An Opinionated Guide to Marseille

Marseille is often boxed into cliches, but there is more here than meets the eye. France's sun-soaked 'second city' hums with creativity, inventive food and spectacular scenery, from the rugged Calanques to the glowing Cote d'Azur beaches. The oldest and most diverse city in France, its port has welcomed waves of migrants for thousands of years, shaping a character that is warmer than Paris and cooler than Nice - a captivating patchwork of winding old-town streets and bold contemporary architecture, globe-spanning eateries and groundbreaking art. What's not to love?