The Old Port (distance from accommodation 700m, 8 minutes on foot)
Dating back to the founding of Marseille by the Greeks 2600 years ago, the Old Port is the real beating heart of the city. Overlooked by the forts of Saint-Jean and Saint-Nicolas, it is surrounded by a promenade that is itself lined with a multitude of bars and restaurants - day or night, a stroll here is bound to give you a vacation feeling!
In the morning you can see and hear the fishermen selling their fish at the auction, while in the afternoon you will almost always find musicians or other street artists performing on the Quai des Belges. Boats leave regularly to take you to the island of Frioul, to the neighborhoods of Pointe Rouge or Estaque, or to visit the Calanques. Finally, you can also take the famous Ferry-boat which crosses the port every 10 minutes to take you from the Quai Rive-Neuve to the Quai du Port where the city hall is located.
Le Panier (distance from the accommodation 1 km, 14 minutes on foot)
The Panier district, which covers the hill behind the city hall, is the oldest inhabited area of Marseille and traditionally the first place where immigrants settled: Italians, Corsicans and North Africans came to live in the Panier during the different waves of immigration in the 20th century.
Between poverty and avant-garde, the Panier is today a jewel with a few polished facets, but still a lot of authentic charm: trendy establishments, shabby chic boutiques and Provençal-style stores line cobblestone streets where children play soccer and cats bask in the sun, while the elders chat while sitting on their doorstep.
The Vieille Charité cultural center and the Préau des Accoules children's museum are in this neighborhood, as is the legendary Bar des 13 Coins, once the headquarters of writer Jean-Claude Izzo and now the model for the Bar Mistral in the series Plus belle la vie.
The Cours Julien (distance from the apartment 500m, 7 minutes on foot)
Consecrated "10th coolest neighborhood in the world" by Time Out magazine in 2022, the Cours Julien is distinguished by its organic market, its designer boutiques, its second-hand shops and bookstores, and its many small restaurants with shady terraces. High place of Marseille's street-art and frequented day and night by a colorful, trendy and bohemian crowd, the Cours Julien will seduce you with its joyful and intense atmosphere.
Among the countless places - cafés, art galleries, concert halls or concept stores - that you can discover on the Cours Julien, you will find the legendary Espace Julien, a concert and performance hall that has been offering an eclectic and multicultural program for almost 40 years.
L'Estaque (35 minutes by shuttle boat or bus n°35)
An old fishing village located at the northernmost point of Marseille, l'Estaque derives part of its reputation from Robert Guédiguian's films, notably Marius et Jeannette. But the picturesque village has also been a land of inspiration for many painters, including Monticelli, Cézanne, Braque, Renoir and Duffy. A signposted "Painters' path" invites you to explore the neighborhood through the eyes of the artists who immortalized it.
After your stroll, you can enjoy a meal at the cosy Caravan Café, or a delicious Senegalese dish at O'kwat, unless you prefer to taste the famous chichis and panisses sold in the emblematic huts located in front of the small marina. A visit to the vintage thrift store l'Atelière may allow you to find the retro and stylish accessory you were missing. Finally, you can also go and refresh yourself at the beautiful beach of Corbières which is 2km away (served during the summer months by bus n°35).
