What's the Weather like in Marseille in January
Marseille, France, is the country's second largest city after the capital, Paris, and is home to around one million permanent residents. Although a historic city dating back to around 600 BC, and still often referred to by its antiquity names of Massilia and Massalia, the city retains few buildings from its past, and is instead a modern and cosmopolitan destination popular with travellers from around the world.
Temperature
With temperatures ranging from 3°C at night to 11°C in the afternoon, January is the coldest month of the year in Marseille, although the winters along the Mediterranean coast are famously mild. So, the destination still provides a welcome relief from the snow or frost of northern Europe. Both those night and day temperatures tend to stay constant throughout the month.
The average temperature is 7°C, one degree below the averages that are recorded in December and February. With a sea temperature around 14°C, swimming is most likely out of the question this time of year.
Rainfall
Rainfall averages around 50mm, which is moderate for the region and similar to other nearby resorts such as Martigues. The exact same total is also observed in December and February, the two other winter months, as well as in April and May. There are 10 days with rainfall in January. The chance that rainfall occurs is about 31%, a percentage that doesn't vary all that much throughout the month.
The most common type by far in January is moderate rain, which is observed on no less than 65% of the days with rainfall. Light rain occurs on 20% of those days. Snow is exceptionally rare in this part of Europe, even in mid-winter.
Cloud Cover
Cloud cover ranges around 44% for the entire duration of this month, which is, incidentally, the highest percentage of cloud cover in the whole year. This explains why January is the least sunny month, together with December. There are 4 hours of sunshine per day.
In the course of the month, the length of the days gradually increases. January 1 is the shortest day with 9 hours of daylight. January 31 is the longest one with 9.50 daylight hours. This means that each day is 1.6 minutes longer than the day before.
Marseille Hotels in January
AC Hotel Marseille Velodrome
The AC Hotel Marseille Velodrome is a comfortable four-star hotel in central Marseille, close to the Velodrome Stadium. Featuring 126 modern rooms, this recommended place to stay lies within easy reach (public transport, on foot or by car) from major highlights such as the Vieux Port, or Old Port in English, the Congress & Exhibition Centre and even Calanques National Park.
Eating and Drinking Out
No trip to Marseille is complete without an authentic French meal, and a great place to have it is La Table du Fort. This eatery is a hidden gem in the city, not often frequented by tourists, but among locals it is famous for providing top-quality cuisine in a relaxed and down-to-earth environment. Stand out menu items include braised beef, roasted butternut squash, and pigeon.
Another wonderful eating establishment is Le Dauphin. This pizzeria, brasserie and ice cream parlour is a nice place to go for seafood, pizzas, pastries, ice cream and other delicious food.
Things to Do in Marseille in January
One of Marseille's most renowned historic sites is the Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde, the church overlooking the city from its 162-metre-high home. The stone Neo-Byzantine building was erected in the 1860s and has survived much damage, particularly the damage sustained during the 1944 Battle of Liberation, the effects of which are still evident to the exterior. The interior, however, is a shrine of gold and marble tiling, creating stunning and intricate design work.
Set atop the Garde Hill, which has served as an observation point since the city's earliest days, the Basilica is actually the "youngest" structure on the hill. There used to be a lookout post, a small chapel and a fortification before the church was built. Nowadays, the Basilica is the premier attraction in the areane of the star attractions in Marseille, even. Visiting this magnificent building is a great thing to do on one of those chilly January afternoons.
Another suggested place to visit in the city is the Cathedrale de la Major, also known as Marseille Cathedral. This absolutely stunning cathedral is a French national monumentne of the most significant, in factnd a marvellous architectural feat. It's one of the largest cathedrals in France and is a major highlight in Marseille.
