Blog

Marseille, an inspiring city for your business seminar

Published on 10/15/2025

By : Elena

Marseille: The ideal destination for your business seminar

Organize a seminar in Marseille, it is to choose a inspiring city, modern And accessible, located between the sea and the hills, in the heart of the Mediterranean. France's second largest city, Marseille seduces with its economic dynamism, her exceptional heritage and his wide choice of event infrastructure suitable for businesses of all sizes.

A perfectly connected city for your seminars and conferences

Marseille occupies a privileged geographical position making it a destination of choice for corporate events.

Located at crossroads of Mediterranean and European trade, the Phocaean city is easily accessible by all means of transport:

Marseille-Provence Airport : only 25 km from the city center, it serves more than 100 destinations in Europe and internationally
Saint-Charles TGV Station : 3h15 from Paris, 1h40 from Lyon, 30 min from Aix-en-Provence
A motorway network efficiently connects Marseille to major French and Italian cities

Marseille is also a major seaport and a major cruise stopover.

This accessibility facilitates the logistical organization of your professional events and the reception of participants from all over France and Europe.

Where to organize your seminar in Marseille? Selection of the best event facilities

Marseille has numerous 4★ and 5★ hotels with modern, bright seminar rooms, often with sea or rooftop views. From the Vieux-Port to the Corniche Kennedy, you'll find a venue suited to every format: training, board meetings, product launches, or incentives.

🏛 The Parc Chanot Convention Center

Located in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, near the Old Port, it is the main exhibition center and convention center.

Located on a 7 hectare site, it offers more than 60,000 m² of modular spaces divided into exhibition halls, auditoriums and meeting rooms. It hosts international congresses, trade fairs and large-scale corporate events every year. Each space can accommodate 200 and 3,500 people.

It is an easily accessible destination, whether by metro, via the TGV station, via the airport or by coach or minibus, with spacious parking lots and high-performance technical equipment, guaranteeing smooth and professional organization for all your professional events in Marseille.

Parc Chanot is an emblematic place in Marseille, thanks to its infrastructure, its reputation and its geographical position.

Chanot Park in Marseille — The Parc Chanot Convention Center in Marseille

The Hôtel-Dieu, a place of the modern era

The Hotel-Dieu, located in Marseille, is a former hospital. Its construction took place between 1753 and 1866, based on plans by Jacques Hardouin-Mansart de Sagonne, grandson of Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The building has been classified as a Historic Monument.

In 2006, the hospital closed. The city of Marseille acquired the building, and the AXA Real Estate group obtained a 99-year lease for its conversion into a luxury hotel.

Renovation and transformation work, combining respect for heritage and modernity, began around 2010, and the InterContinental Marseille – Hôtel Dieu was officially opened in 2013.

The hotel presents itself as a pilot project on the sustainable development plan : it was restructured according to a environmental quality certification, particularly in the choice of materials, energy and water management, visual and acoustic comfort.

The hotel has 179 rooms and 15 suites. Of these, 72 offer views of the Old Port, and 33 have a private terrace with panoramic views.

The interior design was created by Jean-Philippe Nuel, a renowned architect specializing in luxury hotel design. The rooms combine local materials, mineral tones, brightness, and contemporary touches. Additionally, some rooms are adapted for guests with reduced mobility.

Concerning the catering area, the Hôtel-Dieu offers different locations:

The restaurant The Windows (Brasserie): approximately 80 seats, with panoramic terrace, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
The gourmet restaurant Alcyone : small number of covers (≈ 30), Michelin star (since 2014)
Capian Bar : cocktails, snacks, elegant atmosphere

Room service is available 24 hours a day.

The Hotel offers various business services, including meeting rooms, a conference space And a business center.

The hotel is perched on Panier Hill, in Marseille's oldest district, in the immediate vicinity of the Old Port. The terraces, monumental staircases, and vaulted galleries overlook the city and offer spectacular views, particularly of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Basilica and the port. The proximity of major attractions such as the Mucem, the Old Port, historic districts, and shops makes the ideal location for leisure and business travelers.

THE coach and minibus transport are also a beneficial solution for group travelers.

The former hospital has been transformed into a luxury palace while preserving the soul of the place with a spectacular setting, combining historic architecture and panoramas of Marseille.

Le Petit Nice – Passedat: an exceptional setting between sky and sea

Located on the Corniche JF Kennedy, in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille, Little Nice is a century-old house overlooking the Mediterranean. It is the only Relais & Châteaux in Marseille, and its restaurant is doubly prestigious: 3 stars in the Michelin Guide.

The hotel offers an intimate, almost island atmosphere with Mediterranean charm, just minutes from the center of Marseille, but with a serene ambiance, lulled by the surf of the sea.

The 19 rooms are decorated in a contemporary style, with Mediterranean-inspired tones featuring large windows overlooking the sea and sometimes a terrace or balcony. Two complementary villas offer an even more exclusive stay, with plunging views of the horizon.

