Map of Marseille Saint-Charles Station – Trains, Metro & Entrance Guide

Marseille Saint-Charles Station is the principal railway station in Marseille and one of the largest transport hubs in southern France. Located above the city centre in the 1st arrondissement, it serves high-speed, intercity and regional trains connecting Marseille with Paris, Lyon, Nice, Montpellier, Toulouse and destinations throughout Provence.

The station stands at Square Narvik at the top of the monumental Saint-Charles staircase. Metro lines M1 and M2, local buses, airport coaches, taxis and long-distance coaches provide onward connections across Marseille and the surrounding region.

This map of Marseille Saint-Charles Station shows the principal entrance, train platforms, Metro access, coach station, surrounding streets and important places within walking distance.

Quick Answer

Marseille Saint-Charles Station is located at Square Narvik above central Marseille. Use the main Square Narvik entrance for the train concourse, Metro, taxis and city-centre access, or the coach-station side for airport and long-distance buses. Metro lines M1 and M2 connect the station with Vieux-Port, Joliette, Castellane and other Marseille districts.

Map of Marseille Saint-Charles Station

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Where Is Marseille Saint-Charles Station Located?

Marseille Saint-Charles Station is located in the 1st arrondissement, approximately 1.5 kilometres northeast of the Old Port.

The station is close to:

  • Square Narvik
  • Boulevard Voltaire
  • Boulevard Maurice Bourdet
  • Boulevard d’Athènes
  • Rue Honnorat
  • Canebière
  • Porte d’Aix
  • Marseille city centre

The station occupies an elevated position above the surrounding streets. The monumental staircase descends from the southern forecourt towards Boulevard d’Athènes and central Marseille.

Main Entrance at Square Narvik

The principal entrance faces Square Narvik on the southern side of the station.

This entrance provides convenient access to:

  • The main passenger concourse
  • Departure information screens
  • TGV and regional platforms
  • Ticket offices and machines
  • Metro lines M1 and M2
  • Taxi and passenger drop-off areas
  • The monumental staircase
  • Central Marseille walking routes

For most train passengers, this is the clearest entrance to use.

The station is a terminus, so the railway platforms extend north from the main concourse.

Boulevard Voltaire and Northern Access

Additional station access is available from the northern and eastern sides near Boulevard Voltaire, Boulevard Maurice Bourdet and Rue Honnorat.

These approaches can be useful for:

  • The coach station
  • Airport bus services
  • Long-distance coaches
  • Parking facilities
  • Rental cars
  • Hotels north of the station
  • Residential areas around Belle de Mai

Passengers arriving by coach should follow internal signs towards the railway concourse or Metro rather than leaving the wider station precinct unnecessarily.

Station Layout

Marseille Saint-Charles is a terminal station with multiple platforms extending north from the main passenger hall.

The main concourse contains:

  • Departure and arrival boards
  • Ticket facilities
  • Passenger information
  • Platform entrances
  • Shops and food outlets
  • Metro access
  • Coach and bus directions
  • Taxi and city-centre exits

Metro access is located towards the rear of the railway concourse near the inner ends of the platforms.

Check the departure boards regularly because the platform may be confirmed shortly before boarding.

High-Speed Trains

Marseille Saint-Charles is a major southern terminus on France’s high-speed railway network.

Direct or connecting TGV services operate towards destinations including:

  • Paris Gare de Lyon
  • Lyon Part-Dieu
  • Avignon TGV
  • Aix-en-Provence TGV
  • Lille
  • Strasbourg
  • Montpellier
  • Nîmes
  • Valence
  • Nice
  • Cannes
  • Toulon
  • Charles de Gaulle Airport
  • Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy

Some high-speed trains continue beyond Marseille along the Mediterranean coast, while others terminate at Saint-Charles.

Passengers should confirm whether their ticket is for Marseille Saint-Charles or another regional station such as Aix-en-Provence TGV.

Regional TER Trains

TER Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur services connect Marseille with cities and towns throughout Provence and the Mediterranean region.

