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Book Your Château d'If Marseille Tickets & Tours
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- Right opposite the old port of Marseilles lies the Chateau d’If, a famous island fortress-prison from the 16th century.
- Tour the insides at your own pace and gasp at the old graffiti by past prisoners that adorn the walls and learn about the Republicans incarcerated here.
- Even though this fort gained a fearful reputation for imprisoning those who stood up to the royal powers, this fort was built for other valiant purposes.
- With strict measures in place, you’re guaranteed a safe experience from start to finish.
- Right opposite the old port of Marseilles lies the Chateau d’If, a famous island fortress-prison from the 16th century.
- Tour the insides at your own pace and gasp at the old graffiti by past prisoners that adorn the walls and learn about the Republicans incarcerated here.
- Even though this fort gained a fearful reputation for imprisoning those who stood up to the royal powers, this fort was built for other valiant purposes.
- With strict measures in place, you’re guaranteed a safe experience from start to finish.
Inclusions
- Entry to Château d’If
Exclusions
- Ferry ride to the island
- Please note that there is free admission during the following days: European Heritage Days on the third weekend of Sep, and every first Sunday of the month from Nov to Mar.
- Entry is free for anyone under the age of 18 years, and for European Union nationals or non-EU residents in France aged between 18 and 25 years (an ID is necessary).
- Entry is free for disabled guests with an accompanying adult, jobseekers (on presentation of a certificate less than 6 months old), and holders of a valid education pass.
- This ticket has no audio guides available. However, you will enjoy a subtitled film screened during your visit.
- All guests are required to follow the safety instructions indicated at the entrance of the monument strictly.
- Please note that some spaces might remain closed for safety reasons.
- The last sea shuttle towards the castle departs at 3:15 PM.
- The experience is not accessible for people with mobility issues.
- These tickets can't be cancelled. However, you can use them any time until 16 March, 2123.
- These tickets are valid until 16 March, 2123.
Reviews
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4.9
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What our guests say
Stefanie
Sep 2024Verified booking
Easy to book tickets, but we weren't sure if this was for the boat to Chateau d'If or for the entrance to the island. It turned out it was for the entrance of the island. Price very reasonable. The boat trip was 20 mins to get to Chateau d'If. Wonderful blue water of the Mediterranean, fantastic. The island is very small but interesting. I was mostly interested in the Count of Monte Cristo, a fictitious character, but there was a cell made up for the Count in the Chateau; and there were plaques of the real people who were incarcerated there. Absolutely great. We had a drink in the cafe, which was very nice, and after that we went for a walk around the island. It was an absolutely great day and we would do it again, if we ever go back to Marseille. Just wonderful xx
Abderemane
Aug 2024Verified booking
Although at first, I was told at the old port that the weather wasn't right to go there, the next day too, when I'd already bought my ticket, fortunately, on my penultimate day in Marseille, the exit was scheduled for 11 a.m. while the website announced bad weather (again), I went and had a good experience, the first time I learned about the place was in Alexendre Dumas' book, The Count of Monte Cristo. Little did I know that one day I'd go to the island and walk around the castle, passing through its alleys and visiting its dungeons.
View original review in French
Gunsburger
Nov 2024Verified booking
Formidable...je y retourne dans la semaine
View original review in French
Bernadette
Jun 2024Verified booking
The history of the château and surrounding area was amazing. Well preserved
CAROFF
May 2024Verified booking
Practical and efficient! We didn't queue at the ticket office
View original review in French
Magali
Dec 2024Verified booking
MIYU
Nov 2024Verified booking
Craig
Nov 2024Verified booking
Sébastien
Nov 2024Verified booking
Miriam
Nov 2024Verified booking
Soyeux
Nov 2024Verified booking
Annette
Nov 2024Verified booking
Aubry
Oct 2024Verified booking
Headout Guest
Aug 2024Verified booking
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Headout Guest
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- Witness the blend of old and new on a 1-day hop-on hop-off tour of Marseille journeying through ancient markets and stylish waterfront promenades.
- With buses arriving every 20 mins, you will never have to wait long to continue your journey and you can get on and off at the 14 stops whenever you want.
- Travel in style and comfort in the open-top double-decker buses equipped with a multilingual audio guide captivating you with tales of Marseille.
- See popular landmarks like the Old Port, Saint Victor’s Abbey, La Major Cathedral, and more on your HOHO route.
- Witness the blend of old and new on a 1-day hop-on hop-off tour of Marseille journeying through ancient markets and stylish waterfront promenades.
- With buses arriving every 20 mins, you will never have to wait long to continue your journey and you can get on and off at the 14 stops whenever you want.
- Travel in style and comfort in the open-top double-decker buses equipped with a multilingual audio guide captivating you with tales of Marseille.
- See popular landmarks like the Old Port, Saint Victor’s Abbey, La Major Cathedral, and more on your HOHO route.
Inclusions
- 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Audio guide in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese & Japanese
- Free Wi-Fi
Please click here for a detailed route map and boarding points.
You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.
