Plage des Catalans
Plage des Catalans is a sand beach in the 7th arrondissement, a short walk from the Vieux-Port, looking out to the Frioul islands and the Château d'If. The cove is named after Catalan fishermen who settled here in the 17th century, and Alexandre Dumas set a chapter of The Count of Monte Cristo in their village.
WhatBeach, MarseilleProvence
WhenJune to October17° in Nov
Getting there Bus On foot
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessDogs, 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 Marseille tourist office places the beach a few minutes' walk from the Vieux-Port, with bus 83 stopping at Les Catalans. The city lifeguards the beach from 10:00 to 19:30 between 29 May and 30 August 2026, and in summer keeps it open from 07:00 to 23:00 on weekdays and from Saturday 07:00 to Sunday 23:00 without a break. Outside summer the tourist office gives opening hours of 08:30 to 20:00 from April to October and 08:30 to 18:00 from November to March. 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
- RTM bus 83 to the Les Catalans stop; a few minutes on foot from the Vieux-Port.
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- marseille.fr
- Facilities
- ToiletsShowersLifeguard in season