Souvenir Shops Marseille: the Best Addresses in 2025

Souvenir Shops Marseille: the Best Addresses in 2025

The Best Souvenir Shops in Marseille: Our Top 15

Welcome to Marseille, the sunniest city in France, bursting with colors, history, and traditions. Looking for a typical souvenir to take back home? Between tourist traps and sometimes inflated prices, it can be hard to find an item that is both authentic and useful.

In this article, we present you with a carefully curated selection of the best souvenir shops in Marseille, the neighborhoods where you can find local treasures, and a very profitable tip: claim back the VAT on your purchases as an international traveler thanks to the Zapptax app.

This way, you can enjoy shopping while saving smartly.

Let’s set off to discover the best souvenirs from the Phocean city!

Discover our complete Zapptax guide to claim back VAT on your purchases in France

In Summary

• Best neighborhoods for souvenir shopping in Marseille: Old Port, MUCEM, Le Panier, Cours Julien, La Canebière, Rue Saint-Ferréol.
• Iconic souvenirs: Marseille soap, Provençal textiles, fine local grocery products, artisanal ceramics, lavender-based products.
• Our 15 favorite shops: Maison Empereur, Savonnerie la Licorne, Les Baux Provençaux, Les Navettes des Accoules, Marseille in the Box, etc.
• Tax refund tip: use Zapptax to claim up to 90% of VAT back on your purchases with ease.

Where to Find a Good Souvenir Shop in Marseille?

Here are the best neighborhoods in Marseille for souvenir shopping, each with its own atmosphere and unique features:

1. The Old Port

An emblematic district at the foot of La Canebière, the Old Port (“Le Vieux Port”) is the beating heart of Marseille. It’s the ideal starting point for strolling, sightseeing, and shopping. You’ll find the famous fish market, street performers, lively terraces, and above all, countless souvenir shops.

Here you’ll find classics like magnets, Marseille soaps, and typical olive oils. The vibe is both touristy and authentic, perfect for your first purchases and for soaking up Marseille’s energy.

📍 Location : metro line 1 – stop “Vieux-Port – Hôtel de Ville”

2. The MUCEM and its Esplanade

At the entrance to the Old Port, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM) is both a cultural landmark and a great shopping spot. Its store offers a fine selection of books, design objects, artisanal creations, and souvenirs inspired by the Mediterranean and Provence. You’ll also find items related to current exhibitions, often limited editions. The esplanade and surroundings also provide spectacular views of the sea and the city, perfect to capture memories of your visit.

📍 Location: metro line 1 – stop “Vieux-Port – Hôtel de Ville,” then a 10-minute walk along the quay

3. Le Panier

The oldest neighborhood in Marseille, full of artist studios, concept stores, and small artisan shops. Located just above the Old Port, this historic district with narrow, colorful streets is an open-air museum. It abounds with art galleries, local designers, and craft shops selling jewelry and handmade objects. The perfect place to find an original and authentic souvenir.

📍 Location: a 5-minute walk from the Old Port, heading up toward La Vieille Charité

4. Le Cours Julien

A true hotspot for artists and creators, Cours Julien is a colorful, alternative neighborhood famous for its street art murals, thrift shops, concept stores, and craft markets. You’ll find very original souvenirs in a youthful and bohemian atmosphere.

📍 Location: metro line 2 – stop “Notre-Dame du Mont – Cours Julien”

5. La Canebière

Grande avenue emblématique de Marseille, la Canebière relie le Vieux-Port à l’église des Réformés. Elle propose un mélange d’enseignes traditionnelles, de magasins de souvenirs et de boutiques de textile. C’est un lieu animé, où vous retrouverez notamment la boutique La Savonnerie Marseillaise ou encore la boutique officielle de l’OM.

Marseille’s iconic avenue, La Canebière connects the Old Port to the Réformés church. It features a mix of traditional shops, souvenir stores, and textile boutiques. It’s a lively place, where you’ll also find La Savonnerie Marseillaise and the official Olympique de Marseille store.

📍 Location: metro line 1 – stops “Vieux-Port” or “Noailles”

6. Rue Saint-Ferréol

One of Marseille’s main shopping streets, Rue Saint-Ferréol links Place Félix-Baret to the Centre Bourse. You’ll find major national chains here, but also souvenir shops, clothing stores, and typically Marseillais products. It’s the ideal spot to combine mainstream shopping with local finds in a lively central location.

