Score for work/travel:
★★★★☆
Overview:
Marseille is France’s second-largest city, offering solid Wi-Fi, coworking spaces, and a growing digital nomad presence around the port and startup hubs. It’s less polished than Paris or Barcelona, with some rough edges and chaotic layout, but that comes with lower costs and a more authentic, multicultural vibe. The biggest draw is the balance: you get a lively urban center with gyms, cafés, and events, plus quick access to the Mediterranean and Calanques for hiking and swimming.
Quick hits:
- Wi-Fi: Reliable, fast
- Coworking: Plenty, concentrated near Vieux-Port/startup hubs
- Coffee shops: Many, but not all laptop-friendly
- Community: Emerging, growing entrepreneur/nomad presence
- Cost: Moderate by French standards, cheaper than Paris/Nice
- Lifestyle: Big-city energy + easy nature escapes
- Downsides: Some safety concerns, less “slick” infrastructure than Lisbon/Barcelona