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Where to go out in Marseille? The best festive, cultural and tourist ideas around the INSEEC campus

Located in the heart of Marseille’s 2nd arrondissement, in the fast-changing La Joliette district, the INSEEC campus enjoys a cosmopolitan and vibrant environment, combining urban innovation, Mediterranean culture and a student atmosphere.
Its proximity to the Old Port, the Terrasses du Port, the Mucem and the Docks Village makes it an ideal place to live and study, combining demanding training with quality of life.

Here is a selection of the best ideas for festive, cultural and tourist outings around the campus.

Group of students from the INSEEC business school laughing in front of the

Contents

Nightlife

Where to go for a drink or a dance around the INSEEC Marseille campus?

Lively bars and must-see places in the La Joliette district

La Joliette is bursting with trendy, friendly bars, perfect for after-work parties between promos or evenings out with friends:

  • Les Halles de la Major: just a few minutes’ walk from the campus, this lively venue offers a food & drink atmosphere with various culinary counters, a central bar and a programme of DJ sets and live concerts.
  • Docks Village: a former port area transformed into a chic, designer shopping centre. Bars such as Le Dock des Suds line the avenues, offering local beers, tapas and live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • Little Temple Bar (Vieux-Port): a must for student nights out in Marseille, with its cheap pints, Irish pub decor and quiz and karaoke nights.
  • Carry Nation: an experience apart. This secret cocktail bar (access by prior arrangement) plunges you into the hushed atmosphere of the speakeasies of the 1920s.

Rooftop bars overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

To enjoy the sun setting over the port, there’s nothing like a Marseille rooftop:

  • R2 Rooftop (Terrasses du Port): one of Marseille’s hottest nightclubs, it hosts electro, hip-hop and house parties every summer with uninterrupted sea views.
  • Dantès Skylounge: an elegant rooftop on the top floor of the Sofitel, perfect for a chic cocktail with panoramic views over the city and the Old Port.
  • Le Rowing Club: part bar, part restaurant and part lounge, this high-rise establishment boasts a wooden terrace overlooking the harbour, ideal for an aperitif with friends.

Clubs and nightclubs in Marseille

Fancy dancing the night away? Here are the most famous clubs close to campus or within easy reach by public transport:

  • Le Trolleybus: a veritable Marseilles institution nestling on the Old Port, this multi-room club offers a generalist atmosphere with an underground twist, and is very popular with students.
  • Le Baby Club: the place to be for electro and techno fans. Minimalist, underground atmosphere, cutting-edge programming.
  • Le Bazar: an elegant, festive club in the Prado district, offering house and mainstream nights.
  • New Cancan: a popular all-round club with themed evenings.
  • Sport Beach: a hybrid venue on Prado beach, combining restaurant, pool and open-air dancefloor for unforgettable summer evenings.

Culture

Culture in Marseille: museums, theatre, heritage

Cultural venues within walking distance of the campus

  • Mucem: the city’s flagship museum, located at the entrance to the Old Port. It explores Mediterranean civilisations in an audacious building designed by Rudy Ricciotti, with footbridges suspended over the sea and raised gardens.
  • Regards de Provence: a museum on a human scale honouring Provencal and Mediterranean artists in a luminous space by the sea.
  • Cathédrale de la Major: a masterpiece of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture, it dominates the Panier district and provides an impressive backdrop for your cultural walks.
  • Friche la Belle de Mai: a former industrial site converted into an arts centre. Here you’ll find exhibitions, theatre, concerts, creative workshops and even a lively rooftop.

Shows, opera, concerts

  • Théâtre Joliette: located 3 minutes from the campus, this contemporary theatre offers a cutting-edge programme combining theatre, dance and performance.
  • Opéra de Marseille: a monument on the French opera scene. Classical operas, ballets and major orchestras are regularly performed here.
  • Le Dôme: a major concert venue featuring national and international headliners.
  • Espace Julien: an eclectic venue, perfect for discovering the emerging music scene or watching stand-up comedy.

Events

Festivals and major events in Marseille

  • Marsatac: a not-to-be-missed electro, techno and rap festival, held every year in unusual venues.
  • Fiesta des Suds: a celebration of world music in a festive, mixed port atmosphere.
  • Jazz des Cinq Continents: a refined festival featuring concerts in historic venues such as the Palais Longchamp.
  • Marseille Festival: dedicated to contemporary dance, theatre and performance.
  • FID Marseille: international documentary festival, renowned for its demanding selection.

Getaways

Sightseeing and escapades around the campus

Just a stone’s throw away, on foot or by bike

  • Fort Saint-Jean and the Mucem footbridge: the ideal way to spend a moment suspended above the sea.
  • Rue de la République: a Haussmann-style thoroughfare enjoying a renaissance, with shops, bars and restaurants.
  • Old Port: the nerve centre of the city, with its markets, fishermen and cafés.
  • Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica: nicknamed “the Good Mother”, it overlooks the city at an altitude of 149 metres. Accessible on foot, by bus or electric bike, it’s Marseille’s must-see photo spot.

30 minutes or less by public transport

  • Marseille’s Calanques : heavenly coves, turquoise waters, hiking, kayaking… A picture-postcard setting just outside the city.
  • Plages du Prado: a popular spot for students to sunbathe or play beach sports.
  • Parc Borély: a large wooded park with a botanical garden, perfect for revision or a stroll.
  • Iles du Frioul: accessible by boat from the Old Port, a wild and exotic place.
  • Aix-en-Provence: a cultural getaway just 30 minutes away by train, ideal for a day of sightseeing or relaxation.

Living environment

Marseille, a complete living environment for your studies

  • More than 50,000 students (source: Aix-Marseille University)
  • La Joliette district in full expansion, at the heart of the Euroméditerranée project
  • Optimised transport: M2 metro (Joliette stop), T2/T3 trams, buses, bicycles
  • France’s sunniest city, with 2,800 hours of sunshine a year (source: Météo France)
  • More affordable cost of living than Paris or Lyon (source: INSEE)

Studying atINSEEC Marseille means joining a business-oriented school, anchored in a dynamic region and bathed by the Mediterranean.

On our campus, you can follow :

  • A BTS: to acquire professional skills from post-bac
  • A Bachelor’s degree: a professional 1 or 3-year programme
  • A Master of Science: to specialise in marketing, finance, communication, HR, etc.

Work-linked training tailored to the regional economic fabric.

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