Plage des Catalans

The closest sandy beach to central Marseille, ten minutes from the Old Port along the Corniche. This is where locals head for the sea after work: volleyball nets, palm trees, cafés on the rocks and crowds of students. In summer lifeguards watch the water, and in the evening people sit on the breakwaters watching the sun go down behind the Château d'If on the horizon. A simple, noisy, very Marseillais spot.