Régie des Transports de Marseille (RTM) (tel: (04) 9191 9210; www.rtm.fr) provides public transport throughout the city and some of the suburbs. There are two metro lines (blue and red), over 80 bus lines, and since 2007, two new tramway lines. The metro runs from 0500 until 2100 every day and from 0500 until 1230 from Friday to Sunday and when there is a football match at the Velodrome Stadium. Buses run from around 0500 until 2100 every day, and the tram from 0500 until midnight seven days a week. Consult the RTM website (above) for exact timetables for various bus routes.

Tickets can be bought in any metro station, at the RTM office on 6 rue des Fabres, or any shop displaying the RTM sign (blue on white) in their window. 

Day passes are available for one day (Carte Journée) or three (Carte 3 Jours). There are also a weekly pass and various money-saving cards for groups (ask for more information at any station). Tickets have to be validated, or you might incur an on the spot fine. You can travel on the same ticket for up to one hour. After that, another ticket must be validated.

Major taxi providers include Taxis Plus (tel: (04) 9103 6003), Taxi Radio Marseille (tel: (04) 9102 2020; www.taximarseille.com) and Taxi Tupp Radio (tel: (04) 9105 8080; www.taxi-marseille-provence.com). Tips are welcome but not expected.

Parking in Marseille has always been a problem, especially in some of the ‘quartiers' where narrow streets are the norm, and over the past few years this has become even more of a headache, so the advice is to leave the car behind if you can. The city centre is compact enough to explore on foot, and public transports links are good. 

Driving in Marseille (as anywhere else in the south) can be a nerve-racking experience, as drivers do not always abide by the Highway Code and have their own take on right of way. The use of the horn is also popular. Take it all in your stride if you are behind the wheel, it's all part of the local colour.

The minimum age to hire a car varies from 21 to 25 years. Drivers must possess a national driving licence, which they must have held for at least one year. Third party insurance is mandatory for driving in France and this should be covered in the hire price. Additional insurance is optional.

Providers in the city centre (gare SNCF St Charles, 1e) include Ada  (tel: (04) 9164 9059; www.ada.fr), Avis (tel: (04) 9164 7100 or 0820 611 636; www.avis.fr), Europcar (tel: 0825 825 680; www.europcar.fr), Hertz (tel: (04) 9105 5120; www.hertz.com), and National/Citer (tel: (04) 9105 9086; www.citer.fr). All of the above have desks at the airport. So do Budget (tel: (04) 4214 2455; www.budget.com), Thrifty (tel: (04) 4214 3044; www.thrifty.com) and Sixt (tel: (04) 4214 3530; www.sixt.fr).

Bikes are available for hire from a number of newly installed self-service stations throughout the city (tel: 0800 801 225; www.levelo-mpm.fr). Short-term subscription is available (one week). The first half-hour is free, thereafter rental costs €1 per hour.

Cycles Do, 72 cours Lieutaud, 6e (tel: (04) 9154 3314; www.mbk.fr) also hires out motorbikes, scooters and bicycles.