Red route
- First bus: 10am from Boulevard Jacques Saadé or Quai des Belges
- Last bus: 5pm from Boulevard Jacques Saadé or Quai des Belges
- Frequency: every 20 mins
- Popular stops: Pharo Palace, Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure
- Tip: If you're a seafood lover, don't miss the bouillabaisse, a traditional Provençal fish stew, at a seaside restaurant near the Old Port.
- The buses are wheelchair accessible.
- Ramps are available on the buses for easy access.
- These tickets can't be cancelled. However, you can use them any time until 31 December, 2024.
- These tickets are valid until 31 December, 2024.
Reviews
How do we collect reviews?
Snapshots from our guests
4.3
427 ratings
278
85
14
24
26
What our guests say
Deborah
Oct 2024Verified booking
So easy to jump on and off. The circuit was not too big making it easy to get around town. The commentary was also very good.
Marianne
Sep 2024Verified booking
The bus driver was great, he didn't touch any house fronts, very nice route along the coast and very narrow streets. It's also great that you can use your own headphones via a QR code.
View original review in German
Dorothy
Sep 2024Verified booking
Ticketing was easy. The bus was a good introduction to the City, as always when we land someplace new. Not as much commentary as we've come to expect, in contrast to, say, Edinburgh
Lavogez
Sep 2024Verified booking
On vacation in Marseille, we took the Colorbus to visit the city. We boarded at the old port, and the staff were very pleasant. After reserving a ticket on the Internet, we exchanged it for a ticket valid for the whole day. The tour has several stops. You get off wherever you want to visit the site you've chosen, and then get back on again at the same point, redeeming your ticket. It was a very pleasant visit. However, beware of branches if you get on the top floor of the bus.
View original review in French
jean-jacques
Sep 2024Verified booking
Full-day tour. Just a little problem with online registration. I never received confirmation....I had to chat it out with you.... Thanks
View original review in French
Gerald
Sep 2024Verified booking
Tickets worked fine but it was along walk to the Colorbus start point. There was a long queue which eventually divided into 2, those with pre-booked tickets and those that needed to buy tickets. We wasted 20 mins standing in the queue, the sign for pre-booked tickets needs to displayed much earlier.
Amy
Sep 2024Verified booking
We love the hop on hop off tours and have done them in many cities. It was extremely hot so air conditioning is recommended, we are OK being hot but this was heat stroke levels, so we decided to walk instead. I didn't realize there was an app until I saw this review request. I tried to get the audio to play on the bus so a sign on the audio box recommending the app would be helpful.
Kathleen
Aug 2024Verified booking
This was the best way to get to all the major sites of the city without the stress of getting different modes of transport. Riding on the top level was especially great - though people need to watch for tree branches!
Irina
Aug 2024Verified booking
First in the morning all was working good for us, but later the capacities of colorbüs is not big enough. We waited over 40 min a Station before we decided to walk. At the Station notre Dame de la Garde a nearly full Bus arrived noone got out and only a handful people could get into the bus. To my estimation about 50 people were their originally waiting. That should not happen. There should be more buses.
Gregory
Jul 2024Verified booking
The commentary was excellent and lined up with the locations. The staff at the initial start point were very helpful and friendly. As we had experienced problems in other countries we went around once before we were confident to hop off as we were concerned that we would not be able to get back on. This however was not a problem. We got off at Notre Dame and didn't have a problem getting back on. Many thanks to you all
Amanda
Jun 2024Verified booking
Everyone was really friendly and helpful. It was a good way to learn about Marseille. It was my first time visiting. I really enjoyed the whole experience 😊
Jan
Jun 2024Verified booking
Ticketing was easy and simple. More difficult to find the app to listen to the commentary. Uncomfortable bus ride due to jerky-ness of the driving. Enjoyed seeing the lovely sights of Marseille.
Barry
Jun 2024Verified booking
Excellent driving through tortuous streets, very helpful staff and frequent buses. Marseille was excellent and this is definitely the best way to experience it.
Daniela
Sep 2024Verified booking
Organizzare più fermate,soprattutto vicino il porto dei croceristi
Chengetai
Aug 2024Verified booking
Very friendly driver and overall great experience
Emanuela
Aug 2024Verified booking
Stops near points of interest, frequency.
View original review in Italian
Deborah
Aug 2024Verified booking
Great experience around Marseille.
Stephen
Jul 2024Verified booking
Queue was too long and inadequate number of buses running..
Nicole
Jul 2024Verified booking
The bus drivers do very well driving those streets up the mountain. Went all the places we needed to go.
Jose
Jul 2024Verified booking
it was very easy to organise. The online facilities was excellent.
Mattia
Jun 2024Verified booking
All was perfect, as expected! Many thanks to the personnel for this great experience! À bientôt
Michele
Jun 2024Verified booking
Belle expérience. On a adoré la ballade et les explications sur les différents sites.