📍 Location: metro line 1 – stops “Estrangin” or “Vieux-Port”

The 15 Best Souvenir Shops in Marseille

Here is a varied, high-quality selection of 15 must-visit shops to buy souvenirs in Marseille. Each address has been chosen for its authenticity, local roots, and the quality of its products.

1. Maison Empereur

Founded in 1827, Maison Empereur is France’s oldest hardware store and a Marseille institution. Here you’ll find far more than tools: vintage objects, wooden toys, traditional soaps, kitchenware, retro stationery… A place full of history and perfect for unique gifts or souvenirs.

📍 4 rue des Récolettes, 13001 Marseille

2. Savonnerie La Licorne

One of Marseille’s most iconic soap factories, located in the Cours Julien district. Savonnerie La Licorne continues the tradition with 100% vegetable-based soaps, handmade using ancient methods. You can even attend soap-making demonstrations in their workshop-store.

📍34 cours Julien, 13006 Marseille

3. La Cure Gourmande

A delightful candy shop full of colorful sweets: artisanal biscuits, retro candies, chocolates, and confections typically found in Marseille. Perfect to offer or share a sweet memory from the city.

📍La Cure Gourmande, 5 rue de la Canebière, 13001 Marseille

4. Les Navettes des Accoules

This artisanal biscuit shop produces the famous navette, Marseille’s emblematic orange blossom cookie. Fresh, golden, and tasty, often still warm when sold.

📍Les Navettes des Accoules, 68 rue Caisserie, 13002 Marseille (quartier du Panier)

5. Compagnie de Provence

A chic, modern boutique offering high-end cosmetics made locally: liquid soaps, hand creams, and scented care products with Mediterranean fragrances. A great balance between tradition and contemporary design.

📍Compagnie de Provence, 7 cours d’Estienne d’Orves, 13001 Marseille

6. La Maison du Pastis

An incredible Old Port shop entirely dedicated to Marseille’s famous aperitif. Over 100 references of pastis, including local artisanal creations. Tasting sessions available for pastaga enthusiasts.

📍La Maison du Pastis, 108 quai du Port, 13002 Marseille

7. Marseille in the Box

Une boutique unique entièrement dédiée à l’identité marseillaise. Ici, tout vient de Marseille et parle de Marseille : livres, affiches, musique locale, objets anciens ou pièces design. On y trouve aussi des articles rares comme des partitions de musiciens marseillais, des jeux traditionnels, ou encore des lithographies originales. L’un des points forts du lieu : ses boîtes en métal illustrées, créées par un artiste local, dans lesquelles vous pouvez composer un coffret personnalisé à offrir.

A one-of-a-kind store entirely devoted to Marseille’s identity. Everything here comes from and speaks of Marseille: books, posters, local music, vintage objects, and design pieces. You will also find rare items such as sheet music from Marseille musicians, traditional games, or original lithographs. One of the highlights of this place is its illustrated metal boxes, created by a local artist, in which you can compose a personalized gift set to offer.

📍Marseille in the Box, 3 rue des Récolettes, 13001 Marseille

8. Galeries Lafayette Marseille Prado

For a chic souvenir or an emblematic French brand, head to the Galeries Lafayette in Prado. There you will find a section dedicated to the French art of living, with beauty products, fashion, accessories, fine gastronomy, and special edition items related to Marseille.

📍300 avenue du Prado, 13008 Marseille

Discover the Tax-Free Shopping Guide to reclaim VAT at Galeries Lafayette.

9. La Carterie CYL

Marseille illustrator CYL offers, in her boutique-workshop, a collection of postcards, posters, notebooks, and illustrated objects inspired by Marseille and Provence. Each colorful and poetic creation captures the city’s spirit with humor and tenderness. The perfect place to pick up an artistic, local, and original souvenir.

📍3 rue Caisserie, 13002 Marseille

10. OM Official Store

For football fans, the official Olympique de Marseille store is a must-visit. Jerseys, scarves, accessories, mugs, caps… all the club’s merchandise can be found here.

