Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille: what the photos don't tell you
Short answer: Beach facing south-east. Mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 07:30 (1 h 16 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 24 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 12 h 25 of sun in all.
Marseille and the Calanques.
Thu 15 July 2027
Sun on the sand 07:30–19:55
Direct sun on the sand from 07:30 (1 h 16 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 24 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 12 h 25 of sun in all. Sunset at sea level: 21:19.
Each block is half an hour from 05:00 to 22:00. sun on the beach · sun up but behind the cliffs or hills · sun down.
Reality check
- Surface
- Not recorded in the map data (OpenStreetMap)
- Water shoes
- Unknown surface: pack them if the photos show stones. (From the surface)
- Climb back up
- No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat. (Elevation model + OpenStreetMap)
- Beach clubs and free sand
- No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds. (OpenStreetMap)
- Natural shade
- Hills 15° high behind the beach shade it some hours before sunset. Midday sun is full: bring an umbrella. (Calculated from the terrain)
- Water depth
- Deepens steadily: out of your depth within a few tens of metres. 400 m out about 14 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.) (EMODnet Bathymetry)
- Toilets and showers
- Public: toilets 40 m, shower 30 m, drinking water 220 m. Beach clubs have their own for customers. (OpenStreetMap)
- Sea temperature
- August: 22 °C on average. Warmest August (22 °C). (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020 average)
Plan it
Arrive before the sun reaches the sand to get a spot, or come for the last hours of sun when the day crowds leave. A boat trip reaches coves with no road access.
Through the year
Times on the 15th of each month, local time.
| Month | Sun on the sand | Lost to cliffs | Sea | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:35–16:20 | 1 h 35 | 13 °C | — |
| February | 08:10–16:45 | 1 h 57 | 13 °C | — |
| March | 07:30–17:25 | 1 h 58 | 13 °C | — |
| April | 07:55–19:00 | 2 h 19 | 14 °C | — |
| May | 07:30–19:35 | 2 h 36 | 16 °C | — |
| June | 07:20–19:55 | 2 h 48 | 19 °C | — |
| July | 07:30–19:55 | 2 h 40 | 21 °C | — |
| August | 07:50–19:20 | 2 h 29 | 22 °C | — |
| September | 08:00–18:30 | 2 h 02 | 21 °C | — |
| October | 08:30–17:35 | 1 h 59 | 19 °C | — |
| November | 08:00–16:00 | 1 h 43 | 17 °C | — |
| December | 08:30–15:55 | 1 h 35 | 15 °C | — |
Questions
What time does the sun leave Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille?
In mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 07:30 (1 h 16 after sunrise) to 19:55, 1 h 24 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the hills: 12 h 25 of sun in all. Pick any date above for that day's times.
Is Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille sand or pebbles?
The surface is not recorded in OpenStreetMap; check recent photos. If it is stones, bring water shoes.
How far is the walk from parking to Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille?
No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat.
Is the water deep at Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille?
Deepens steadily: out of your depth within a few tens of metres. 400 m out about 14 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.)
How warm is the sea at Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille?
Jan 13 °C, Feb 13 °C, Mar 13 °C, Apr 14 °C, May 16 °C, Jun 19 °C, Jul 21 °C, Aug 22 °C, Sep 21 °C, Oct 19 °C, Nov 17 °C, Dec 15 °C (1991–2020 averages).
Is there free beach at Plage de Saint-Estève, Marseille or only beach clubs?
No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · map record. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information.