Bernadette
Jun 2024Verified booking
Easy to buy tickets online and the trip was amazing. Great way to see the city
Clea
Jun 2024Verified booking
Youssef
Dec 2024Verified booking
Top things to do in Marseille
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Your Château d'If Tickets Explained
With dedicated skip-the-line access to the château, you are guaranteed less waiting time. Spend your time instead, exploring the castle, its courtyard, and the infamous dungeons. Popular political prisoners like the Revolutionary hero Mirabeau and the Communards of 1871 were incarcerated here. You’ll even get to see the jail cell named after Edmond Dantès, from The Count of Monte Cristo. Fun fact: There is a hole in this vault leading to the next dungeon! On the first floor, you can enjoy a film on the history of the château. Later, walk around the island and take in picturesque views of Vieux Port. The ticket cannot be canceled, amended, or rescheduled. It does not include a ferry ride to and from the island.
What to See at Château d'If
History buffs and nature enthusiasts will particularly enjoy a visit to Château d'If. The castle has many tales to tell and offers stunning views of Vieux Port. With your skip-the-line tickets, here’s what you will get to see:
The Inner Courtyard and the Dungeons
The only way to enter the fortress is via the gate located in the middle of the east facade. Once you enter, you will see the inner courtyard that housed the kitchen, the grain store, and the rainwater well. Notice the commemorative graffiti on the walls of the courtyard, carved by insurgents in the 19th century. You’ll also get to see the dungeons and the cell named after Edmond Dantès, from The Count of Monte Cristo. In the dungeon named after Abbé Faria, there is video equipment that will let you see yourself locked up in there!
Famous Pistoles
The first floor is a testament to how the château started converting itself into a prison. Find here the cells (or pistoles) that held famous personalities such as that of the Count of Mirabeau. Watch out for the cell where the French General Jean-Baptiste Kléber’s embalmed body remained for 18 years, on Napoleon’s orders. Don’t miss out on seeing the death row dungeon built into the staircase!
The Terrace and its Towers
Fun fact: The terraces of Château d’If played a role in the Second World War as observation posts! Walk across these vast roofs and take in the many views they offer. From the Maugouvert Tower, you can see the reefs dotting the eastern bay channels. The 20th-century lighthouse is visible from Saint-Jaume Tower, and beyond it, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde hill in Marseille. The south keep or Saint-Christophe Tower overlooks the Pomègues and Ratonneau islands.
Other Buildings
Unfortunately, nothing remains of the artillery, the powder stores, or the windmill. However, you can still explore the castle and see the Vauban building, which was the governor’s house. There is also an exhibition on the flora and fauna of the Frioul archipelago, only accessible from the outside of the château. The Florentine Door, above the entrance, features horizontal stakes that prevented climbing!
Plan Your Visit to Château d'If
Opening Hours
Getting There
Tips and Guidelines
What are Château d'If hours?
The château is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 AM to 5:15 PM. Please note: depending on the weather, Château d'If may not be open. Make sure to check online before visiting.
What is the best time to visit Château d'If?
The best time to visit Château d'If is from September to November (autumn). This is the off-season and frees up the beaches, attractions, and accommodations.
When is Château d'If closed?
The château is closed on Mondays.
How do I get to Château d'If?
Catch a Frioul If Express Shuttle from the Old Port in Marseille to the island of Frioul. Most of these ferries stop at Château d’If on the way. However, make sure you check the ferry schedule beforehand.
Are return transfers available with Château d'If tickets?
Ferry transfers are not included with the Château d'If ticket. You will have to buy them separately.
Where is Château d'If located?
Château d'If is located on the island of If, off the coast of Marseille. It is the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago. You can find the directions on Google Maps here.
Is the castle accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Unfortunately, it is not. There are 100 steps inside the castle, and the calade has 50 steps.
How difficult is it to navigate the terrain?
It is a rather hilly terrain. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as the ground can be slippery. Be mindful of the heat if you are visiting in the summer.
Are there any rules and restrictions at Château d'If?
It is forbidden to drink alcohol, and to throw stones at gulls or at ramparts and terraces.
Where can I get more information about the castle during my visit?
You can download the visitor app available for free on App Store and Google Play.
Château d'If: Frequently Asked Questions
Are Château d'If tickets available online now?
Yes, Château d'If tickets are available online. You can book your tickets on https://chateau-dif.marseille-billets.fr/
Do my Château d'If tickets include skip-the-line access?
Yes, your tickets to Château d'If include skip-the-line access.
What is the cancelation policy for Château d'If tickets?
Your tickets to Château d'If cannot be canceled, amended or rescheduled.
What are Château d'If hours?
The monument is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 AM to 5:15 PM. It is closed on Mondays. Please note: depending on the weather, Château d'If may not be open. Make sure to check online before visiting.
What is the best way to get to Château d'If?
Catch a Frioul If Express Shuttle from the Old Port in Marseille to the island of Frioul. Most of them stop at Château d’If on the way. However, make sure to check the schedule before you plan your visit.
Are guided tours of Château d'If available with my tickets?
No, guided tours of Château d'If available are not available with your tickets.
Are audio guides available for Château d'If tours?
No, audio guides are not available for Château d'If tours.
What is the best time to visit Château d'If?
The best time of the year to visit Château d'If (for ideal weather and to avoid the tourist season) is from September to November (autumn).
Do children get free entry into Château d'If?
Yes. Anyone aged 18 years and below gets free entry into Château d'If. Additionally, EU citizens up to the age of 26 years enjoy free admission.