We could see the island in the distance from our apartment and were really looking forward to our visit. For just €7 each we had a great visit. From the boat up the hill we went and there were leaflets in a dozen languages, all with great maps and descriptions. Once inside the castle there was a good mix of stories, truthful and literary, the latter with the emphasis of course on Alexandre Dumas and his novels. Real graffiti on the walls was very moving, as were the stories of why so many were incarcerated for very little reason. The lighthouse looked funky, dressed up for the Olympic Flame Relay in Marseille. Good little café serving drinks and snacks. A fabulously interesting outing.

Very interesting visit to the Castle of If, with a Check-out from the old port, it took about fifteen minutes to get there. Several departures are during the day. There is also the option of taking a Guide. The visit was very informative and interesting. I recommend it during your visit to Marseille. I also recommend taking back the boat in order to reach the island of Friuli. Tickets are to be taken at the old port, at the ticket office.

Chateau d’If is a must see when in Marseille. The castle built in 1529 was Marseille’s first royal fortress. From the inner courtyard, to the dungeons, to the incredible view from the terrace you will be swept away by the charm of this castle that is nestled on an island that you will have to take a boat to from the old port of Marseille.

We took the ferry out to the island as part of a Marseille activity pass. Get to the ferry office early to secure your tickets as the island is quite popular. Note that the ferry price does not include the island tour itself, there is another pay station when you arrive which caught most ferry guests by surprise and burns valuable visiting time for the boats later in the day. Nice display describing the prison and its relationship with the author Alexandre Dumas. Worth a visit but give yourself more time than you would anticipate.

The Dustyfoot.nomad visited Château D'if with a tour group, and we were not disappointed at all. The boat ride was quite enjoyable and a relatively short distance from the Vieux port. The castle itself is very well preserved, and so is its history. Being inside the castle gives a real experience of what life was like for the prisoners held there during their time there. It has featured in the works of the French writer Alexandre Dumas, most notably the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. In some of the dungeons, there are some interesting art exhibitions. Similarly, within the castle itself, there's a souvenir/gift shop dedicated to the history of the castle. The grounds of this castle island offer panoramic views of Marseille from the sea. Also there's a restaurant on site facing towards the Marseille shore. Chateau D'if is a must visit when in Marseille, very beautiful place.

We came on a beautiful sunny Saturday with the CMC. The day was really great from start to finish. I booked a family visit. We learned a lot about this island and castle and we had a great time. I don't know if this is the case for all visits but at the end, the children were treated to a small introduction to fencing (with wooden stick) which was very appreciated. We had taken the boat about 2 hours before our visit time which then gave us time to picnic and go around the island. On site there is a restaurant where we had dessert. The location is... 8€ the pancake on a table not cleaned and poorly cleared. Nice staff. Back to the old port with the penultimate boat of the day: everything was fluid and well managed.

Of course the mythical place of the tale of Monte Cristo So to see The castle is an interesting example of fortification in military history The islet deserves a stop and it would be nice to be able to reopen a gourmet restaurant there The adjustments made to “stick” to the novel from the end of the 19th century are disappointing for those who read Victor Hugo’s book