You will find 21 beaches along the Marseilles coastline, not including the magnificent Calanques National Park. We present here only a small selection of places that we think are interesting for different reasons.
La plage des Catalans (distance from the apartment 2.4 km, 30 minutes on foot)
Located behind the Palais du Pharo, this is the closest beach to downtown Marseille. Its accessibility makes it ideal for an impromptu swim, as well as for starting or ending the evening. However, it is often crowded in the summer - if you are looking for peace and quiet, you'd better go to one of the many beaches located a little further away, but easily accessible by bus.
La plage de la Pointe Rouge (distance from the apartment 7.4 km, 25 minutes by shuttle boat)
This family beach in the 8th district of Marseille is distinguished by the fact that it hosts a few restaurants where you can eat pizza or grilled fish with your feet in the sand, while enjoying the view of the harbor of Marseille. It's very pleasant, especially in the evening!
La plage de Corbières (distance from the apartment 13 km, 30 minutes with the bus n°35)
Quite in the morning, the only beach in the northern districts is often crowded in the late afternoon when young people and families arrive for a cool picnic with iceboxes, umbrellas and folding chairs. However, the atmosphere is always good-natured, the water is clear and the setting beautiful. Corbières is in fact composed of three beaches, two of which are sandy and one pebbled. A nautical base offers sea kayak and paddle lessons during the summer months, and there is also a snack bar.
The most practical thing to do is to combine your trip to Corbières beach with a visit to the Estaque district, which you can reach in a few minutes by bus n°35.
Les Calanques
The Calanques are a succession of coves and rocky inlets that stretch for more than 20 km along the coast of Marseille. Turquoise water, steep cliffs and pebble or sandy beaches make it an exceptional and unmissable site. Diving enthusiasts will be delighted by the diversity of the underwater fauna and flora. Whether it is Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton or En Vau, access to the Calanques is possible only on foot or by boat. But this is the price to pay to visit a natural site of great beauty that is still relatively preserved. Take water and plan for the day!
