The Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, is open every day except Tuesday, from 10 am to 6 pm in winter and until 7 pm or 8 pm in the warmer months; a full-price ticket costs €11. The museum occupies two sites linked by a footbridge, the J4 building and Fort Saint-Jean, whose outdoor areas are free to enter. It is free on the first Sunday of the month and for under-18s.
The Mucem is one of the first stops when visiting Marseille: our city guide gives the best season and the districts to see around the Old Port.
Our travel deals for Mucem
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Mucem.Compare flights- Tickets and toursTiqetsEntry tickets and guided tours to book online; compare with the official price.See tickets
Mucem: key facts
- Hours: every day except Tuesday, May 1 and December 25; 10 am–6 pm from early November to the end of April, 10 am–7 pm in spring and in September–October, 10 am–8 pm in July–August; last entry 30 minutes before closing — checked on 23 October 2026 on mucem.org
- Standard price: €11; reduced €7.50; family ticket €18 (2 adults and up to 5 children under 18); a single ticket, valid on the day, for all exhibitions at the J4 and Fort Saint-Jean — checked on 23 October 2026 on mucem.org
- Free entry: first Sunday of the month, under 18s, job seekers, people receiving social benefits, visitors with disabilities and one companion…; outdoor areas of the J4 and the fort always free — checked on 23 October 2026 on mucem.org
- Booking: not required for individuals; required for groups of 8 or more — checked on 23 October 2026 on mucem.org
- Bags: luggage is not allowed; only small backpacks (44 × 30 cm, or 17 × 12 in) are accepted, to be left at the cloakroom — checked on 11 November 2026 on mucem.org
Mucem tickets: prices, free entry and pitfalls
| Ticket | Price | Official conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Full price | €11 | Online or at the 3 ticket offices; all permanent and temporary exhibitions, J4 + Fort Saint-Jean |
| Reduced rate | €7.50 | Ages 18–25, teachers (Pass Éducation card), visitors to a partner museum the same day…; at the ticket desk only, with proof |
| Family ticket | €18 | 2 adults + a maximum of 5 children under 18; adults without children refused |
| Free entry | €0 | 1st Sunday of the month, Museum Night, European Heritage Days, under 18s, groups listed by the museum |
| City Pass Marseille | Included | Entry included in the city’s City Pass and the City Pass Marseille Provence |
Good to know: the online ticket office sells only the full price, the family ticket and the ticket + audioguide package. Visitors entitled to free entry or the reduced rate must go to the ticket desk with proof. Ages 18–25 get free entry to the permanent exhibitions only, but pay the reduced rate for a temporary exhibition. Free entry is a museum rule for specific groups: US and UK visitors should check the conditions on the museum’s website.
Destination de Voyage calculation: for 2 adults and 2 children under 18, the family ticket (€18) costs €4 less than two full-price tickets (€22), although children are already free. It is only worthwhile if it saves you a queue at the ticket desk, since it is bought online. For a couple without children, the first Sunday of the month saves €22.
Mucem opening hours month by month
| Period (published calendar) | Hours |
|---|---|
| Early May → early July | 10 am – 7 pm |
| Early July → end of August | 10 am – 8 pm |
| September → early November | 10 am – 7 pm |
| Early November → end of April | 10 am – 6 pm |
- Ticket offices close 45 minutes before the site closes; last entry 30 minutes before.
- The J4 – Fort Saint-Jean footbridge closes 30 minutes before closing time; exhibition rooms are cleared 15 minutes before.
- Closed every Tuesday, on May 1 and on December 25; other public holidays are open unless they fall on a Tuesday.
- In bad weather, the fort and the J4 roof terrace may close while the exhibitions stay open (a case announced by the museum for one day in September).
What to see: the J4, the footbridge and Fort Saint-Jean
The J4. Opened in June 2013, the building by Rudy Ricciotti (with Roland Carta) is a 72 m (236 ft) cube wrapped in a concrete lattice made of 400 panels measuring 6 × 3 m (20 × 10 ft). It houses the major permanent and temporary exhibitions over 3,690 m² (39,719 sq ft), and its outdoor ramps lead to the roof terrace, with views over the fort and the sea.
The footbridge. It is 115 m (377 ft) long according to the museum’s FAQ (135 m, or 443 ft, according to the J4 page) and links the J4 roof to Fort Saint-Jean. A second footbridge, 70 m (230 ft) long, links the fort to the Panier district.
Fort Saint-Jean. Its foundations date from the late 12th century, the present fort from the 17th century (Louis XIV). Damaged by an explosion in 1944 and listed as a historic monument in 1964, it has the Officers’ Gallery, the King René Tower (15th century, open to visitors) and the Garden of Migrations, planted with species from both shores of the Mediterranean. These outdoor areas are free: you can cross the Mucem from the Old Port to the J4 without a ticket during opening hours.
