A multi-core optical fiber 1A in which a plurality of cores can easily be identified even in the case where they are symmetrically arranged in its section has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 20, and a shared cladding 30 enclosing the seven cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20. The cores 10 to 16, the visual recognition marker 20, and the cladding 30 are respectively made of silica glass as their main element. The cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 extend along the fiber-axis direction. The respective refractive index of the cores 10 to 16 is higher than the refractive index of the cladding 30. The refractive index of the visual recognition marker 20 differs from that of the cladding 30. In the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the cores 10 to 16 are arranged such that they have 6-fold rotational symmetry and line symmetry. The visual recognition marker 20 is arranged at a position which breaks such symmetry.