As you wander past traditional cafés, wine bars, and seafood restaurants of Marseille’s Cours Honoré-d'Estienne-d'Orves, you really start to feel immersed in this Mediterranean city. Kerbside dining, boat trips, and evenings at the opera are just a few things you might get up to, and you can plan it all from up on the balcony of this 1st arrondissement apartment. From the fourth floor, you’ve got a bird’s eye view of the vibrant, aforementioned public square (just opposite your front door, a thirty-second walk) as well as the Vieux Port peeping around the corner (a one-minute walk). With such spectacular views, you may find it hard to draw yourself away from the balcony – especially when you’ve got a chilled glass of rosé in hand – but this apartment also offers gorgeous interiors. We love the original touches such as a hexagonal tiled floor, decorative cornicing, and elegant marble fireplaces. But the living space is brought up-to-date with a modern, Scandi-style, pale wood kitchen, and mid-century furniture. The unique, driftwood lighting fixture is here to remind you of your coastal location – so whenever you’re ready, take a twenty-minute walk to the Plage des Catalans.

Home truths:
*There is no dedicated workspace, but plenty of laptop-friendly spots
*Private parking is available for free onsite (and the Estrangin metro station is just 500 metres away)
*You'll need to climb some stairs, as this flat is on the fourth floor with no lift
*Your host can arrange for all sorts of extra services, such as airport transfer, breakfast, housekeeping, and ticket bookings – check with them about availability and pricing
*While lovely to look at, the fireplaces are purely decorative, not functional
*To check in between 9 pm and midnight, there's a €22 fee, which increases to €44 between midnight and 6 am
*The entrance to the building is shared with other residents, not private to your home