Getting to CIRM

If you arrive by plane

Marseille is at the crossroads of several European countries and relatively well connected to a number of cities. The local airport, « Marseille Provence Airport », has direct flights to 121 destinations including the major air hubs: Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Rome, Munich, New York, etc.

When you arrive, you have two options:

  • Take a taxi*: allow about 50 minutes for a cost of 80€ to 100€.
  • Opt for the Airport shuttle bus which will take you to Gare Saint-Charles – Marseille’s main train station – from where you can access public transport. Then take the metro 2 to the « Rond-Point du Prado » station and continue with the B1 or 21J bus to the terminus, the Luminy Campus.
 
 

If you arrive by train or coach

On arrival at the Gare Saint-Charles (train and bus station), you can :

  • Take a taxi* to the CIRM, for an average cost of 40€.
  • Take public transport: first the metro 2 to the « Rond-Point du Prado » station, then the B1 or 21J bus to the terminus, the Luminy Campus.
 
 

What to do if you arrive after 21:45 at Gare Saint-Charles

At night (after 9pm) you can catch Bus 521 outside the Gare St Charles. It will take you directly to the « Luminy PN des Calanques » stop, 6 minutes walk from the CIRM (signs will show you the way). You will not need to take the metro.

(*) Contact the CIRM reception desk several days before your arrival, during the week, by email or phone, if you need information about taxis. Please note: CIRM does not pay for any transport or travel expenses.

If you come by car

Tip: if you are coming from the west or north of Marseille and are lost, look for the direction of the « Stade Vélodrome » (main football stadium). Everyone will be able to direct you to it. Once you are at the stadium, you always go straight through Obelisque and Valmante and you will reach Luminy and thus CIRM.

Marseille is a city oriented North-South for all directions, with the sea is the West side. Cirm is situated within the University campus called « LUMINY » and more particularly within the Science Faculty (Faculté des Sciences). This campus is located in the South end of Marseille, near the local road leading to Cassis (not the motorway).

If you arrive from the West or from the North (Motorways A55 « Littoral« / Motorway A50/ Motorway A7), the easiest is to drive through the underpass/tunnel called « Tunnel Prado-Carénage » then drive through the « Prado-sud » tunnel/underpass and come out at Stade Vélodrome / Mazargues.
The combined ticket lets you drive through several tunnels and costs about 7€ but saves a lot of time! 

If you are coming from the East (A50), you can use exit 1 (Sainte-Marguerite, Mazargues, La Plage) and continue to Mazargues. Follow the signs for Mazargues, Luminy or Cassis. In Mazargues you will go around a large roundabout with an obelisk in the middle. Continue in the direction of Luminy / Cassis from there. You will then come to a roundabout indicating Luminy straight ahead and Cassis to the left. Follow « Luminy » for about 1 km and you will arrive at the main entrance of the faculty of sciences (you will see the bus stops nearby).

NB: If the main gate to the campus is shut (usually after 21:00 and at week-ends) to get entry please tell the security guard on duty that you are going to CIRM.