Looking for Decent Beach near Marseille, France
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking for Decent Beach near Marseille, France
We're flying into Marseille and would like to spend a few days at a decent beach before driving into the Aix and northern Provence. We don't want to drive as far as the Cote D'Azure and were wondering about beaches near Marseille or in the eastern Camargue.
Optimally, we are looking for a sandy beach that is not too honky-tonk or loud, near a hotel, and within an hour's drive of Marseille airport. We'll be traveling in June.
Any help from my fellow Fodorites is greatly appreciated.
Optimally, we are looking for a sandy beach that is not too honky-tonk or loud, near a hotel, and within an hour's drive of Marseille airport. We'll be traveling in June.
Any help from my fellow Fodorites is greatly appreciated.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and there are other huge sandy beaches in the Camargue, such as Plage de Piémanson. East of Marseille I once stayed in the little family resort town of Carqueiranne, which has nice sandy beaches, and near to there is the Giens Peninsula. Nice places nearby to visit are Cassis, Île-de-Porquerolles, Collobrières, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Hyères and Grimaud among other places.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
apart from Marseille few city beaches, nearby there are also some small beaches on Frioul islands (no hotel onn island I think), then some beaches just west of Marseille on "La Côte Bleue" (towns La Couronne, Carry-le-Rouet) and in Camargue (but Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is more than 1 hour drive from Marseille). On East side, you have beaches in Cassis (small), La Ciotat and a bigger one in Les Lecques.
Overall there are not enough beaches around Marseille and they are all crowded in the summer, including weekends in May-June.
Overall there are not enough beaches around Marseille and they are all crowded in the summer, including weekends in May-June.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We spent two weeks last June in Languedoc and two of the days we went to La Grande Motte, which had a very nice sandy beach. it is, however, more than an hour away from Marseille; maybe 1.5 hrs.? June was a great time to be there b/c it was ahead of tourist season, and there were few people on the beach.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Le Grau-du-Roi is right across from La Grande Motte but it's a nice little town - - way more quaint and townish than La Grande Motte- - nice streets for strolling/restaurants/shopping (and not honky tonk or loud). That area is a bit easier for daytrips than St. Maries de la Mere if you don't want just beach alone.
Here are views to the three beaches - - I think Ste. Marie is a bit scraggly, as beach scene goes: http://www.net-provence.com/villes/s...s-maries-3.jpg
La Grande Motte is a big beach, but in a kind of sterile/austere setting: http://cdn.logitravel.co.uk/contenid...10/8563592.jpg
And here's Le Grau du Roi (in June it will not be this crowded): http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/3964792.jpg
Here are views to the three beaches - - I think Ste. Marie is a bit scraggly, as beach scene goes: http://www.net-provence.com/villes/s...s-maries-3.jpg
La Grande Motte is a big beach, but in a kind of sterile/austere setting: http://cdn.logitravel.co.uk/contenid...10/8563592.jpg
And here's Le Grau du Roi (in June it will not be this crowded): http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/3964792.jpg
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Paragkash
Europe
5
Nov 3rd, 2014 12:58 PM