📍 Centre Bourse shopping mall or Stade Vélodrome

11. La Boule Bleue

Founded in 1904, La Boule Bleue is the historic address for pétanque in Marseille. This unmissable boutique offers competition boules made of tempered steel, but also leisure models, accessories, and merchandise related to this typically Marseillais sport. A unique and authentic souvenir to offer to enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.

📍4 rue des Fabres, 13001 Marseille

12. Le Père Blaize

Since 1815, this iconic Marseille herbalist has offered an incredible selection of medicinal plants, infusions, essential oils, and natural remedies. A true Marseillais institution, this is the perfect place to bring back a wellness souvenir, authentic and steeped in history.

📍Le Père Blaize, 4 rue Méolan et du Père Blaize, 13001 Marseille

13. Maison Yellow – Anise Museum and Store

A must-see stop for Ricard lovers. Maison Yellow is an unusual concept store that combines culture, flavors, and design around an emblematic southern ingredient: anise. Here you will discover a small museum dedicated to anise, as well as a shop filled with objects inspired by Marseille: posters, t-shirts, candles, notebooks, bottles of anisette, and original artistic creations.

📍28 rue de la République, 13001 Marseille

14. Les Baux Provençaux

This charming store highlights Provençal crafts and specialties in an authentic setting. You will find decorative items, local products, ceramics, household linen, and gift ideas that exude the southern lifestyle. An ideal address for immersing yourself in Provençal art de vivre.

📍Les Baux Provençaux, 17 rue du Panier, 13002 Marseille

15. Durance

This elegant store showcases Provençal art de vivre through home fragrances, artisanal candles, eau de toilette, and body care products. The scents are refined, inspired by Mediterranean nature. A beautiful gift idea for those who want to bring home a chic, sensory, and typically local souvenir.

📍Durance Marseille, 20 rue Paradis, 13001

Why Buy Souvenirs in Marseille?

Marseille is a city with a unique character, blending Mediterranean traditions, popular culture, and artisanal creativity. Bringing back a souvenir from Marseille isn’t just about buying an object: it’s about capturing a little piece of this diverse identity.

• A rich heritage: with 2,600 years of history, Marseille offers endless inspiration for souvenirs that combine history, craftsmanship, and modernity.
• A Mediterranean atmosphere: the colors, scents, and flavors… everything invites you to a sensory discovery.
• Iconic local products: Marseille soap, olive oil, ceramics, lavender, panisses, navettes…
• A varied and accessible choice: whatever your budget, there’s always a souvenir for you.

And the bonus: with the Zapptax app, you can claim back up to 90% of VAT, making the experience even more worthwhile.

What Souvenirs to Buy in Marseille?

Marseille is full of artisanal, cultural, and culinary treasures to slip into your suitcase. Here’s a selection of the city’s most representative souvenirs, along with what makes them so special:

1. Marseille Soap

The ultimate classic, timeless, and emblematic of the Phocean city. This soap, world-renowned, is made from pure vegetable oils, mainly olive oil, following an ancestral cauldron-cooking process that lasts several days. Naturally biodegradable, free of synthetic fragrances and chemical additives, it is gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly.

You’ll find it as engraved cubes, shavings for laundry, or molded soaps in various shapes. Traditional scents such as lavender, verbena, or sweet almond now coexist with more original creations like fig or honey. A souvenir that is useful, aesthetic, and typically Marseillais.

Favor historic brands such as Savonnerie La Licorne, Le Bazar de César, or La Savonnerie Marseillaise, which guarantee traditional production methods.

2. Ceramics and Pottery

Provence and Marseille have a long tradition of colorful faience and ceramics. In local workshops, artisans handcraft plates, bowls, tapas dishes, and vases decorated with sunny motifs: olives, cicadas, flowers, and bright stripes. Each piece is unique, sometimes signed, bearing the irregularities that reflect its artisanal character.

These objects are not only decorative: they embody Mediterranean art de vivre, the conviviality of shared meals and festive tables. Perfect to bring a touch of Provence to your kitchen.

3. Fine Local Grocery Products

Marseille and Provence’s flavors are an invitation to a gourmet journey. Food lovers will be delighted by the richness of Provençal specialties. Beyond the classics such as olive oil, tapenade, Herbes de Provence, Camargue salt, or navettes (orange blossom biscuits), don’t miss:

• Aix-en-Provence calissons
• Almond croquants
• Garrigue honey
• Fig or apricot jams
• Lavender-infused vinegar

Plenty of small pleasures to offer… or keep for yourself!

