Hotel Lutetia
Conveniently located in a quiet street close to the famous Canebière, and only 200m from the railway station, this is a charming, comfortable hotel in the heart of the city, with easy metro access. The hotel is well kept and the 29 rooms come equipped with telephone, TV and free Wi-Fi Internet connection in the lobby.

38 allées Léon Gambetta, 1e
Tél: (04) 9150 8178.
Website: www.hotelmarseille.com
Price: $-$$

Hotel Mercure Vieux Port
Located in the centre of Marseille and overlooking the Vieux Port, this is the oldest hotel in the city (established in 1860), and now a four-star hotel after an extensive refurbishment. Many famous writers have stayed here, including George Sand (who eloped here with Chopin in 1839). The hotel boasts 73 air-conditioned, soundproof rooms featuring antique Provençal style furniture, mini bar, satellite cable and pay per view TV, voicemail and Wi-Fi.

4 rue Beauvau, 1e
Tel: (04) 9154 9100.
Website: www.mercure.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Le Corbusier
Architecture buffs will relish the opportunity to stay at Le Corbusier's post-war vision of the future. Conceived to address East Marseille's overcrowding problem in the 1950s, Le Corbusier's grand scheme was to accommodate thousands of local residents in ‘off the ground' self-contained units. While many of the hotel's 21 rooms tend to be on the small side, they are well kept and comfy enough, and the rooftop garden offers seascapes to die for.

280 boulevard Michelet, 8e
Tel: (04) 9116 7800.
Website: www.hotellecorbusier.com
Price: $-$$

Le Petit Nice Passédat
Marseille's most exclusive hotel is an exquisite 19th-century villa in Hellenic style set in lush gardens on a rocky promontory overlooking the Mediterranean. Run by the Passédat family since 1917, and a member of the Relais & Chateaux group, there is no denying the hotel is pricey (it even charges extra for breakfast on the terrace), but the rooms are exceedingly comfortable and beautifully decorated, the service is top notch and the restaurant one of the best in town. The views over the bay are fabulous, especially at sunset.

Anse de Maldormé, corniche J F Kennedy, 7e
Tel: (04) 9159 2592.
Website: www.passedat.fr
Price: $$$$ 

New Hotel Bompard
Located in a quiet area on the hillside overlooking the Corniche is the New Hotel Bompard. Surrounded by beautiful gardens (make the most of them and have breakfast on the terrace), the hotel offers a relaxed atmosphere combined with professional and efficient service. All 46 rooms come with colour TV, direct-dial telephone, radio, air conditioning and complimentary newspaper. A welcome bonus: the hotel has a swimming pool.

2 rue De Flots-Bleus, 7e
Tel: (04) 9199 2222.
Website: www.new-hotel.com/bompard/fr
Price: $$

Pullman Marseille Palm Beach
Located by the sea between the Vieux Port and the Convention Centre and offering a unique view of the Prado Bay, the renovated Palm Beach has 150 rooms and 10 suites, all with sea views. The hotel offers non-smoking floors, TV pay per view, fitness centre, swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, jogging course and landing stage. Wi-Fi is available, and there is also a manned business centre, fax machines, secretary and translation services, as well as 10 meeting rooms (accommodating up to 600 people) and an auditorium.

200 corniche J F Kennedy, 8e
Tel: (04) 9116 1900.
Website: www.pullmanhotels.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Radisson Marseille Vieux Port
Marseille's newest four-star hotel, opened in 2007, enjoys a superb location right by the Old Harbour, and offers 189 modern, stylish rooms and suites, a gourmet restaurant, a fitness centre and a rooftop swimming pool with sweeping views over the city. Extensive meeting and conference facilities are also available.

38-40 quai de Rive Neuve, 7e
Tel: (04) 8892 1950.
Website: www.radisson.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port
Nestled between the rocky headland of the Pharo and the Fort St Nicolas, the four-star Sofitel Vieux Port offers a unique panoramic view of the city. The hotel boasts a swimming pool, eight meeting rooms accommodating up to 150 people, TV pay per view, a cocktail bar and a gastronomic restaurant.

36 boulevard Charles Livon, 7e
Tel: (04) 9115 5900.
Website: www.sofitel.com
Price: $$$-$$$$