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Trains in Marseille

Trains in Marseille (Metro, Tram, Bus)

Metro

▲ Metro

Tram

▲ Tram

Table of Contents

  1. Overview (route map, related hyperlinks)
    2.
  2. Types of tickets and fares
    3.
  3. How to purchase tickets
    4.
  4. How to ride train
    5.
  5. Long-distance train's station
    6.

Overview (route map, related hyperlinks)

● Transportation Types
Metro
Tram
Bus
Local train : TER

● Operators
RTM

● Features
The fare system is flat-rate rather than zone-based. By using the metro, trams, and buses, you can access most tourist destinations.

● Hyperlink
Routemap : Center (Metro, Tram, Bus)
Routemap : Center, Suburb (Metro, Tram, Bus)
RTM

Types of tickets and fares

※ As of July 2025
The following tickets are valid for the metro, trams, and buses operated by RTM.
※ Children under the age of 6 can travel for free when accompanied by an adult.

● 1 trip / EUR 1.70
Valid for 1 hour from the time of validation.

● 1 trip on the bus / EUR 2.00
Fare when purchasing a single ticket directly from the bus driver.

● 2 trip / EUR 3.40
A set of two single-use tickets.

● 10 trips / EUR 15.00
A set of ten single-use tickets.

● Group Card for 4 people / EUR 4.90
Valid for a one-way trip for up to 4 people traveling together.

● 24 hour pass / EUR 5.20
Valid for 24 hours from first use. In addition to RTM’s network, other bus routes are also accessible.

● 72 hour pass / EUR 10.80
Valid for 72 hours from first use. In addition to RTM’s network, other bus routes are also accessible.

● Marseille 24-hour CityPass
EUR 29.00 (Valid for 24 hours)
EUR 39.00 (Valid for 48 hours)
EUR 47.00 (Valid for 72 hours)
Provides unlimited travel on the RTM network for the duration of the pass, plus free or discounted access to tourist attractions and museums. More details here

How to purchase tickets and ride

1. Find the ticket vending machine

The photos may show tickets that are no longer sold or display outdated prices, but the ticket machine operation remains the same.
Ticket machines are installed at all metro and tram stations in Marseille. Most types of tickets can be purchased from these machines. Some major stations also have staffed ticket counters, but they tend to be crowded, so becoming familiar with the ticket machines can help you save time.

Find the ticket vending machine

2. How to use the ticket vending machine

Use the scroll wheel at the bottom of the screen, the "Cancel" button on the lower left, and the "OK" button on the lower right to operate the machine. Payment can be made with bills, coins, or credit cards. When using a credit card, be sure to shield your PIN to prevent others from seeing it.

How to use the ticket vending machine

3. Select the language

To change the language, press the Cancel button.

Select the language

4. Select "English"

Rotate the wheel to select English.

Select English

5. Push OK button

To proceed to the ticket purchase screen, press the OK button.

チケットを選択する

6. Select the ticket

A list of available tickets will be displayed. Use the scroll wheel to select your desired ticket and press the OK button.

Select the ticket

7. Pay the fare by coins or credit card

After selecting your ticket, the total fare will be displayed. Pay using bills, coins, or a credit card. (The screen shown is an example of selecting a 24-hour pass.)

Pay the fare by coins or credit card

How to ride train

① Purchasing a ticket

Ticket machines are installed at all metro and tram stations. You can check how to use them by clicking the link below.

Metro

▲ Metro

Ticket machine

▲ Ticket machine

② Validate your ticket

When taking the metro, there are ticket gates on the platform—please insert your ticket to pass through. In contrast, there are no gates for trams. Instead, a validation machine is installed inside the tram. Be sure to insert your ticket and validate it with a timestamp. Failure to do so may result in a fine. Note that both ticket gates and validation machines in Marseille are touch-operated. When the green light appears upon tapping, the process is complete.

Ticket gate

▲ Ticket gate

Ticket validator

▲ Ticket validator

③ Check the train before boarding

Trams frequently arrive and depart from the same platform, even if they are on different lines or headed to different destinations. The system can be complex, so be sure to double-check before boarding.

Information

▲ Information

Train display

▲ Train display

④ Board the train

The doors do not open automatically. Please press the door open button located above the door to open it.

Door

▲ Door

Lever on the door

▲ Lever on the door

⑤ Get off at your destination

Refer to the onboard display or station signs to get off at your destination.

Inside display

▲ Inside display

Station board

▲ Station board

Long-distance train's station

Domestic trains from Marseille International trains from Marseille

Left: Domestic trains from Marseille
Right: International trains from Marseille

View from the station

▲ View

Marseille-St-Charles

▲ Marseille

Long-distance trains in Marseille depart from Marseille-Saint-Charles Station (Marseille-St-Charles), which features terminal-style platforms commonly seen in major French cities. The station has 16 tracks and offers direct access to major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Nice, and Bordeaux via high-speed TGV trains and Intercités (IC) express trains. Please note that there is no dedicated high-speed rail line between Marseille and Nice, so the travel time is roughly the same whether you take a TGV, an Intercités (IC), or a regional TER train. In addition to domestic destinations, direct trains also operate to international cities including Genoa and Milan in Italy, Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, and Frankfurt in Germany.

TGV

▲ TGV

AVE

▲ AVE

● Train Types (Domestic Trains)
High-speed train : TGV (can run on both high-speed and conventional lines)
Express train : IC (runs only on conventional lines)
Regional/local trains : TER (runs only on conventional lines)

● Train Types (International Trains)
High-speed train : AVE, TGV Lyria (can run on both high-speed and conventional lines)
Express train : Thello (runs only on conventional lines)

● Travel Time
On sections where high-speed lines are incomplete, there is no time difference between TGV and IC trains. For trips around 50 km, travel time differences by train type are minimal.

● Fares
The fares listed below are standard refundable and changeable fares for the fastest travel options, but they vary significantly depending on the season and seat availability, so use them as a guideline. Fares tend to be cheapest for TER, followed by IC, then TGV. Discounted fares less than half the regular price are available for TGV and IC trains but come with restrictions such as no refunds or changes.

Domestic train

Destionation Train type Travel Time Fare
Toulon TER 1h EUR 10
Nîmes IC, TER 1h10min EUR 25
Avignon TER 1h20min EUR 20
Montpellier IC 1h40min EUR 30
Lyon TGV 1h50min EUR 60
Cannes TGV, IC, TER 2h10min EUR 30
Nice TGV, IC, TER 2h40min EUR 40
Dijon TGV 3h30min EUR 100
Paris TGV 3h10min EUR 120
Strasbourg TGV 4h EUR 70
Toulouse IC 4h EUR 60
Lille TGV 4h40min EUR 150
Bordeaux IC 6h10min EUR 90
SNCF train

Guide to
French railways
Ticket, route, schedule

International train

Destionation Train type Travel Time Fare
Geneva TGV Lyria 3h30min EUR 120
Barcelona AVE 4h30min EUR 130
Genova Thello 5h30min EUR 50
Brussels TGV 6h EUR 170
Milan Thello 7h30min EUR 55
Madrid AVE 7h40min EUR 220
Frankfurt am Main TGV 7h50min EUR 155
French high speed TGV

International Trains
to other countries!
Routes, travel times, fares