Overlooking the terracotta roof tiles of Marseille's 1er arrondissement, this penthouse apartment is a beautiful base to explore the best of this exuberant city. Your host has taken their design inspiration from a wide range of eras, from antique gilt mirrors to sixties-inspired furniture and 90s kitchen tiles, with eyecatching modern art and a sleek minimalist kitchen island to top it all off. The balcony boasts views out over the city centre, while the mezzanine master bedroom is accessed via a spiral staircase to create a romantic retreat up in the roof. It's undoubtedly eclectic, yet somehow it works. It's a masterclass in that effortlessly thrown together way that the French have mastered. Head down to street level, and you'll find yourself in the heart of the action, within a five-minute walk of the city's Vieux-Port (Old Port), where fishmongers sell their catch along the boat-lined quay and the seventeenth-century Opéra Municipal. Slightly further afield, you'll encounter the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde within a fifteen-minute walk, while Zaha Hadid's CMA CGM Tower is under two miles away. Marseille is a city on the up, so come and see what all the fuss is about.

Home truths:
* Host meet-and-greet on arrival
* The apartment is on the fourth floor with elevator access, so it may be suitable for those with limited mobility
* Additional charges apply for late check-in and early check-out – €22 from 9pm-12am, €44 from 12am - 6am – €20 for early check-out 6am-8am – €10 arrivals and departures on bank holidays
* The master bedroom is on a mezzanine floor and is open to the living space
* The dining table doubles as a laptop-friendly workspace if needed
* There's no on-site parking, only a paid carpark nearby