4. Provençal Textiles

Bring sunshine into your daily life with the South’s traditional textiles: colorful tablecloths, embroidered tea towels, napkins with olive tree or cicada prints. You’ll find them in markets and in shops around Le Panier, carefully displayed in windows.

5. Lavender-Based Products

Lavender, Provence’s olfactory symbol, offers a wide range of products as beautiful as they are fragrant. Calming essential oils help with relaxation, dried flower sachets slipped into a wardrobe gently scent your clothes, soaps and candles spread their soft fragrance around the home. Just the sight of a dried lavender bouquet recalls the endless purple fields, bathed in sunlight, that define the Provençal countryside.

A real invitation to bring Mediterranean warmth back home.

6. Regional Drinks and Spirits

A true institution, Pastis de Marseille is enjoyed diluted with cool water, ideal for a summer aperitif. You’ll also find delicate rosé wines from Aix or Cassis vineyards, artisanal liqueurs infused with herbs, and original syrups made with thyme, rosemary, or lavender. Bottles, often with beautiful labels, also make for great gifts.

If you’re flying, make sure to pack them safely in your luggage or place them in checked baggage.

7. Posters, Illustrations, and Marseille Artwork

Marseille has always inspired artists, and many shops or galleries offer unique creations so you can bring home an elegant, cultural souvenir. You’ll find posters and illustrations signed by local artists, reinterpreting the Old Port, Notre-Dame de la Garde, or the Calanques in a modern or vintage style. But the city also offers opportunities to purchase genuine works of art: original watercolors, oil paintings, artisanal screen prints, or linocuts.

Some artists even work directly in boutique-workshops, allowing you to see them in action and chat about their inspiration. Whether a small illustration easy to frame or a painting that will become the centerpiece of your living room, it’s a unique souvenir that captures Marseille’s soul well beyond a simple decorative object.

8. Olympique de Marseille Merchandise

For football fans, it’s impossible to leave without a souvenir from Olympique de Marseille, the city’s legendary club. Official jerseys, scarves, caps, balls, mugs, or keychains: you’ll find countless items in OM’s colors at shops in the Old Port or at the Vélodrome.

And when paying at the counter, don’t hesitate to throw in an “Allez l’OM” — you’ll be warmly welcomed!

9. Artisanal Accessories

In the cobblestone streets of Le Panier or around Cours Julien, you’ll come across small shops selling woven straw hats, wicker baskets, Mediterranean-inspired costume jewelry, retro sunglasses, and hand-printed notebooks. These items, often lightweight and easy to carry, capture Marseille’s bohemian and creative spirit. Perfect for a unique gift or a discreet yet charming souvenir.

10. Souvenirs Inspired by Marcel Pagnol

A true icon of Provence, Marcel Pagnol left an indelible mark on Marseille through his novels, plays, and films. In some bookstores and souvenir shops, you’ll find illustrated or translated editions of his masterpieces (My Father’s Glory, My Mother’s Castle, Marius, Fanny, César…).

Cinema lovers can find vintage film posters, DVDs, or collector box sets of his adaptations. You’ll also spot postcards and notebooks decorated with his portraits or famous quotes.

An ideal gift for lovers of French literature and cinema, and a refined way to bring home a piece of Provençal soul.

All these products are tax-free eligible if you ask for an invoice in the name of Zapptax!

How to Claim VAT Back on Your Purchases in France with Zapptax?

If your primary residence is outside the European Union, you can claim a VAT refund on purchases made in France. This opportunity also applies to souvenirs.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download the Zapptax app and create your account.
2. Shop in any store, whether physical or online.
3. Before paying, ask the merchant for an invoice with VAT in Zapptax’s name. Provide the billing information available in the app. (This is your right: every merchant is required to issue an invoice upon request.)
4. Upload your invoices in the app (photo or PDF).
5. Once the total of your purchases exceeds €100 including VAT, Zapptax automatically generates your tax-free form (bordereau de détaxe).
6. Before leaving the European Union, validate this form with French customs, either at a PABLO terminal (in airports, seaports, etc.) or with a customs officer.
7. Receive your refund in the following weeks, through the payment method of your choice (bank transfer, PayPal, etc.).

