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Marseilles saftey

Ive been researching my trip for a bit and whenever I look at youtube and google I get quite a few hits that mention Marseilles as dangerous, even the "most dangerous city in europe". Yet when asking people about it I get the (reasonable) answer that " every city has places to avoid". I was warned about Omonia in Athens, as well as the entire area surrounding Frankfurt HBF and had no problems. Some drug use and homeless but thats it. Far from "dangerous" that Im used to in my city, where you can get robbed, assulted or even worse in many parts of the city.

When searching for how dengerous Marseilles is, I cant find anything specific at all, despite the "warnings" i see. I wont stray much further than 2km or so from the old port. My hotel is right in front of the main train station. So im wondering if anyone here has any information/experience there that might warrant the warnings? Any experiences in that general area? Any areas that I should avoid? Im not overly worried or like frightened for my life but in many large cities there are always places to try to avoid. But if Marseilles is as "bad" as it seems to be id at least like to be prepared. In general im pretty aware of my surroundings and again, am used to being in a city that isnt the safest so I "should" be alright but any information would be nice. Just to be informed.

Posted by
28247 posts

I stayed quite near Marseille Saint-Charles myself in 2016, for economic reasons and because I'm always anxious to get to my hotel as soon as I can, in order to ditch my suitcase. I wouldn't do it again. The neighborhood didn't feel unsafe, but I didn't enjoy being there--and I usually like what I call "real-world cities" and neighborhoods that aren't full of tourists. I ended up not caring much for Marseille, and I have a feeling that was due largely to the part of town I stayed in.

Incidentally, if you go straight out the front of the train station, you'll be facing a very long set of steps. There's a way to avoid them, though I don't remember the details. There may be an escalator inside the station--something like that.

Posted by
58 posts

Yeah im the same way. Even if I cant check in early id rather check in my bags and hit the ground running. And to save a bit of cash getting to and from the hotel. Ill be heading to Lyon after this.

That being said it looks like most of my time will be around the old port (History museum, MUCEM, Fort st John, and looking like a calanque cruise. So I wont be spending a lot of time near my hotel.

Posted by
1399 posts

I certainly would choose a hotel near the Vieux-Port if I were you. Staying near a train station is hardly ever a fabulous experience.

The Vieux-Port is accessible EASILY by metro from the main train station.

There are neighborhoods that one should avoid late at night, but if you're staying near the Vieux Port, you should be good. I totally fell in love with Marseille. It's a splendid city with so many treasures to visit. Show good judgement, and you should be good.

Posted by
58 posts

I dunno I never had a bad experience. In Frankfurt sure it was a bit more sketchy than other places in the city, but it wasnt sketchy in and of itself. Same with Charlottenburg in Berlin. To be honest ive made the mistake of avoiding train stations and the transit always ends up being a pain in the ass, especially on travel days. Ill barely even be there anyways (or any hotel) so an area that is a bit less desirable isnt a huge deal to me.

Posted by
15020 posts

Are you referring to Bahnhof Zoo in Charlottenburg or Berlln-Charlottenbur train station? Admittedly, Bahnhof Zoo is not such a real great immediate area but to me Frankfurt Hbf is far worse.

The district of Charlottenburg is known as the "yuppie" area of Berlin. You have to see the other more "colorful " or working class areas, Kreuzberg, Karlshorst, Moabit, Berlin Ostbahnhof ,

Ordinarily, I stay in the train station area, even in Frankfurt regardless, in German cities ie, in Karlsruhe, Nürnberg, Dresden, Berlin Hbf , Berlin Ostbahnhof, Munich, Hamburg, Minden, Düsseldorf, plus in Paris, London, Vienna, London as well.

Posted by
1380 posts

pencilstealer,
My husband spent several childhood years in Matseille, we have visited often, and he still has cousins there. I have no qualms about visiting Marseille, but I would definitely not stay near Gare St. Charles. Find a hotel near the Vieux Port. You will pay more, but it is worth it. Plus, the area has a historic charm and all the good options you mentioned. It is a real living, breathing city, the oldest in France, and unlike the other cities a and towns in the Bouche de Rhone.
Amusez-vous bien!

