Marseille

‘There's an area called Le Panier, a network of really colorful little narrow streets lined with small shops and saturated with street art. Marseille must have more graffiti than anywhere else — it's everywhere you look.’

Neighborhoods

Retail

Culture

Le Panier, Marseille

‘There's another little historical port which is gorgeous, called Vallon des Auffes, and it's a tiny fishing village, a stone's throw away from the beach. You can wander from the beach to this fishing village that overlooks the sea. It's lined with little restaurants and cafés, so that's an incredible place to sit, relax and observe.’

Nature

Food and Drink

Vallon des Auffes, Marseille

‘Marseille has this deep connection with North Africa, so there's a whole district called Noailles, which is basically like a very chaotic daily marketplace, packed with North African fabrics, ceramics, teas, spices and couscous stalls.’

Community

Noailles, Marseille

‘If you're a fan of architecture, it's a great day trip to visit Le Corbusier's ‘Cité Radieuse’, built in the late 40s — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and architectural masterpiece. You can wander around inside, and some of the inhabitants will let you have a look at the apartment, so it's worth a visit. You can access the rooftop, which was an old school that's now converted into a museum, and it has the most incredible 360-degree views.’.

Need to Know

Cité Radieuse, Marseille

‘There's an incredible old pizzeria that I'd take anyone to. It's called Chez Etienne, a Sicilian pizza restaurant. It's like a time warp. It looks like it’s still in the 1940s with wood paneling, and there are basically only two types of pizzas to order there — one is with cheese and one with anchovies. It's a pizza purist heaven, and it's a lot of fun.’

Chez Etienne, Marseille

‘Maison Empereur is [France’s] oldest family-run hardware store, a treasure trove of cookware, DIY hardware, and utilitarian products, all made in France. It’s totally unique. It's this sprawling, multi-level old hardware store where locals and tourists are shopping. You have to go to Maison Empereur even if it's just to wander around.’

Maison Empereur, Marseille

The exuberant port city of Marseille is a vibrant hub of culture from French, Sicilian, and North African influences.

Marseille - Places | Exceptional ALIEN

Jeremy Hershan shares his travel gems on where to visit when in Marseille.

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