Common destinations include:

  • Aix-en-Provence
  • Arles
  • Avignon Centre
  • Toulon
  • Hyères
  • Aubagne
  • La Ciotat
  • Cassis
  • Miramas
  • Salon-de-Provence
  • Martigues
  • Nice
  • Cannes
  • Grasse

Stopping patterns vary considerably. Some regional trains operate along the coast, while others travel inland towards Aix, Avignon or the Étang de Berre.

Check both the final destination and intermediate stations before boarding.

Intercity and International Trains

Depending on the timetable, Marseille Saint-Charles also serves conventional intercity and international trains.

Direct or connecting routes may operate towards:

  • Toulouse
  • Bordeaux
  • Barcelona
  • Madrid
  • Milan
  • Genoa
  • Brussels
  • Luxembourg
  • Other European cities

International services may operate only on selected days or require a change.

Check the train operator, departure station, reservation conditions and identification requirements before travelling.

Metro Connections

Saint-Charles Metro station is beneath the railway station and is served by both Marseille Metro lines.

Metro Line M1

Metro Line M1 provides direct connections towards:

  • Réformés–Canebière
  • Vieux-Port
  • Castellane
  • La Timone
  • La Blancarde
  • La Fourragère

M1 is normally the simplest route from Saint-Charles to Vieux-Port.

Vieux-Port is two Metro stops from the station.

Metro Line M2

Metro Line M2 provides connections towards:

  • Jules Guesde
  • Joliette
  • Gèze
  • Noailles
  • Notre-Dame du Mont
  • Castellane
  • Rond-Point du Prado
  • Sainte-Marguerite Dromel

M2 is useful for reaching Joliette, the ferry-port districts, Castellane and southern Marseille.

The two Metro lines intersect at Saint-Charles and Castellane.

Travelling to Vieux-Port

Vieux-Port is approximately 1.5 kilometres from Marseille Saint-Charles.

Passengers can reach the Old Port by:

  • Metro Line M1
  • Local bus
  • Taxi
  • Walking down Boulevard d’Athènes and Canebière

Metro Line M1 provides the fastest public transport connection, with Vieux-Port only two stops away.

Walking generally takes around 20 minutes, although the route includes hills and busy streets.

Airport Connections

Direct airport coaches operate between Marseille Saint-Charles and Marseille Provence Airport.

Services normally depart from the coach station beside the railway complex.

Before travelling, check:

  • The current departure bay
  • Coach frequency
  • Airport terminal
  • Traffic conditions
  • Airline check-in time
  • Planned road or service disruption

The coach journey is affected by road traffic, so allow additional time during busy periods.

Regional rail alternatives may involve travel to Vitrolles Aéroport Marseille Provence followed by a connecting airport shuttle.

Coach Station

The Marseille Saint-Charles coach station is integrated with the railway complex.

Coach services may connect Marseille with:

  • Marseille Provence Airport
  • Aix-en-Provence
  • Regional towns
  • Other French cities
  • Spain and Italy
  • Long-distance European destinations

Coach bays are separate from the railway platforms.

Check the operator, destination and bay number before leaving the train concourse.

Local Bus Connections

Numerous local bus routes serve Marseille Saint-Charles and nearby streets.

Bus connections provide access to:

  • Central Marseille
  • Belle de Mai
  • Joliette
  • La Timone
  • Northern districts
  • Residential neighbourhoods
  • Areas not directly served by Metro
  • Nearby university and hospital districts

Stops are distributed around Square Narvik, Boulevard Voltaire and surrounding roads.

Check the route number and direction before leaving the station because different services use different sides of the precinct.

Travelling to the Ferry Terminals

Marseille’s ferry and cruise facilities are spread across several port areas.

For Joliette and nearby ferry terminals, passengers can use:

  • Metro Line M2
  • Local bus
  • Taxi
  • Ride-share service

Cruise terminals farther north may require a taxi, dedicated shuttle or additional public transport connection.

Confirm the exact terminal before leaving Saint-Charles because the Port of Marseille covers a large area.

Transfers Within the Station

Marseille Saint-Charles is large but generally straightforward because the railway platforms lead directly from the main concourse.

Allow approximately:

  • 5–10 minutes between railway platforms
  • 5–10 minutes between a train platform and the Metro
  • 10–15 minutes between trains and the coach station
  • Additional time with luggage
  • More time during summer and holiday travel periods

Passengers transferring to airport or long-distance coaches should confirm the departure bay before leaving the railway area.