Posted by
58 posts

Fred - Charlottenburg station. I do see what you mean about the zoo stop though. Thats the only time in germany that I was like " oh.... this is interesting". I had zero issues in Frankfurt. More people looked worried about me than the other way around. Most crime here is usually drug related, however its increasingly unpredictable.

Judy - Dont think im being dismissive in this reply. However Im wondering if that kind of mindset is a generalization about europe. I have over 100 comments for this same question on Reddit, and maybe 2 people said the same thing as you. The vast majority said to stay away from the northern suburbs and just practice normal awareness and safety. Ill take a look but the hotels in those areas you mentioned were drastically more expensive and many had terrible reviews.

Posted by
33988 posts

so reddit is more accurate than folks here, eh?

Posted by
58 posts

Nigel - I didnt say that. However there were over 100 comments in the last 24 hours from all sorts of people who have travelled there once, multiple times and people who lived/live there. Im not assuming either or are more accurate, im going my the amount of people who say what.

Posted by
1380 posts

pencilstealer,
I refer to the area around Gare St. Charles because of the heavy concentration of pickpockets, etc. Even on my first visit to Marseille in 1974, walking along the Canebiere we had to be careful of being swarmed by children who were distractors for the pickpockets. And my husband lived there for several years and was "streetwise" in Marseille. Whatever you decide about lodging, just be aware.
(And, of course, you can be a mark in the "better" areas as well.) Marseille is a great city. Enjoy your stay there!

Posted by
15020 posts

@ pencilstealer....Admittedly, practically all the trains I take going to Berlin from the west do not stop at Berlin-Charlottenburg station. That is one station I hardly ever find myself, so I am not very familiar with it at all.

I would suggest going to the S-Bahn stations in Berlin where it's jumping with activity, people everywhere, tons of locals , a junction point , etc, etc, such as Ostkreuz, Alexanderplatz, Warschauer Straße, and so on.

True, I don't and never have had problems with Frankfurt Hbf either, I also know I'm doing, but to me it's unlike any of the large Hbf. in Germany relative to grittiness , ie, Leipzig, Koeln, Munich, Nürnberg, Hamburg, Berlin Hbf,

Posted by
58 posts

Judy - I hope you didnt take that comment as trying to be rude or dismissive, i wasnt meaning too! Ive just heard so many "horror" stories and warnings about Europe in general and many, at least in my experience weren't warranted at all, or at least over blown. However I did take a deeper look into the area and exactly as you say, the area is ripe with pick pockets and a general "grungy" vibe. Thats ok. But if it makes you feel better i managed to find a deal on a room on the north side of the old port for the same price I paid near the train station that wasnt available before.

Fred - The area is great. It was super vibrant with tons of things to do. Charlottenburg is an sbahn station as well as a stop for the regional trains. I dont remember seeing the ICE trains there though. Its a bit rough, but no rougher than the other stations I saw.

I did get to alexandrplatz as well as the one before that to get from the museum island. All the stations seemed relatively normal from what I saw in Germany. But coming from a city of 100k people in the middle of nowhere they were definitely alive, like you describe.

Youre not wrong about Frankfurt HBF either. Nurnburgs was pretty nice although there were quite a few homeless in front but it didnt geel as gritty, as you put it, as Frankfurt. Munich either, although most of it is under construction ATM. Berlins was more like a mall than anything IMO. But Frankfurt did stand out as something else. Not in a way that bothered me at all, but quite different from the rest. It reminded me more of Naples than anything else. And for some reason, im kind of getting the impression Marseille might be a similar idea: Major port/immigration area (past and now) and was even founded by the greeks, and taken over by practically all the same civilizations over the years. Naples was the one station that I probably wouldnt stay super close too.

Posted by
15020 posts

"...but quite different from the rest." How true.

I forgot to include Hannover Hbf in my list above. I would assert that too re: Frankfurt Hbf , totally different from any Hbf once you step outside.

Can't offer any comment on Marseille as I only passed through the train station twice 20 plus years ago in 1999 and 2001 when I was both times en route to Toulon...more historical sites I was after then in Toulon.

Posted by
1380 posts

pencilstealer,
No offense raken. Happy travels!

Posted by
240 posts

Marseille has a notorious history of crime due to the inevitable thievery, smuggling and so on that comes with being a huge international port. There's still the odd high-profile gangland killing there but it's gangsters killing each other over gangster stuff and is very unlikely to affect tourists at all.