Along the coastline of southern France in the Provence region sits Marseille, the second-largest city in France. A coastal city steeped in history and culture, Marseille has been central to the region’s trade and commerce activities since around 600 BC, when it was settled and called Massilia by Greek mariners. Due to its location as a primary commercial port between Europe and Africa, the city has seen a dramatic and rocky history. Its reputation has wavered throughout the years, becoming particularly rife with drugs and crime through the 70’s as depicted in the movie The French Connection.

Today the port is tied to about 45,000 jobs in the region. After a considerable facelift, the Old Port is a revamped pedestrian-style marketplace. The port and surrounding markets are sweet spots for locals and visitors. At the Marche aux Poissons, fishmongers sell their own fresh catch straight off the boat. Each fresh purchase is cleaned and weighed at purchase. Seafood enthusiasts seeking a bounty to add to a bouillabaisse, the city’s most famous local dish, can expect to find a variety of mullet, bream, grouper, monk fish, octopus and squid. This is where chefs of local restaurants come to hunt down the best seasonal catch. For tourists who aren’t up for cooking a whole fish, fresh oysters are sometimes opened by sellers. The market is open from 8am to 1pm daily.

There are many other colorful, fascinating market stalls in the Old Port. After the fish market, why not stroll the promenade, watching the array of boats and stopping at a local café. Take the ferry boat from one end of the port to the other. Walk up to the center of town to visit the Palais de la Bourse and the Saint Vincent de Paul Church. Take a ferry to the Frious Islands to hike the nature trails. For dinner, why not stop into one of the Port’s world-renowned seafood restaurants—be sure to pick one with a sunset view for the end to a perfect day.