The establishment offers some must-see dining options:

The restaurant Little Nice (eponymous) is run by chef Gérald Passedat, and offers a deeply Mediterranean cuisine, centered on seafood. More than sixty-five species of fish are featured throughout the year, sometimes from “forgotten” species of the Mediterranean
The 1917, a more relaxed bistro space, for gourmet moments in a refined setting

Le Petit Nice was founded in 1917 by Germain Passedat, initially as a restaurant, in a neo-Greek villa on the rocks by the sea.

Over the decades, the establishment has evolved to become a luxury hotel, with the Passedat family transmission and the restaurant's rise to star status. The restaurant obtained 3 stars in the Michelin Guide in 2008, which makes Petit Nice one of the most prestigious establishments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

The hotel Le Petit Nice – Pasedat has an ideal geographical location for minibus and coach transport.

🏛 The Mucem (Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean)

Inaugurated in 2013 on the occasion of Marseille's European Capital of Culture year, it quickly became one of the city's most powerful symbols. It has an area of 45,000m2.

Located at the entrance to the Old Port, facing the Mediterranean Sea, this spectacular museum combines contemporary architecture and historical heritage.

Designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti and engineer Roland Carta, the Mucem is famous for its openwork concrete structure, its suspended walkway connecting to Fort Saint-Jean, and its breathtaking panoramic views of the sea and the city; its architecture is considered unique in the world. Its aesthetic blends modernity, light, and the sea, creating an inspiring and elegant atmosphere, ideal for hosting prestigious events such as a corporate seminar.

Beyond its cultural role, the Mucem offers several spaces that can be privatized for professional events:

Modern reception halls and auditoriums
Panoramic terraces with views of the Old Port
Modular spaces for conferences, cocktails or gala evenings

The museum's exceptional setting makes it a highly sought-after location for high-end seminars, product launches, corporate cocktails and conventions.

Geographically, its position is therefore ideal since it is located in the immediate vicinity of the city center and the Old Port, which gives it easy access by metro, tram, coach or minibusParking is also located nearby, making event logistics easier.

Unusual places for inspiring events

Rooftops with panoramic views, suburban estates, cultural spaces, private beaches... Marseille is full of unique locations to create a memorable event.

🚍 Group transport in Marseille: make your travel easier

Tailor-made solutions with Francebus

The success of a seminar also depends on smooth logistics. This is why Francebus provides you with a modern and comfortable fleet for all your transport needs in Marseille :

🚌 Coach rental with driver for your airport transfers, hotels ↔ event venues, or your incentive excursions in the region
🚐 Minibus with driver for small groups or shuttles between sites
🧭 Tailor-made service: regular shuttles, personalized tours, VIP transfers

Everything is organized for make your journeys smoother And provide an impeccable professional experience.

Our drivers experienced know the city and its strategic sites perfectly, such as Parc Chanot, the Old Port, Mucem, hotels, the airport and many others, guaranteeing you punctuality and comfort.

Request your free quote online.

More information on choosing Francebus for your business seminars

Marseille, a unique setting for strengthening team cohesion

Organizing a seminar in Marseille also means offering your colleagues a authentic and memorable experience :

Boat excursions in the calanques: a special moment to bring your teams together in an exceptional natural setting
Tasting of Provençal specialties: bouillabaisse, local wines, typical markets
Cultural discovery: between the Panier, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard, museums and the Old Port
Outdoor team building: urban rallies, water sports, artistic workshops... the Mediterranean climate allows for activities all year round.

Marseille offers a dynamic and inspiring setting, perfect for strengthening team spirit.

Marseille: A city alive with congresses and festivals, with events all year round

Marseille hosts numerous professional and cultural events every year, making it a very attractive destination : international medical and scientific congresses, trade fairs at Parc Chanot, cultural festivals and major exhibitions, business seminars from all sectors.

This excitement guarantees a well-established event infrastructure and experienced providers to support your project.

Why choose Marseille for your next seminar?

Marseille has many advantages, making it a very interesting to organize a professional concept. First of all, it should be noted that Marseille has a exceptional accessibility from all over Europe since it is extremely well served by different types of transport. In addition, there is a large number of modern infrastructures suitable for all formats of events.

Nowadays, it is also essential to organize a professional event in a pleasant, relaxed and inspiring setting because it is a real motivation leverThis is a strong point for:

✅ Stimulate creativity and concentration

✅ Enhance the company's image

✅ Promote productivity and results

✅ Strengthen team spirit

What is even more important when organizing a company seminar is transport programming. Francebus therefore offers reliable transport solutions in coach, minibus and van with professional driver.

Whether you are organizing a corporate seminar, an international convention, an incentive Or a conference, Marseille is an essential destination for combine work, relaxation and inspiration.

More information on the Marseille Tourist Office website.