual visit
Just walk, take bus line 60, or the mini-train from the Vieux-Port — no ticket needed for the basilica itself.
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SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Notre-Dame de la Garde free to visit?
Does the Marseille CityPass include Notre-Dame de la Garde?
Is there a paid part of Notre-Dame de la Garde?
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