# The entire city is your backyard

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2026-07-27

marseille, travel, france, never too small, my city, my backyard, urbanism, beach

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I rarely watch any TV, but when I do, I enjoy browsing YouTube. One of my favourite channels, one that I have mentioned before on this blog, is _Never Too Small_. It's a look at small urban spaces from around the world, with the architect or designer walking you through their intent and the various design details. Whenever I watch an episode, I usually get excited about the possibility of buying some piece-of-shit apartment in Paris and turning it into something cool. One day.

Now NTS has a new series coming out, and it's premiering this week on July 30. It's called _My City, My Backyard_, and it's a look at cities, specifically through the eyes of creatives. I already know that I'm going to like it, and I love the title. When you live in a city, the entire city is your backyard and amenity. The first city in this new series also happens to be one of my favourite cities: [Marseille](https://brandondonnelly.com/category/marseillehttps://brandondonnelly.com/category/marseille).

Marseille is having a moment right now, and that's not just my confirmation bias speaking. In 2024, the city saw [19.5 million overnight stays](https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/app/uploads/marseille-tourisme/2025/11/250917-CHIFFRES-CLES-OT-MARSEILLE-2024-V8_EN-pap-web.pdfhttps://www.marseille-tourisme.com/app/uploads/marseille-tourisme/2025/11/250917-CHIFFRES-CLES-OT-MARSEILLE-2024-V8_EN-pap-web.pdf), which were a 20% increase compared to the year prior (they hosted 10 medal events during the Paris 2024 Olympics). But even if you strip out its Olympic boost, tourism is rising. Spring 2025 recorded a 7% year-over-year increase, which included a 19% increase in international visitors. Summer 2025 visitors were also 10% higher than in 2023.

What's driving this, beyond its vibrant culture, great restaurants, and breathtaking landscapes, is that Marseille has just the right amount of edge. It's not always a hyper-polished Instagram moment; it's an effortlessly cool place where finding an uncomfortable rock next to turquoise waters will give you everything you need.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d5387b5394eeca45ab29799dee8871cf1741c4f7ae76976817b30b7ed1b0c4d2.png)

In other words, it is a place that feels authentic. And in a world of global sameness and AI-generated simulacra, I think many of us are now seeking that authenticity — something that feels real and a little raw. Marseille has that in spades. Oh, and if any of you happen to visit [_la plage de Maldormé_](https://maps.app.goo.gl/i2MVoDJetoP6s9yv7), let me know if my unauthorized sticker is still there.

[Here is NTS's channel](https://www.youtube.com/nevertoosmall) in case you want to check out Marseille this week.

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_Cover photo by_ [_Jeet Sandhu_](https://unsplash.com/@jeetss?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/the-entire-city-is-your-backyard)*