These are our favorite tips for Marseille, Côte d'Azur, France
Do you know what else is a really nice city? Marseille. In other words: Paris by the sea. Raw on the one hand, culture and not to be missed cool-ness on the other. Yes, and Montpellier, also nice, but we will come back to that later. Both coastal cities are great pit stops on the way to the rest of the French Riviera. To Nice for example, or Cannes , both just a little further from home. And you've already worn it Cassis thinking?
There are beautiful bays, small fishing ports, authentic restaurants and indeed plenty of houses with an almost un-French raw architecture... In any case, you cannot claim that Marseille has no character. And yet many people don't think about Marseille. Maybe because of that rawness? But the southern French city has certainly not stood still. But no! It is wonderful and you can visit here.
These are our favorite tips for Marseille, Côte d'Azur, France
A few meters from the beach, within the walls of an old motel, behind a monumental facade, this small Art Deco hotel opened: Hotel Les Bords de Mer. Old on the outside, very new on the inside. There are 19 rooms, each of them with a private terrace or balcony from which you can admire the sailboats sailing around Friuli. And, paraparapam: there is a roof terrace with swimming pool! Plus a really good restaurant with the same view as the previously mentioned balconies - also a tip if you don't sleep here (with kids? so book a room in the hotel where you also want to eat! Baby monitors until you drop). The restaurant offers classic Mediterranean cuisine and the rosé comes from the Lourmarin vineyards. Even more? Okay: Balinese massages are given in the spa and the treatments are with organic Ren Skincare.
Once notorious as the heroin hub for the US, the port city got a complete facelift in 2013 when it was named European Capital of Culture. Thanks to an investment of over half a billion euros, the city has flourished. Add to that 300 days of sunshine a year and voilà: Marseille has become a hit. The city wouldn’t be complete without bouillabaisse – that iconic fish stew – but there’s so much more to discover and taste.
Where do we most like to make that one pit stop in the coastal village? At the Tuba Club. You sit here for a tasty bite from chef Antoine Techené, while you gaze at the azure blue sea. On the menu you will find Sicilian delicacies, Provencal marinated dishes, salads, Corsican local products and of course seafood.
Read more about The Tuba Club
Not sleeping? Then make a reservation at the Bikini restaurant on the hotel's roof terrace! Totally worth it even without an overnight stay: delicious seafood and an amazing view.
Emkipop
If you want a different ice cream, you can go there Emkipop. The colorful store sells equally colorful frozen sticks that are 100% natural, handmade from fresh local fruit. Pennes strawberries, Concèze raspberries, Grans apricots… and more. The range of flavors is quite versatile: La Détox (lemon from Provence, turmeric, ginger), L'Estivale (melons from Pennes & Pastis) or La Black Sesame with black sesame.
L’Eau à la Bouche
Pizza! And how. Sorry, but what holiday is complete without pizza night? Correct. In Marseille you can go to this student-like shop for a number of top examples. There are classics of the genre (Margarita with ultra-fine dough) but also exciting compositions (Pizza figatelli and brousse with mixed vegetables…).
120 Corniche President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 13007 Marseille, tel. 04 91 52 16 16
The Docks Village
After a complete facelift, one of Marseille's most characteristic buildings reopened its doors two years ago (2018): The Docks. It is teeming with new concept stores, original (small-scale) shops, cafes and organic markets... The most creative place in Marseille!
'The bay of the monkeys', in other words La Baie des Singes is a private beach in the far south of Marseille but you can get there. There are a handful of orange lounge chairs on top of a rock and there is an awesome fish restaurant. Please note: arriving is not an option, you really need to make a reservation.
Cap Croisette, 13008 Marseille, Tel. 04 91 73 68 87
At Calanque of Sormiou white sand, impressive cliffs covered and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. You can only get there by boat or after a dangerous walk through the undergrowth and it is not surprisingly one of the favorite places for divers. Look it up! (scroll to the end of this article for more beaches and bays)
Cassis
Also something to do: go to the small village Cassis drive, half an hour from Marseille and especially the amazing hotel Roches Blanches. You don't have to stay there to experience the best of the hotel: the bar and restaurant are adjacent to the swimming pool and if you ask nicely or are just bold, you can take a dip. (text continues below the image)
Plage des Catalans: closest to town
Calanque of Sormiou: Must do
Plage du Prophete: popular with the locals.
Beach of the Pointe Rouge: a bit more commercial (but/ and therefore tasty)
Calanque d'En-Vau: steep cliffs and turquoise water.
Catalan Beach: close to the center, perfect for a quick dip.
Plage de l'Estaque: on a promenade, in a good way
Calanque de morgiou: for the snorkelers
Battery Range: quiet here
Plage de la Verrerie: family proof
Calanque de Port-Miou: the surroundings are especially beautiful (but so is the bay itself)
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