Marseille's beaches and swimming spots

Dive into the heart of the Mediterranean

The city boasts a number of places that are perfect for swimming with the family, solo or with friends. Discover not only the Calanques, but also the secret bathing spots that are unique to Marseilles, and which we’ll reveal to you here! How can you talk about Marseille without mentioning its beaches and the Mediterranean?

Corbières beaches – l’Estaque

A mythical part of town, this is where you’ll find the only beaches in the northern districts, preceded by landscaped gardens and a municipal water sports center. Three beaches follow one another, all with lifeguards and easy access. Shallow and partly shaded, they are made of fine sand and pebbles, with sanitary facilities, showers and a free clothes locker. Perfect for families! Nearby you’ll find a refreshment bar and a volleyball court. There are also picnic areas and sports and creative activities on offer.

You’ll be able to admire a beautiful panorama of the Marseilles coastline.

Between swims, you can take a stroll through the village of l’Estaque, a source of inspiration for many artists and painters, including Cézanne, Dufy and Renoir, and also the setting for Robert Guédiguian’s film “Marius et Jeannette”. True Provencal and Marseillaise authenticity!

And you’ll feel it on your plate, too, with the famous “Chichis Frégis” or panisses to savor after an afternoon of lounging.

Practical information

La navette” boat departs from the Vieux-Port in high season (April to September) Direct access by bus n°35 – Estaque Riaux stop Address: Plage de Corbières 13016

Plage des Catalans

The sandy beach close to the Old Port and the city center

This is the most accessible sandy beach in downtown Marseille. Just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Port, it’s the perfect place to take a quick dip after a day’s stroll, or to cool off before continuing your tour of Marseille. Its location and the presence of a first-aid post and sanitary facilities make it the perfect beach for families. You’ll need to come early in the morning to enjoy some peace and quiet, as the beach is very lively thanks to its proximity to the center of Marseille. Plage des Catalans is also home to the Club de Beach Volley des Catalans, and just a few meters away, you’ll find the Cercle des Nageursde Marseille swimming club on one side and the Hôtel des Bords de Mer on the other. For a tasty break, the Chez Michel restaurant welcomes you with one of the best bouillabaisses in Marseille, as does the Les Akolytes restaurant with its delicious tapas!

Practical info

Access: bus no. 83 – “Les Catalans” stop Opening hours: 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April to October and 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November to March.

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Bateaux et cabanons devant le petit port de Malmousque à Marseille

Malmousque

Bathing spot and picturesque little port

A small village in the 7th arrondissement, Malmousque hides a wealth of treasures for strollers. A maze of quiet, flower-filled alleyways, almost all of them lead to the small fishing port or to the little coves on the seafront! Walk past the Foreign Legion rest center and continue down to the sea, where you can skirt the Anse de Malmousque with its breathtaking views of Marseille harbor,Ile Degaby and even the Château d’If and Iles du Frioul. The area and coves are frequented by regulars, and you’re plunged into authentic Marseille! L’Anse de la Fausse-Monnaie offers large rocks for your towel just below the 5* Hôtel du Petit Nice Passédat; note that swimming around Malmousque is unsupervised and the water is deep. It’s the ideal place to enjoy the sunset with a slice of pizza from one of Marseille’s best pizzerias, L’Eau à la Bouche, just a stone’s throw away; apart from the gourmet restaurant Le Petit Nice Passédat, there are no restaurants on Malmousque.

Practical information

Access: bus no. 83 – “Endoume” stop Address: Plage des Catalans 13007

Plage du Prophète

Ideal beach for families

Just below Corniche Kennedy, Plage du Prophète is one of Marseille’s most iconic open-access beaches. It’s very popular with locals and tourists alike, as it’s suitable for young and old alike! The water is shallow, so children can walk a long way, and for the more sporty, there’s a free beach volleyball court! Plage du Prophète also has a first-aid post, refreshment bar and showers. And for a meal with a sea view, Chez Marco, a famous institution located just above the beach, is the place to be. In the evening, it’s the place to be for aperitifs on the beach or for a picnic. Families and groups of friends gather here to enjoy the sunset.

Practical information

Access: Bus n°83 – “Le Prophète” stop Times: Free access. Address: Plage du Prophète – 178 Corniche Kennedy 13008

Prado Beach

A must for bathing

This is Marseille’s largest beach, with a succession of freely accessible beaches (Roucas Blanc, Prado Nord, Prado Sud, Plage de Borély, Vieille Chapelle, Huveaune…) stretching for 3.5km. It’s one of Marseille’s busiest, stretching from the famous Prado statue of David to the Vieille Chapelle beach near Pointe Rouge. Surrounded by large expanses of grass, it’s a paradise for soccer fans ! Easily accessible, it offers water sports activities, children’s playgrounds, private beaches, beach volleyball courts, numerous sanitary facilities, lockers and several first-aid posts. It also boasts a complex with restaurants, bars and boutiques: l’Escale Borély. Every summer, it also hosts several festivals, including the Delta Festival and the Freestyle Cup, thanks to its skate park.

Practical info

Access: Bus n°83 and bus n°19 stop “La Plage” – Metro 2 stop “Rond-Point du Prado” then 20-minute walk. Address: Plage du Prado – 142 avenue Pierre Mendès France 13008

Pointe-Rouge Beach

A seaside paradise

Just a few minutes from the Prado seaside park, you can enjoy the Pointe-Rouge beach, the largest sandy beach in Marseille, adjacent to the small port of the same name. It offers numerous restaurants, bars and play areas, as well as lockers, showers, sanitary facilities and first-aid posts. It’s often very busy, as it’s sheltered from the wind! You can rent a pedalo, go kite surfing or paddle boarding, go diving from the small harbor or rent a deckchair on one of the private beaches.

Practical information

Access: bus no. 19, “Pointe Rouge” stop, and in summer via the “La navette” maritime shuttle departing from the Vieux-Port. Address: 25 avenue Montredon 13008

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Anse du Bain des Dames

Cabanons and authenticity

Comprising three beaches ranging from pebble to sand and gravel, Anse du Bain des Dames is a favorite with Marseilles locals. Farther from the center of town than its sister beaches, it’s rather quiet and has showers, unlike some of Marseille’s more secretive beaches.Authentic Marseille fishermen’s cottages, now privately owned, are still to be found here.

Practical information

Access: Bus no. 19, “Engalière” stop, then 5-minute walk. Address: 38 Promenade du Grand Large 13008

Swimming in the Calanques

The Calanques massif offers a number of coves that can be reached more or less easily after a short walk! Port Pin, En-Vau, Sugiton, Morgiou or Sormiou (supervised in summer) … heavenly landscapes await you. Bring good shoes and water! Please note: a prefectoral decree regulates access to the calanques in spring and summer, prohibiting the passage of cars. Further information on the Parc National des Calanques website .

Discover all the beaches in Marseille

Service “A nous la mer !” (To the sea !)

The City of Marseille has launched a number of initiatives to help people with reduced mobility and/or disabilities. Through its ” À nous la mer!” initiative and related measures, it provides Marseilles residents with easier access to the sea during the bathing season.

Once again this year, Marseille Ville Inclusée will be demonstrating its commitment by promoting access to the sea for all, with thedevelopment of three accessible and welcoming sites offering facilities adapted to the specific needs of all.

More than ever, the municipality’s ambition is to ensure that the new facilities on Corbière beach, like those on Pointe Rouge beach (since 2022) and Bonneveine beach (since 2023), benefit as many people as possible.

Further information:
Service Handicap: 04 91 55 92 44 / handicap@marseille.fr