Marseille · Sports & events

OM play in Ligue 1 at a 67,000-seat stadium south of the centre, rebuilt in 2014 and renamed from the Orange Vélodrome. If there is no match on, the club runs stadium tours that take you from the pitch through to the changing rooms; both matches and tours are booked through the club.

Run on the last Sunday in October since 1979, starting at 9am on the Boulevard Michelet beside the Vélodrome and finishing on the Route des Albizzi in Cassis. It climbs the Route de la Gineste through the national park to the Col de la Gineste at 327 metres before dropping to the sea, and it draws around 20,000 runners, so entry closes well ahead.

The largest pétanque tournament in the world, run over six days in early July — the 65th edition runs 3 to 8 July 2026, with the women's grand prix and the youth tournament held over the first three days. It is played outdoors in the open air rather than in a stadium, and watching is a matter of wandering between courts.

The Corniche runs along the sea south from the centre to the made beaches at the Prado, which are free and open. It is the city's default running route and its default swim, and in summer it is busy from early morning because the alternative is a hot flat city with no shade.

Marseille has no Top 14 rugby side despite the Vélodrome regularly hosting big one-off matches. The nearest top-flight club is RC Toulon at the Stade Mayol, about an hour east along the coast, which is the trip to make if you want league rugby rather than an occasional showpiece.