Food and Shopping Walk (Self Guided), Marseille

Shopping in Marseille is a great way to mingle with the locals and immerse in new tastes, scents and customs. As with so much else in this melting-pot of a city, the top-of-the-range stores here rub shoulders with the funky little boutiques, high-street chains with scruffy discount outlets or traditional family groceries and bakeries.

Marseille doesn't have a flagship thoroughfare as such, yet its closest equivalent – Rue Paradis (although without quite the same cachet as, for instance, Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in Paris) – is where the luxury brands sit, making it a local mecca for high-end shopping.

While the shopping scene in Marseille changes fast, the Old Port, situated at the foot of La Canebière, has been the beating heart of the city for ages. The northern seafront strip between the Old Port and the cruise ship terminals has been intensively developed as a retail commerce area lately.

The nearby souvenir stores specialize in typical Marseille gifts – essential soap and delicious olive oil. The richest varieties of these are found in Place aux Huiles.

And if you're a fashionista, head to Rue St. Ferréol. This pedestrian street, affectionately nicknamed "St Fé", is very popular with shopaholics. Together with La Canebière, it marks out the famous golden shopping triangle, replete with top fashion labels, jewelry, trendy designs and leisure items.

Other than the store-filled streets, another best shopping destination are Marseille's markets. Marché aux Poissons, in particular, is a true local thing – small yet vibrant. Here you can buy the catch of the day, fresh off the boat, and have it cleaned for you while you wait.

To plan your shopping spree for a chance to buy that perfect gift – be it haute couture, arts and crafts, food and drink, or something else – check out our self-guided walk.