Tickets and Local Transport

SNCF train tickets, Marseille Metro tickets and coach tickets are generally separate products.

Passengers should confirm:

  • Whether a separate Metro or bus fare is required
  • Ticket validation rules
  • Airport-coach ticket requirements
  • Reservation conditions for TGV or international trains
  • Whether the selected travel pass covers the journey

Keep railway tickets available until leaving the destination station.

Metro tickets can be purchased from machines within the underground station area.

Accessibility

Marseille Saint-Charles includes lifts, escalators and accessible routes between the railway concourse, platforms, Metro and street level.

Passengers requiring assistance should check:

  • Current lift availability
  • The designated assistance meeting point
  • Accessibility of the required train
  • Access to the coach station
  • Accessibility at the destination station

The monumental staircase is not the only route between the station and lower city streets. Passengers requiring step-free access should use the designated lifts and road-level approaches.

Taxis, Parking and Bicycle Access

Taxi ranks and passenger pickup areas are available around Square Narvik and surrounding station roads.

Drivers should confirm the exact meeting point because the station has several road-access levels.

Parking and rental-car facilities are available within the wider station precinct.

Bicycle parking and shared bicycle services are also available nearby, although the steep streets surrounding Saint-Charles may affect cycling routes.

Station Facilities

Facilities at Marseille Saint-Charles include:

  • Ticket offices and machines
  • Passenger information
  • Departure screens
  • Waiting areas
  • Toilets
  • Cafés and restaurants
  • Shops
  • Luggage storage
  • Accessibility assistance
  • Lifts and escalators
  • Metro access
  • Coach and bus connections
  • Taxi and parking facilities

Facilities are distributed around the main concourse and connected transport areas.

Nearby Landmarks

Monumental Saint-Charles Staircase

The grand staircase descends from the station forecourt towards Boulevard d’Athènes and provides a panoramic view across central Marseille.

Canebière

Canebière is one of Marseille’s best-known central avenues and leads towards Vieux-Port.

Porte d’Aix

Porte d’Aix is a historic triumphal arch west of the station near Place Jules Guesde.

Vieux-Port

The Old Port is Marseille’s principal central waterfront district and can be reached by Metro M1 or on foot.

Palais Longchamp

Palais Longchamp is east of the station and can be reached by Metro, tram or bus.

Visitor Tips

Use the main Square Narvik entrance for the railway concourse, Metro and central Marseille.

Check whether your airport or long-distance coach departs from the coach-station side rather than the main forecourt.

Metro Line M1 is the simplest route to Vieux-Port, while M2 is useful for Joliette and the port districts.

Allow additional time during summer weekends and holiday periods, when the station can become extremely busy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the main entrance to Marseille Saint-Charles Station?

The principal entrance faces Square Narvik at the top of the monumental station staircase.

Which Metro lines serve Saint-Charles?

The station is served by Marseille Metro lines M1 and M2.

Can I travel directly to Paris?

Yes. Frequent TGV services connect Marseille Saint-Charles with Paris Gare de Lyon.

How do I reach Vieux-Port?

Take Metro Line M1 from Saint-Charles to Vieux-Port, which is two stops away.

Are there direct airport buses?

Yes. Direct coaches connect the Saint-Charles coach station with Marseille Provence Airport.

Does the station serve Nice and Cannes?

Yes. Regional and high-speed services operate east towards Toulon, Cannes, Nice and other Côte d’Azur destinations.

Is the coach station part of Saint-Charles?

Yes. The regional and long-distance coach station is integrated into the wider transport complex.

How far is the Old Port from the station?

Vieux-Port is approximately 1.5 kilometres away, with a walking time of around 20 minutes.

Does the station have luggage storage?

Luggage-storage services are normally available, although current opening times should be checked.

Is the station accessible?

Lifts and accessible routes are available between the platforms, concourse, Metro and street level.

Related Railway Station Maps

Disclaimer: This map is provided as a general guide. Station entrances, platforms, services and transfer routes may change. Check current information from the relevant railway operator before travelling.