Plage de Saint-Estève (Frioul)
Saint-Estève is a small beach on Ratonneau, one of the four islands of the Frioul archipelago off Marseille, and the only real beach on Frioul according to the Marseille tourist office. An underwater trail marked by five buoys runs through the cove.
WhatBeach, MarseilleProvence
WhenJune to October17° in Nov
Getting there Boat On foot30 min walk-in
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessNational park rules on Frioul. Dogs, smoking, alcohol and naturism banned on Marseille beaches; no diving from over 3 m
- 13°J
- 13°F
- 13°M
- 14°A
- 16°M
- 19°J
- 21°J
- 22°A
- 21°S
- 19°O
- 17°N
- 15°D
Expect the sea at about 22 °C in August and 13 °C in January, going by the 1991 to 2020 averages. The swimming season runs from June to October.
Getting in
- Access
- The park and the Marseille tourist office give the Frioul If boat from the Vieux-Port as the way in; the beach is about half an hour on foot from the landing stage, and in July and August a mini-train (adult fare €5) runs there from the ferry exit. The city lifeguards Saint-Estève from 10:00 to 18:00 between 29 May and 30 August 2026. The park calls the beach overcrowded in summer. Inside the Calanques National Park; a Marseille bylaw of 5 February 2021 regulates traffic and use of the natural land on the Frioul islands. Cycling banned outside the village and the road to Hôpital Caroline; climbing banned; picking flowers, including the protected sea daffodil, is illegal. Dogs banned all year on all Marseille bathing zones; smoking, alcohol, loud music and naturism banned on Marseille beaches; dives from more than 3 m off rocks, quays and cliffs banned along the whole Marseille coast.
- Public transport
- Frioul If ferry from the Vieux-Port to the Port du Frioul, then about 30 minutes on foot; a mini-train runs from the ferry landing to the beach every day in July and August.
- Also here
- Snorkelling, Coastal walk
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- calanques-parcnational.fr
- Facilities
- ToiletsShowersLifeguard in seasonCafé