Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +33 (0)8 2500 3080. Open from 7am-midnight Monday-Friday and 8am-midnight at the weekend.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Taxi: Fares to the centre cost about €38.

Bus: A shuttle bus leaves for to Marseille's Gare St Charles every 20 minutes from 6.10am until the last flight has landed. Tickets: €8.50.

Dubble Food
( 5 Place de la Joliette, 2nd. Tel. 04 9190 3798 )
At the heart of the La Joliette business district, this eatery serves delicious fruit smoothies, vegetable soups and crunchy salads. Just the ticket for a pick-me-up on a chilly winter's day.

Toinu
( 3 Cours Saint Louis, 1st. Tel. 04 9133 1494 )
Marseille's classic shellfish restaurant is famous for its platters piled high with oysters, clams and prawns. Tangy mayonnaise, fresh bread and crisp white wine make fine accompaniments.

La Garbure
( 9 Cours Julien, 6th. Tel. 04 9147 1801 )
Traditional cuisine from France's south-west is offered by this recommended restaurant specialising in mouth-watering foie gras, hearty cassoulet stews and tender duck breasts.

La Reserve de Palm Beach
( 200 Corniche Kennedy, 8th. Tel. 04 9116 1921 )
A stunning sea view and an ultra-chic interior make a marvellous match with the Mediterranean cuisine, based on fresh ingredients and perfectly prepared seafood.

L'Enoteka
( 28 Boulevard Notre Dame, 6th. Tel. 04 9191 6208 )
Newly-opened wine bar-cum-cellar offering tasty plates of Italian charcuterie and excellent cheese to accompany a 70-strong wine list.

Palais du Pharo
( 58 Boulevard Charles Livon. Tel. 04 9155 1111 )
Perched on a rocky plateau with a sweeping view out to sea, the imposing Palais du Pharo houses a 900-seat auditorium with a highly sophisticated sound system.

Le Passe Temps
( 6 Rue Fortia, 1st. Tel. 04 9133 6012 )
Created by a group of musicians, this intimate night spot only has space for a small crowd, making it easy to mingle with the locals while listening to varied music.

Despite the name, American Vintage is a French brand with a shop on Rue Sainte. Think sand-washed jeans, neutral colours, layers and easy-wearing styles made from natural fabrics with a vintage touch.

Laden with symbolism, Marseille has its own version of the traditional Gâteau des Rois, to mark the Christian festival of the Epiphany on 6 January. Instead of the frangipani-flavoured galette, Les Marseillais favour a round brioche, topped with sugar and candied fruit.

The city's two famous fortresses on either side of the Vieux Port were built to guard the harbour and protect its independence. The area has been inhabited since antiquity and private tours of Fort Saint Jean and Fort Nicolas can be arranged by the tourist office (4 La Canebière. Tel. 04 9113 8900).

French pop singer Julien Clerc plays at Le Dôme (29 January. Tel. 04 9112 2121), followed by French-Canadian folk singer Linda Lemay at the Palais des Congrès, Parc Charnot (31 January. Tel. 04 9176 1900).

Gap – Nestled at the foot of the southern Alps, the town of Gap is an easy drive from Marseille on the A51 autoroute. It is the gateway to a selection of popular ski stations. The nearest include Ancelle and Ceuze, while Gap Bayard is a popular cross country spot.

Thanks to DNA testing, a skeleton discovered in 1964 on the Ile de Riou has finally been identified as belonging to a young German prince, a fighter pilot who was shot down in December 1943.

Compiled by Adrienne Bourgeon