With Zapptax, no need to shop only in “tax-free” stores: you can buy anywhere, as long as you request an invoice.

Practical, flexible, and profitable!

What Are the Tax-Free Conditions and Eligible Purchases?

Tax-free shopping is a benefit reserved for visitors whose main residence is outside the European Union. It allows you to reclaim part of the VAT paid on purchases in France, provided you follow certain rules.

Who Can Benefit from Tax-Free Shopping?

• Reside permanently outside the EU.
• Be over 16 years old.
• Stay in France for less than 6 consecutive months.
• Leave the European Union within 3 months of purchase.

What Is the Minimum Spending Amount?

With traditional tax-free shopping, you must spend at least €100.01 including VAT in the same store on the same day for the purchase to be eligible.

With Zapptax, this constraint completely disappears: the app consolidates all your purchases from different stores and on different dates until you reach the €100 threshold.

This means you can shop freely — a bit of soap here, a bottle of pastis there, a scarf elsewhere — and still benefit from tax-free shopping as soon as your total reaches €100 including VAT.

Eligible Purchases

• Physical products you carry in your personal luggage (souvenirs, clothing, crafts, cosmetics, gourmet foods…) provided they are unused and unconsumed.

• Items purchased in-store or online, as long as they are delivered in France and you can provide an invoice in Zapptax’s name.

Non-Eligible Purchases

• Services (hotels, restaurants, show tickets…).
• Products consumed on site (food, drinks).
• Motor vehicles and registration-required accessories.

Tips to Maximize Your VAT Refund with Zapptax

• Ask for the invoice at the time of purchase, not afterward.
• Check that the invoice includes VAT and Zapptax billing details.
• Upload your invoices as soon as you receive them to avoid forgetting.
• Validate your tax-free form before leaving the EU to trigger the refund.
• Do not consume the products for which you intend to request a VAT refund, as this is a requirement for tax-free shopping. Customs officers may ask you at any time to present all your purchases.

Conclusion

Marseille, with its sunshine, vibrant culture, and unique craftsmanship, is a true treasure trove for souvenir hunters. Whether traditional soaps, colorful textiles, ceramics, or Provençal treats, each purchase is an invitation to extend your journey.

With Zapptax, tax-free shopping is simple, accessible, and 100% secure. You shop wherever you want and easily reclaim part of the VAT. It’s the perfect way to save money while supporting Marseille’s local businesses.

Bring a piece of Marseille back in your suitcase… without the accent, but with the sunshine!

FAQ

1. Where can I buy souvenirs in Marseille?

The best neighborhoods for souvenir shopping are the Old Port, Le Panier, Cours Julien, and Rue Saint-Ferréol. There you’ll find a mix of tourist shops and artisan boutiques.

2. What souvenirs should I bring back from Marseille?

Marseille soap, Provençal textiles, gourmet products, local pottery, scented candles, illustrated objects… The options are numerous and varied to take home a piece of the Phocean city.

3. What is the most famous shopping street in Marseille?

Rue Saint-Ferréol is Marseille’s most famous shopping street, with national brands, fashion stores, and a wide range of shops.

4. How do I claim VAT back on my purchases in France?

You must follow the tax-free process: request invoices in Zapptax’s name when shopping, generate a tax-free form in the app, and validate it with customs at departure. Zapptax simplifies and supports you through the entire procedure.

5. What should I do at the airport to validate tax-free shopping?

Scan your tax-free form at a PABLO terminal or present it to a customs officer before leaving the EU. This step is mandatory to receive your refund..

6. Where are PABLO terminals located?

PABLO terminals are installed in major French exit points: airports (Marseille Marignane, Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Nice…), major international train stations (Gare du Nord, Geneva Cornavin, etc.), as well as some seaports and road border points, particularly at the French-Swiss border.

They are clearly indicated and usually located before baggage check-in or security checks.

7. Can I request a VAT refund if I leave the EU from another country besides France?

Yes. You can validate your tax-free form with customs in any EU country you leave from. Just make sure your form is stamped or electronically validated before leaving the EU. If you made purchases in France but are leaving via another country, you must print your form and have it stamped manually by a customs officer (since PABLO terminals are only available in France).