Plages du Prado, Marseille: what the photos don't tell you
Short answer: Sand beach facing west. Mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 06:30 to 21:15, when the sun sets over the sea: 14 h 45 of sun in all.
Marseille and the Calanques.
Thu 15 July 2027
Sun on the sand 06:30–21:15
Direct sun on the sand from 06:30 to 21:15, when the sun sets over the sea: 14 h 45 of sun in all. Sunset at sea level: 21:18.
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
- Sand (OpenStreetMap)
- Water shoes
- Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins. (From the surface)
- Climb back up
- Nearest public car park 230 m away, about level: about 5 min on foot. Bus stop 240 m, 4 m up, about 20 steps or a steep path. Mapped stairways nearby: 54 steps. (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
- Open beach: full sun from morning to evening, no natural shade from the terrain. Bring an umbrella or rent one. (Calculated from the terrain)
- Water depth
- Shelves gently: shallow water a long way out, good for children. 200 m out about under 1 m deep, 400 m out about 9 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 100 m, shower 120 m, drinking water 130 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 | 08:30–17:25 | 25 min | 13 °C | — |
| February | 07:55–18:10 | 17 min | 13 °C | — |
| March | 07:15–18:45 | 23 min | 13 °C | — |
| April | 07:15–20:20 | 19 min | 14 °C | — |
| May | 06:35–20:55 | 20 min | 16 °C | — |
| June | 06:15–21:20 | 17 min | 19 °C | — |
| July | 06:30–21:15 | 20 min | 21 °C | — |
| August | 07:00–20:40 | 18 min | 22 °C | — |
| September | 07:40–19:50 | 22 min | 21 °C | — |
| October | 08:15–18:55 | 24 min | 19 °C | — |
| November | 07:55–17:15 | 23 min | 17 °C | — |
| December | 08:25–17:05 | 20 min | 15 °C | — |
Questions
What time does the sun leave Plages du Prado, Marseille?
In mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 06:30 to 21:15, when the sun sets over the sea: 14 h 45 of sun in all. Pick any date above for that day's times.
Is Plages du Prado, Marseille sand or pebbles?
Sand. Water shoes: Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins.
How far is the walk from parking to Plages du Prado, Marseille?
Nearest public car park 230 m away, about level: about 5 min on foot. Bus stop 240 m, 4 m up, about 20 steps or a steep path. Mapped stairways nearby: 54 steps.
Is the water deep at Plages du Prado, Marseille?
Shelves gently: shallow water a long way out, good for children. 200 m out about under 1 m deep, 400 m out about 9 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.)
How warm is the sea at Plages du Prado, 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 Plages du Prado, 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) · Wikipedia · map record. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information.