The gay scene is Marseille isn’t as crowded, or as intriguing as in Nice, but its premier gay bar, The Get Bar-MP Bar, benefits from a long history of being the town’s gay bar of record. With 28,000 years of existence, Marseille is perhaps one of France’s oldest gay meccas. A spirit of adventure fills the air no matter where you look. From breakfast on your balcony in the warm Mediterranean sunshine, where you may glimpse barechested sailors repairing their fishnets; to the coastal route leading out of town towards the Calanques, with its never-ending parade of scantily clad bathers, cyclists and joggers; to a traditional fish soup (bouillabaisse) at the Old Port (Le Vieux Port), as you witness a fisherman carrying a bulging basket of freshly caught fish straight through the restaurant to the chef. Don’t miss the New Cancan and la Mare au Diable dance clubs. The New Cancan is more of a techno crowd, whereas the Mare au Diable caters for a wider variety of music lovers. It also features drag shows and has a lovely moonlit garden for that special tête-àtête. Local bars include Enigme and the MP Bar. Lesbians should head to Le Bistro Vénitien in the artsy Cours Julien district.