La Valentine Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
La Valentine
Although best known for its shopping centers, this eastern Marseillais neighborhood is also home to a small historic district, a golf course and a beautiful cemetery.

At the eastern edge of Marseille lies La Valentine, a small but bustling hub that is the perfect place to shop in (relative) peace and quiet or to get out into some nature without leaving the city itself. It gets its name from Jean Valentin, a nobleman who built a fortified town here in the 15th century. Today, most visitors come for the IKEA store and cinema multiplexes, but the neighborhood has many hidden gems for those who care to look.

Start your visit in La Valentine’s small but charming Old Town, where restaurants in charming buildings are the perfect place for a croissant or some bouillabaisse. Admire the Romanesque façade of the Église de la Valentine, which is still the spiritual heart of the neighborhood. Shop until you drop at the Centre Commercial Valentine, one of Marseille’s biggest malls, where you can find all of Europe’s biggest brands away from the touristic hubbub of the downtown.

Because it is near parks and green spaces, La Valentine is also a great place to get active or watch sporting teams in action. Cheer on the local amateur soccer team at the Jouvène-Pierre-d’Acunto Stadium, where the CAM Phenix team has its home games. Get out on the greens at the Golf de Marseille Salette, the largest golf course close to Marseille, where the holes are interspersed through a beautiful Provençal garden. Or simply go on a brisk walk through the 32 acres (13 hectares) of the Nécropole des Vaudrans, the perfect spot to watch the sunrise over the Huveaune valley or the sunset behind the Marseillais skyline.

La Valentine is in the 11th arrondissement, directly to the east of Marseille’s city center and is served by two metro stations at its southern edge. Drive to its center in 25 minutes from the Marseille-St-Charles train station or in 30 minutes from the Marseille Provence airport.

Celebrate the history of the neighborhood at the 19th-century Brasserie Heineken, once home to the now-defunct Phoenix Beer and still the only large beer brewery in southern France.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best La Valentine Hotel Deals

Premiere Classe Marseille Est - La Valentine
Premiere Classe Marseille Est - La Valentine
1 out of 5
117 Traverse de la Montre C.C. Grand V, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone
The price is AU$77 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
AU$77
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this hotel in Marseille. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Popular attractions Old Port of Marseille and Velodrome Stadium are located nearby. ...
6.4/10 (798 reviews)
Marseille oui
"Nice place was only there a few hours the night guy was nice when I checked in early morning nice place to stay"

Reviewed on 20 Oct. 2023

Premiere Classe Marseille Est - La Valentine
Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - Marseille Vieux Port
Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - Marseille Vieux Port
4 out of 5
43 Quai des Belges, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$255 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$255
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Marseille. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (539 reviews)
"A great location in a beautifully restored building ans such a great staff. What a pleasure!"

Reviewed on 26 Mar. 2024

Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - Marseille Vieux Port
Toyoko Inn Marseille Saint Charles
Toyoko Inn Marseille Saint Charles
3 out of 5
25 avenue du Général Leclerc, Marseille
Fully refundable
The price is AU$138 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$138
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Marseille. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,015 reviews)
"Helpful staff, nice people"

Reviewed on 28 Jan. 2024

Toyoko Inn Marseille Saint Charles
Residhotel Grand Prado
Residhotel Grand Prado
3 out of 5
Allée Turcat Méry, 7 square des frères Ambrogiani, Marseille
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$104 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$104
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Marseille. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,692 reviews)
"Most reasonable price paid for accommodation near a stadium on game day"

Reviewed on 3 Feb. 2024

Residhotel Grand Prado
Mercure Marseille Centre Vieux Port
Mercure Marseille Centre Vieux Port
4 out of 5
1 Rue Neuve Saint Martin, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone
The price is AU$181 per night from 15 Apr to 16 Apr
AU$181
per night
15 Apr - 16 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Marseille. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Popular attractions Old Port of Marseille and Marseille ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (825 reviews)
Good hotel with a parking problem
"Everything very good and at a fair price, except for parking. We arrived on Sunday early evening but had to wander in a vast parking, end up in a closed mall and behind closed doors trying to get to the reception before a "search party" liberated us."

Reviewed on 20 Mar. 2024

Mercure Marseille Centre Vieux Port
Holiday Inn Express Marseille - Saint Charles, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Marseille - Saint Charles, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
15 Boulevard Maurice Bourdet, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone
The price is AU$173 per night from 22 Apr to 23 Apr
AU$173
per night
22 Apr - 23 Apr
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Marseille. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (986 reviews)
"Fabulous, spacious room with everything a traveller needs. Great value and a great location for both the old port and the train station. Would highly recommend"

Reviewed on 26 Mar. 2024

Holiday Inn Express Marseille - Saint Charles, an IHG Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around La Valentine

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12th Arrondissement

When in 12th Arrondissement and the surrounding area, you'll want to check out sights like Le Dôme or Palais Longchamps and hop on the metro to see more of the city at La Fourragere Station or Saint Barnabé Metro Station.

12th Arrondissement
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10th Arrondissement

You'll enjoy the museums and parks in 10th Arrondissement. You might want to make time for a stop at OK Corral or Calanques National Park.

10th Arrondissement
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4th Arrondissement

2/5(1 area review)

4th Arrondissement is well liked for its museums and parks. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Palais Longchamps and Le Dôme are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Chartreux Station or Cinq Avenues - Longchamp Station to get around.

4th Arrondissement
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5th Arrondissement

5th Arrondissement is a destination travellers like for its waterfront views, and you might hop aboard the metro at La Timone Station or Baille Station to explore sights like La Plaine.

5th Arrondissement
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Saint-Charles

Visitors to Saint-Charles love its captivating waterfront views, and if you want to check out some more things to do around town, jump on the metro at St. Charles Station.

Saint-Charles
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Chanot - Stade Velodrome

Noted for its waterfront views and coffee shops, there's plenty to explore in Chanot - Stade Velodrome. Top attractions like Velodrome Stadium and Palais des Sports de Marseille are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Sainte-Marguerite Dromel Station or Rond-Point du Prado Station to see more of the city.

Chanot - Stade Velodrome

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