Velodrome Stadium Tour Marseille

Stade Vélodrome and Olympique de Marseille

Stade Vélodrome is the ground of Olympique de Marseille, the club founded in 1899 and still the only French team to have won the European Champions League. The stadium has been rebuilt and expanded several times, most recently ahead of Euro 2016, and now holds roughly sixty-seven thousand spectators under a distinctive white roof. It has also hosted World Cup and Olympic football matches, which gives a Stade Vélodrome tour a lot of history beyond the club.

Many visitors ask whether the Vélodrome stadium tour is worth it for someone who does not follow football. The answer is yes if you enjoy architecture, atmosphere or seeing how a major stadium works, because the visit shows both the spectacle and the machinery behind it. Football fans will enjoy the club's story, told through displays, photographs and memorable moments from the pitch.

The changing rooms and the players' tunnel

The visit takes you into areas normally reserved for players and staff. The changing rooms show how a team prepares for a match: personal spaces for each player, the tactics area and the details that make the room feel like a command post on match day. It is one of the most popular parts of the stadium experience, and a good place for photos.

From there you follow the players' tunnel, the short passage between the dressing room and the pitch. Walking it gives you a sense of what the players feel as the noise of the crowd grows. Because the Stade Vélodrome is a working stadium, access to certain areas cannot always be guaranteed, and routes can change at short notice, so treat the order described here as a guide.

Pitchside and the press conference room

Pitchside is the highlight for most visitors. You stand beside the grass looking up at the steep stands and the roof that gives the stadium its look, and you begin to understand why the Vélodrome is known for the noise its supporters make. In July the pitch is often removed for maintenance before the new season, so the playing surface may not be visible then.

The press conference room is the last major stop, a polished space where coaches and players answer questions after matches. Along the way, interactive displays recall moments from the club's history. Plan about an hour and a half in total, and take your time at the spots that interest you, since the tour is self-guided and you set the speed.

Visiting the stadium: getting there and what is nearby

The stadium is at 3 Boulevard Michelet in the 8th arrondissement, south of the city centre. For getting to the Stade Vélodrome, the easiest way is metro line 2 to Rond-Point du Prado, followed by a short walk, and several bus routes also serve the area. Opening hours and entry slots vary by season and by the fixture list, so book the time that suits you from the options on this page.

Combine the visit with the rest of southern Marseille: the Prado beaches and Parc Borély are within easy reach, and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Vieux-Port are a short ride away. Accessibility is good, with lifts to all levels, accessible toilets and nearby paid parking. Baby strollers, food and drinks are not allowed inside.