What's the Weather like in Marseille in March
Marseille, France, is located in the southeast of the country, along the coastline overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Its coastal location makes it the perfect spot for exploring other Mediterranean cities, with ferries and cruises leaving from Marseille to Bastia, Corsica and Ajaccio in France, and Porto Torres in Italy. These strong connections make Marseille a very diverse and cultural city, as well as a hugely popular holiday destination.
Temparature
As the spring approaches, afternoons in Marseille in March can be rather pleasant, with temperatures reaching up to 15°C. Evenings, however, are still rather chilly, bringing lows of just 6°C, so it is important to pack a jacket when travelling at this time of year. There is a noticeable difference in temperature between the first days and the last days of the month, tough. The afternoon temperature increases from 14°C to 17°C in the course of the month; the nighttime temperature rises from 5°C to 8°C. The average temperature in March is 11°C, the first time in the year that the mercury climbs to a two-digit average. The sea temperature, however, remains at its annual low of 13°C.
Rainfall
Rainfall decreases during March to 40mm, preparing for the famous dry Mediterranean summers, experienced by other cities overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, such as Toulon. 40mm of rainfall per month can be considered to be about the monthly average. In fact, March is an average month all-round.
There are 7 days with rainfall, meaning, of course, that there are 24 days without any precipitation at all. The likelihood that rainfall occurs ranges around 30%, as was the case in January and February as well. In fact, this is the case for most of the yearnly the drier period between May and September sees a lower chance of rainfall. Moderate rain happens on 58% of the days with precipitation. Thunderstorms have become possible, too, occurring on 20% of those days. Light rain is observed on 19% of the wet days.
Cloud Cover
There is no variation in cloud cover whatsoever, which ranges around 40%. This is why there is also no significant increase in daily sunshine hours compared to the previous month of February. There are 6 hours of sunshine per day on average.
Marseille Hotels in March
Mama Shelter
For a truly contemporary and unique accommodation in Marseille, book a room at Mama Shelter, owned by the same people who brought Mama Pizzeria to the city. Rooms are adorned with pure white furnishings, decorated in modern minimalist style, and come complete with personal iMacs (sometimes two!). Rooms are definitely affordable, with all in-room family movies included in the price.
Grand Hotel Beauvau
Grand Hôtel Beauvau is situated in the city centre and is regarded is one of the city's premier accommodations. It's a magnificent place to base yourself and explore this fascinating city and its natural surroundings in March. Located near Rue Beauvau, one of the city's oldest streets, the hotel offers memorable views from its first-floor bar. Facilities include a car park, restaurant, fitness centre, internet access and a laundry service.
Alex Hotel
Another suggested hotel is Alex Hôtel, a laid-back three-star hotel in the Saint Charles District in the heart of the city. This boutique hotel has 21 rooms with modern furnishings, free Wi-Fi, iPod and iPhone docking stations, and a flat-screen TV. You can enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning, consisting of baguettes, croissants, omelets, French toast and more.
Eating and Drinking Out
To understand some of Marseille's cultural diversity, take a look at the city centre restaurants. One such place is Le Cafe Thai, which offers up authentic Thai cuisine. The venue is hidden away on a small side street, so it is not often in the guidebooks, and is somewhat of a local secret. There is a wide selection of dishes although the green Thai curry is very popular. Be warned though it's spicy!
A cosy place to go for dinner, La Cabanon du Cours serves typical Marseillaise cuisine. This is the place to go if you would like to sample local specialties, prepared by a talented chef. Dishes range from risotto to Marseille sausages and from raviolis to soups. You may expect nothing but mouth-watering dishes at this suggested restaurant!
Things to Do in Marseille in March
Marseille hosts many music festivals throughout the year, including the Avec le Temps festival in March. Although many of the up and coming artists playing this festival are native to France, there is also a strong international aspect, with many different European countries being represented in all music genres ranging from pop to rock. It is one of the biggest events in Marseille's calendar, and one of the busiest times of year in the city. As the weather begins to warm up in March, this is ideal event to celebrate the end of the dark winter season!
For a completely different kind of culture, visit the Porte d'Aix. The huge triumphal arch used to mark to entry point into Marseille on the road from Aix-en-Provence, hence its name. The structure was first commissioned in 1784, but not finished until 1839. It was meant to honour the French King Louis XIV and to serve as a memorial for the American War of Independence. Currently, it commemorates French victory in general.