Suggested route: enter through the fort on the Old Port side (Commande courtyard), climb to the Garden of Migrations, cross the footbridge to the J4 roof, visit an exhibition, then leave by the esplanade. A free 30-minute audio tour is available at visit.mucem.org (bring your headphones).
Best time to visit the Mucem
The roof terrace and the fort are viewpoints facing west. We compared the sunset time on the 15th of each month with the official closing time, to see when you can watch the sun go down from the site.
| Month (15th) | Sunset | Closing | Sunset seen on site? | Max temp | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:28 pm | 6 pm | yes | 11.8 °C (53 °F) | 47.1 mm (1.9 in) |
| February | 6:08 pm | 6 pm | no | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 29.8 mm (1.2 in) |
| March | 6:44 pm | 6 pm | no | 16.4 °C (62 °F) | 29.5 mm (1.2 in) |
| April | 8:21 pm | 6 pm | no | 19.3 °C (67 °F) | 51.6 mm (2.0 in) |
| May | 8:55 pm | 7 pm | no | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 37.7 mm (1.5 in) |
| June | 9:20 pm | 7 pm | no | 27.9 °C (82 °F) | 27.9 mm (1.1 in) |
| July | 9:16 pm | 8 pm | no | 30.7 °C (87 °F) | 10.8 mm (0.4 in) |
| August | 8:42 pm | 8 pm | no | 30.5 °C (87 °F) | 25.8 mm (1.0 in) |
| September | 7:49 pm | 7 pm | no | 25.9 °C (79 °F) | 82.0 mm (3.2 in) |
| October | 6:56 pm | 7 pm | no | 21.3 °C (70 °F) | 73.3 mm (2.9 in) |
| November | 5:14 pm | 6 pm | yes | 15.7 °C (60 °F) | 75.9 mm (3.0 in) |
| December | 5:03 pm | 6 pm | yes | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 40.9 mm (1.6 in) |
How to read it: from November to January the sun sets before closing and the J4 roof becomes a free viewpoint for the sunset; from February to October you have to come back down before it sets. In July–August the rooms stay cool (a maximum of 21 °C, or 70 °F, to protect the works, according to the museum): bring a light layer. Avoid the first Sunday of the month if you dislike crowds, since entry is free for everyone then.
Getting there, accessibility and common mistakes
Address: 7 promenade Robert-Laffont (J4 esplanade), 13002 Marseille. Metro Vieux-Port or Joliette, tram T2 (République, Dames or Joliette), buses 82s, 83, 60 and 49; from Saint-Charles station, direct metro lines 1 or 2. Indigo Vieux-Port Fort Saint-Jean parking lot under the esplanade — checked on 23 October 2026 on mucem.org. All exhibitions are wheelchair accessible; the recommended entrance is the J4, where the parking lot has reserved spaces. The elevator at Fort Saint-Jean was out of service on 23 October 2026.
- Coming on a Tuesday: the museum is closed.
- Buying a reduced-rate ticket online: not possible, it is sold at the ticket desk.
- Arriving with a suitcase: luggage is not allowed.
- Using a flash or tripod: not allowed in the exhibitions.
- Bringing a pet: not allowed, except assistance animals.
What to see nearby
For Notre-Dame de la Garde, bus 60, which serves Fort Saint-Jean, goes up to the basilica. Read our guide to Notre-Dame de la Garde, then Cassis and our Provence page. If you are boarding a ship afterwards, see also cruises from Marseille. For entry requirements, see entry requirements for France.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Mucem?
The full price is €11, the reduced rate €7.50 and the family ticket €18 (2 adults and up to 5 children). One ticket gives access to all exhibitions at the J4 and Fort Saint-Jean on the day.
When is the Mucem free?
On the first Sunday of every month, during Museum Night and the European Heritage Days, and all year for under-18s, job seekers and other groups listed by the museum. The outdoor areas of the J4 and the fort are always free.
What are the Mucem opening hours?
Every day except Tuesday, from 10 am to 6 pm in winter, 10 am to 7 pm in spring and in September–October, and 10 am to 8 pm in July–August. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Is Fort Saint-Jean part of the Mucem?
Yes. The fort is linked to the J4 by a footbridge and is an integral part of the museum; its gardens and outdoor areas are free to enter, and its exhibitions are included in the Mucem ticket.
Do you need to book the Mucem?
Not for an individual visit: tickets are also sold at the three ticket offices. Booking is required for groups of 8 or more.
Our sources
- Mucem (mucem.org): practical information, hours of the J4 and Fort Saint-Jean, how to get there, FAQ, consulted on 23 October 2026; FAQ (bags, animals, photography, room temperature, footbridge length) consulted on 11 November 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Marignane station, as used on our Marseille page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the approximate coordinates of the Mucem (GPS published by the museum) (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.