Accommodation in Marseille

Marseille ' a sunny Mediterranean haven

Marseille has a mild, sun-soaked climate. For a major European city, Marseille enjoys an outstanding amount of sunshine, reaching up to 2,800 hours per year. The city is also famous for its chilly wintry winds, referred to as 'le Mistral'. The city is made up of 111 small 'villages', allowing you to live in a home surrounded by a garden right in the centre of a bustling city. What's more, each one of these villages boasts a rich history.

The heritage and vitality of Marseille earned it the status of European Capital of Culture in 2013. This enabled Marseille to shake off some of the negative connotations it had built up over the years and to portray its uniqueness, its eclectic culture and its artistic heritage. Marseille is also famous for its creeks (called 'Les Calanques') and its beaches, many of which are as secluded as they are appealing.

The neighbourhoods of Marseille

Although the city-centre is highly urbanised, the outskirts of Marseille have a strong rural atmosphere. Both the centre and surrounding areas offer a range of housing styles including flat blocks, new houses, old and modern buildings. Marseille is divided into 16 districts and 15 neighbourhoods as follows:

• The city centre is very dense but has apartments with amazing views of the seafront

• Cours Julien is a preppy area with a dynamic and festive nightlife

• The old neighbourhoods near the Old Port (Vieux Port) are beautiful but not particularly convenient for families with small children due to the number of lanes and stairs

• The 7th and 8th districts are home to the upscale areas of Marseille

• The 9th district is a residential area undergoing thorough redevelopment and is ideal for expat families

• The 3rd district is particularly striking and has a distinct, vibrant atmosphere

• The 10th and 11th districts have a rather rural look despite new development projects

• The 12th district is ideal if you are looking for a townhouse or villa

• The 13th is famous for its student population

• Northern Marseille is worth a visit thanks to its historical and cultural heritage

Rent prices in Marseille

In general, accommodation in Marseille costs around 12 to 14 euros per square metre, depending on the type of housing unit you have chosen. Broadly speaking, the rental prices are as follows:

• Studio or a single bedroom apartment: around 14 euros per square metre

• Two-bedroom apartment: around 13 euros per square metre

• Three-bedroom apartment: around 11 euros per square metre

• Four-bedroom apartment: around 11 euros per square metre.

Finding accommodation in Marseille

As a general piece of advice, it is better to start your hunt for housing in Marseille well in advance, that is, right from your home country, but bear in mind that you are not likely to sign the lease documents unless you are in the city. For expatriates, it may be worthwhile hiring a real estate agent, especially if you do not speak fluent French. In the second case, you will often have to pay half of the fees beforehand and the rest once you have found suitable accommodation.

Useful links:

Se Loger
Particulier à Particulier
Yellow Pages (for real estate agencies in Marseille)