The 5 best beaches in Marseille for sand, sea and sunsets

Best for: fresh fish and proper beaching

Found in the Malmousque neighbourhood, you have to leave Kennedy Corniche via a steep path to find this pebble beach located in the Maldormé cove, just a short swim from Gérald Passedat’s Petit Nice. Accessible by a flight of stairs and sheltered from the wind, this is a charming but small beach that gets crowded in summer. Overlooked by the famous yellow house (every local you’ll meet has an opinion on its potential owners), this cove attracts both old and young fans of cool water swimming – the beach is in the shade in the afternoon. To complete the experience, eat at Poissonnerie Kennedy, opened by Georges Mohammed-Chérif, offering a takeaway platter of shellfish and seafood, including pearly langoustines, red prawns, fine de claire oysters and whelks. If you’re more of a pizza person, make a stop at L’Eau à la Bouche, a true Marseille institution.

Best for: discovering local secrets

After passing the large beaches of Pointe-Rouge, we absolutely love this discreet cove with a hell of a lot of charm and some cute cabins still used by their very lucky owners. Not well known to tourists and therefore less crowded than the city centre beaches, this sandy and stoney beach is a hotspot for an aperitif thanks to its sunset views, plus its got clear water, an insane view of the Marseille harbour and its pretty tranquil all year round. If you’re lucky, you might even be invited by the cabin owners to grill some fish! There’s parking just above the beach, so coming by car is easy, or you can cycle to Parc Pastré and walk from there.

Best for: kids and families 

Below the Corniche in the Roucas-Blanc neighbourhood lies Plage du Prophète, one of the few natural sandy beaches close to the city centre and one of Marseille’s oldest (locals still disagree on its name’s mysterious origin). Protected from seaweed by a breakwater built in the late 19th century – look out for the rock dedicated to Josiane – this sandy strip offers two access points to the sea. On the right, near the port, you can dip into the shallow water. In front, the entry is a bit trickier due to pebbles and rocks, so come prepared. Bathed in sunlight from morning to evening, with showers and volleyball courts, this is a great family beach (or just for those tired of rocky shores), but heed our warning: it’s best avoided on windy days. Open all year round, La plage du Prophète is supervised and gets busier in summer when the snack bar and Chez Marco trattoria under the Corniche open.

Best for: a slice of peace and quiet

On the road to Les Goudes in the Montredon neighbourhood, you’ll find this intimate beach, named after a restaurant that operated in a small hut for nearly 40 years until it was closed in 2018 due to coastal law regulations. While many mourned its demolition, this (let’s say it) paradisiacal beach with its turquoise waters remains a favourite among Marseille families, who found some comfort in the opening of the Cabanon de Paulette, set up in Jean-Paul Dinoia’s old boat garages – he was the owner of the former restaurant. It’s relatively quiet until summer, but is best enjoyed early in the morning if you’re looking for shade or at aperitif time for the sunset. And if you’ve forgotten your book, don’t worry – rectify it at independent bookstore MiMA just above. A little slice of happiness.

Best for: nature and views

Also known as Plage de la Verrerie in tribute to the former nearby factory or Plage à Dédé, in memory of a legendary pizzeria demolished in 2013, this beach is perhaps one of the city’s least famous and best preserved, at least outside the summer season (probably best avoided in July and August). To find it, you need to leave the road to Les Goudes, park in the elevated parking area, and then descend a wide but narrow staircase. Upon arrival, you’ll be instantly charmed by this large natural sandy beach, lined with residential huts. Shaded in the morning, you’ll see a great sunset when it happens. beautiful sunset at the end of the day. Swimming is relatively easy though unsupervised, but avoid it on mistral days when the currents can be strong. And if you feel like a bit of culture before leaving, make sure to visit La Cabane Georgina, an artist residence just a short walk away. A perfect blend of nature and culture.