Marseille [maʁsɛj]

Located on the south coast of France, Marseille is the country’s second-largest city. Boasting sea-facing and sweeping views of the city, this penthouse Airbnb is perfect for anyone who wants a relaxing and stylish stay in one of France’s chillest cities. I spent 3 days here and tell you all about it below.

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The Apartment + Amenities

This has to be one of my favourite Airbnbs. It is a spacious penthouse apartment on the fourth (top) floor of a building in Marseille’s 4e arrondissement. The apartment is fully furnished and features an open seating area, a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, a large bathroom and a bedroom. It also has two terraces. One faces the Mediterranean Sea with panoramic views of the city (to the west). The other faces the mountains (to the east). If you want to wake up to #views, this is the place to stay. The east terrace has a functional outdoor shower (which I’m so sad I didn’t get to try!).

This apartment’s airy vibe and Mediterranean decor give it such a charming character.  The apartment is also someone’s home, so it is really comfortable and makes you feel like you’re staying in Marseille as a local. If you’ve read my other posts, you know that I love to feel at home when I travel, and this place gave me that vibe.

The entire place has large windows, so lots of light comes in and makes it feel that much more open and spacious. Given that it’s on the top floor, it also gets a lot of breeze. This makes up for the lack of an AC unit. I was there at the end of July, so the cooling sea breeze set the entire apartment at a really nice temperature both during the day and at night.

There’s no elevator and the walk up is long, so beware. The hard part is getting your luggage in, especially if you have tons of heavy bags (which I did). If you’re a light packer, you should be fine. But the apartment is entirely worth the hike! Just think, it’ll help keep you in shape and it’ll be a cake walk on the way down. For me, it was a small price to pay.

The apartment is rented as an entire home and can comfortably accommodate two people. It is very clean and beautifully decorated. I decided not to bunk with my travel partner, but I was told that the bed is comfortable. I opted for the small couch in the seating area instead, which was also quite comfortable. The bathroom has all and any of the toiletries you may need or want. Other amenities include an indoor fireplace, WiFi, a washer and iron, heating, a BBQ grill, loads of books and other basics (e.g., sheets, towels, etc.). Overall, it was well equipped and had everything I needed.

The Views

Naturally, the major highlight of this penthouse apartment is its amazing views of Marseille and the Mediterranean Sea. With two terraces, there are views literally around the entire apartment. The east and west terraces are the perfect place to see the sun rise and set. Both terraces have seating so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) while you’re at it.

The Neighbourhood

This apartment is in a building located on a quiet street in the 4e arrondissement. It’s less than a 10-minute walk away from the metro and Parc Longchamp, only a few metro stops away from Vieux Port and less than a 10-minute drive to Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles. You could even walk to the port area from the apartment building. The bus that stops right in front can also take you to Vieux Port. The neighbourhood is quiet and safe, with a grocery store just a couple of minutes away and a bakery and shops very close by. The nearby (and walkable) attractions include Parc Longchamp, le Jardin Zoologique, la Musée des Beaux Arts de Marseille and la Friche la Belle de Mai.

I’ve included maps of the general area below to illustrate the location of the apartment. Note that I’ve used the same maps as those used on Airbnb to maintain the owner’s privacy. If you want to take a closer look at what’s nearby, you can search the Cinq Avenues – Longchamp metro station on Google Maps and browse the area.

Service + Value

I stayed in this apartment for 3 days and had a wonderful time. I believe that the people that you come across while traveling truly do influence your experience. This even applies to Airbnb hosts! I stayed in a beautiful, modern and spacious apartment in La Spezia. Unfortunately, I would never stay there again due to poor hosting.

The owner of the apartment, Christophe, wasn’t in town during my time there, but he arranged the entire stay perfectly. His housekeeper helped with both check-in and check-out and Christophe was available throughout via e-mail and text. Communication with him was always great and he was very prompt, responsive and helpful. Christophe was also quite thoughtful, leaving a bottle of wine to chill for us in the fridge. It was a shame that we didn’t meet! But, fortunately, he made sure that we were well taken care of.

A final important feature of this Airbnb listing is the great value that it offers. At the time (July 2016), I paid a little over $290 CAD for 3 nights after fees and taxes. This worked out to approximately $97 CAD per night. As I was traveling with someone, this cost was cut in half. Of course, the price may vary based on season and availability. But the quiet location, amazing views, space, personal comfort, amenities and overall experience of staying here make the apartment more than worth the cost (and the walk up!). Especially when you consider the cost of hotels in Europe in high season.

Cancellation Policy + House Rules

The owner enforces a moderate cancellation policy. You can cancel up to 5 days before check-in and receive a full refund (minus the service fees). If you cancel within 5 days of your trip, the first night is non-refundable, but you will be refunded 50% of the cost of the remaining nights. The service fees will be refunded if you cancel before check-in and within 48 hours of booking.

Not suitable for pets
Smoking on the terraces only
Not safe or suitable for children (0-12 years)
Check-in time: 14:00 to 18:00
Check-out time: 11:00