We think it's perfectly safe to visit Marseille despite what you may have heard. There's a goodly number of 'ladies of the evening" frequenting the bars near the waterfront. This is the only area I'd avoid at night. By the same token, there are some wonderful restaurants, such as "Entrecote," also facing the harbor. Just use a taxi in the evening to get to this area and you'll be fine. February is really not the best month to visit as there are ferociously bitter winds that blow in from across the Med. From March through late October the weather is perfectly fine.