8 a.m.: A dreamlike run along the Corniche
The early bird catches the worm, or so they say, and so you set off on the picturesque seaside footpath for a jog. The scenery is ideal to join in step with some of the Marseille athletes running beside you. The six kilometres from the David roundabout to the Vieux Port provide you with breathtaking panoramas. The uninterrupted views of the Pharo Palace and Prado Beach make your weekend in Marseille one to remember...
10 a.m.: A beach in the city
You really deserve a refreshing dip after that run! In the heart of Malmousque area, with its villagelike atmosphere, you revisit the Marseille of yesteryear. This quartier, located in the 7th arrondissement, is full of quaint little pedestrian streets leading to an isolated cliff or to the fishing boats bobbing in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. You might see the local Marseillais strolling down to the water for a refreshing swim before heading back to the office. Care to join them?
2 p.m.: The lanes of Panier
Walking through the steep lanes of the Panier neighbourhood, dotted with charming little parks and colourful façades, you can sense the soul of the city spilling out of the walls. This is where successive waves of immigration have made their mark: first from Corsica, then from Italy, and later from North Africa. At siesta time, you can appreciate the quiet, only partially broken by the cheerful sounds of the local kids' playtime.
5 p.m.: Cheering in the Velodrome
If you haven't yet seen Olympique de Marseille football club play at Stade Vélodrome, you haven't seen football at all! When you enter the stands of this iconic stadium, you start to get goosebumps just from the football fever, which runs high in these parts. You can feel the enthusiasm from the banners, chants and the reverberation of the stadium. With admission costing only a few euros, your weekend in Marseille is the perfect opportunity to experience live football like it's meant to be!
7 p.m.: Try a Provençal favourite in Estaque
Time to take a moment to sample Marseille's distinctive, and delicious, cuisine. Panisse, or chickpea fries, are a local specialty that can be ordered at any of the three kiosks in the Estaque area. Order a dozen ("une douzaine") of these popular snacks to go and wash it down with a pastis—it's apéritif time after all! Join the locals at the bar and try the South's popular summer beverage during your Marseille visit.
8 p.m.: Champagne at the Old Port
Comfortably settled on the terrace of the Sofitel—one of the most beautiful hotels in the city—you enjoy an uninterrupted panorama over the Old Port, Fort Saint-Jean and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM). You treat yourself to a glass of champagne to top off your Marseille getaway while the sunset reveals the magic of this Phoenician city.
