Marseille travel guide

A Mix of Cultures, Both Seedy and Chic

The third-largest city in France, Marseille is not your typical French destination. Don't go expecting a Paris by the sea full of grand parks and row after row of art museums. The city's attraction lies in its unique population and the cultures that that population represents. The people of Marseille originate from places like Italy, Armenia, North Africa, the sub-Sahara, and China, and its image has long been that of a seedy working-class harbor city with a reputation for crime. But government investment and an influx of artists have turned parts of Marseille into a center of trendy bars, chic restaurants, and old colonial buildings that has become hip while remaining a little rough around the edges. The old part of the city, home to small markets and galleries, is the most interesting, but it is steep and hilly, so bring comfortable shoes. For a sunny day at the beach, head to the Calanques, a rocky coastal area just south of the city.