Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore, and is the home of Northern Michigan University. It is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. The city of Marquette averages about 170 inches of snow per year, making it the second snowiest city in the contiguous United States.

Marquette has always been a shipping port for hematite ores and now enriched iron ore pellets from nearby mines and pelletizing plants. The city includes several small islands (principally Middle Island, Gull Island, Lover's Island, Presque Isle Pt. Rocks, White Rocks, Ripley Rock, and Picnic Rocks) in Lake Superior. The Marquette Underwater Preserve lies immediately offshore.

A regional medical center, Marquette General Hospital, serving much of the Upper Peninsula is located in the city. Marquette Mountain, used for skiing, is located in the city, as is the majority of the land of Marquette Branch Prison.