France’s oldest city is experiencing a major revival. Once eclipsed by its glitzy neighbours – Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez – Marseille has firmly established itself as a trendy yet brazenly unpolished destination du jour.
Located along the Côte d’Azur in Provence, this port city radiates raw charm, artistic flair and a dynamic food scene. It’s the kind of just-gritty-enough enclave locals prefer to keep to themselves – and for good reason.
Planning a getaway to what might just be 2025’s trendiest destination? These are our top picks of the very best things to do in Marseille, including restaurant recommendations from chef and food writer Sophie Wyburd, an avid lover of the city.
STAY
Hotel Le Corbusier
Design aficionados will want to make a beeline for Hotel Le Corbusier located within the iconic Unité d’Habitation, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most celebrated brutalist masterpieces of the 20th century. Situated a 20-minute walk from Parc Borély in the south of the city, this modernist utopia may not embody luxury in the traditional sense, but it’s rich in original features, capturing Le Corbusier’s visionary approach to functional beauty. Opt for a deluxe room with a sea or park view.
InterContinental Marseille Hôtel-Dieu
For an opulent stay with history, check in to the InterContinental Marseille Hôtel-Dieu, located centrally in the Panier district. Housed inside a 17th-century building that was once a hospital – part of which was inaugurated by Napoléon III, no less – the hotel as we know it today opened in 2013. With interior design across the 179 rooms and suites by Jean-Philippe Nuel, you can’t go far wrong – but our favourites are those overlooking the Vieux-Port (Old Port) below. With the city centre on your doorstep, there’s plenty to keep you entertained, but make time for a treatment at the hotel’s wellness centre featuring Spa by Clarins, too.
Tuba Club
Josh Gulliver
If a coastal-nature retreat is more your style, head for Tuba Club: a chic seaside restaurant with five minimalist bedrooms. In the southern reaches of Marseille next to the lush Calanques National Park, this stylish hangout is frequented by hipster city dwellers who can often be found taking a refreshing dip pre-lunch or enjoying a laid-back dinner cliffside on the terrace.
Book for 2026: Ruby Hotels
A new debut from Ruby Hotels, who aim to offer affordable luxury, is set to open at the end of 2025. Located just steps from the salt-sprayed coastline along the Boulevard des Dames, this 237-room property will be the boutique hotel group’s first French outpost, and also offers dedicated workspaces.
EAT
Bold chefs are reshaping Marseille’s food scene. Think refined takes on Provençal classics, innovative seafood dishes and North African-influenced eateries. Chef and food writer Sophie Wyburd, an avid lover of the city and its restaurant scene, shares her insider tips on the best under-the-radar dining spots.
Limmat
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The perfect go-to spot for really outstanding small plates. The space is simple, but the food is exquisite, and served on pretty mismatched plates. The menu here changes every week, but some of the table favourites on our recent visit included bagna cauda – a hot dip typically made from garlic, red wine, olive oil and anchovies – served with chopped raw vegetables (crudités) and enjoyed as an appetiser, along with a hearty clam and potato dish.
Le Rhul
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At Le Rhul, an old-school hotel right on the seafront, traditional dishes reign supreme. The top pick here is the bouillabaisse – a classic delicacy in Marseille that consists of a fish stew, rich with saffron and tomato, topped with crostini and rouille (a lovely sweet pepper mayo). Time your visit with sunset.
Chez Gilda
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A cheap and cheerful bar serving very good value fish dishes. We opted for a local speciality called panisse (deep fried chickpea flour fritters), as well as a seafood-heavy order including octopus, squid and fried fish.
Ferments
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We all know France is the spot to indulge in baked goods, and you can’t go far wrong at Ferments whether you’re in the mood for freshly baked bread or flaky pastries. Our favourite? The hazelnut stuffed croissants – but also the coffee, which was a 10/10.
Maison Journo
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This Tunisian-Jewish bakery is famed for its cakes and pastries. Get the yoyos (doughnut-shaped pastries dipped in honey syrup) for something sweet, or the fricassee (a fried roll stuffed with tuna and olives) and the crispy brik (a flaky pastry stuffed with tuna and egg) for something savoury.
Chez Yassine
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Another Tunisian favourite, Chez Yassine offers simple, canteen-style dishes. Signatures on the menu include leblebi (a roasted chickpea snack) and kefteji (fired vegetables topped with egg), but also couscous, spaghetti and salads. The prices are incredibly wallet-friendly too.
La Passerelle
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This is the place to visit when you want to hang out with the city’s cool set. The food here is decent, but it’s more about the bar which offers a great wine selection (that you pluck off the shelves yourself) and late-night, feel-good vibes.
Cafe De L’Abbaye
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Anthony Bourdain was a fan of Cafe De L’Abbaye, and we understand why. This is the ideal spot to stop at for a beer on the way back from a long day at the beach, pausing to watch the sun go down over the port.
What To Do
Hike The Parc National des Calanques
Parc National des Calanques is a protected area cradled between the city and the Provençal mountains. Spanning limestone cliffs and pristine coves, the reserve’s 26 calanques stretch from Cassis, and can be explored on foot or reached by boat from Vieux-Port or Port de la Pointe Rouge. Start at Les Goudes, a charming fishing village that serves as a gateway for leisurely ambles or adventurous hikes, and is easily accessible by bus or a coastal bike ride; 2-3 kilometres east of Les Goudes a winding trail leads to Calanque de Marseilleveyre, known for its limestone-sand beach and glass-clear waters. If you’re seeking solitude, venture further along the rugged paths to the secluded Calanque de la Mounine, a wild inlet where you can snorkel amongst the aquatic flora and fauna. Another route into the nature reserve starts at Luminy, where well-marked trails lead to Calanque de Sugiton, a freshwater cove with turquoise-clear water about a 45-60 minute hike from the trailhead.
Urban Dips
The 26 miles of Marseille’s coastline exudes a dusky reverie. Couples intertwine on cliff edges; locals play volleyball on one of the Prado Beaches (a trio of sun-soaked shores that pulse with energy during peak summer); and ice-cold beers are sipped on Endoume’s relaxed petite plages (small beaches) in the west. If you fancy an afternoon splayed in the sun, pack your swimsuit and head southwest of the Old Port to Endoume – a quieter neighbourhood just a 10-15 minute walk away. Catch the sunset at Plage de Maldormé, a peaceful, pebbly cove boarded by craggy rock formations.
Explore Le Panier
Century-old streets and steep stairways interlace Marseille’s oldest district, Le Panier, with façades embellished in statement street art. Dominating the ground between the Old and New Ports is the 19th-century Cathédrale de la Major, a historical monument with striking Neo-Byzantine architecture. From here, meander through the narrow streets of this ancient quarter, where sun-dappled cafes spill onto cool hidden squares.
Sundowners at Bistro Plage
Bistro Plage, Josh Gulliver
After a day spent hiking or exploring the city’s labyrinth streets, savour a cocktail at Bistro Plage. Fiery-orange sun loungers dot the cliff’s edge, offering an idyllic – and oh-so-Instagram-worthy – perch to watch the sun sink into the horizon over the wide-open ocean.
Lead image credit: Josh Gulliver
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