Old port

Marseille’s Fish Market: real, fresh, local

Every morning on the Old Port of Marseille, right by the sea, fishermen set up their stalls. The market starts early, around 7 a.m., sometimes even earlier. These are the day’s catches, straight from the nets—everything is ultra-fresh.

The market is held on the Quai de la Fraternité, across from La Canebière, at the end of the Old Port. It’s small but lively, with at most a dozen stalls. Nothing superfluous: just crates, ice, fish, and often the fishermen themselves behind the tables. They know their products and won’t hesitate to advise you—what to choose, how to prepare it, how to spot true freshness.

It’s an authentic place that has remained true to its origins. There’s no staged folklore here for tourists. The atmosphere is natural, raw, local—colored by the accent and humor of the vendors. Tourists wander by, browse, and take photos. Locals, meanwhile, come to buy, often from the same sellers they’ve trusted for years.

And what about the “Criée”?

In Marseille, la Criée refers to the wholesale fish auction, reserved for professionals (restaurant owners, fishmongers). It takes place very early, from 5 a.m., in a dedicated building near the port. That’s where wholesalers stock up. The Old Port fish market, by contrast, is public—smaller, more direct, but just as fresh.

In general, the market closes around 1 p.m., sometimes earlier if everything has been sold.

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