Looking for a great weekend getaway to clear your head and soak up the sun on dream beaches? Here's an idea for an affordable seaside weekend in one of France's most beautiful cities: Marseille!
Below you will find my advice for organizing your weekend without spending a fortune and enjoying the most beautiful beach in Marseille and the coves with turquoise waters in 2 days!
Cheap weekend in Marseille
If, like me, you're on a tight budget at the moment, then here's my plan for a cheap weekend in Marseille :
- Travel by train to Marseille (cheap and eco-friendly);
- Choose a good hotel deal in Marseille (cheap);
- Getting around Marseille without a car and therefore without parking (cheap and eco-friendly);
- Spend the 1st day at discover Marseille on foot and relax on its beaches (free);
- Spend the 2nd day on a dream beach in Friuli (cheap);
- Discover the coves off the beaten track (cheap) for 1 extra day.
Below are the details of the organization of my weekend in Marseille:
The train – Economical transport to go to Marseille
Depending on the dates and times, going by train to Marseille from Paris is fast (about 3 hours) and not very expensive (50 Euros return on the SNCF website ).
Choosing a cheap hotel in Marseille
Here is my good plan for cheap accommodation in the heart of the Old Port district (public transport, restaurants, shops, crossings to Friuli): a comfortable hotel for less than 100 Euros per night.
The location is ideal (far from the rough neighborhoods of Marseille ) for discovering on foot the must-see tourist sites of Marseille (see my article Marseille in 1 day ) but also for accessing dream beaches without a car (see details and map below).
To get to this hotel, when you arrive at Saint-Charles station, either go there:
- on foot in 15 minutes of walking
- by bus by the 82S with stop "Vieux Port"
- by metro on line 1 towards La Fourragère with “Vieux Port” stop
Good weekend plan on the beaches of Marseille
In Marseille, the beaches are easily accessible without a car from the Old Port.
This is one of the main assets of Marseille for a cheap weekend. Indeed, from the Old Port in Marseille, you can walk along the Corniche Kennedy which brings together around twenty beaches and coves!
By walking there, you can choose the beach that suits you best and you will also enjoy the most beautiful panoramas of Marseille on the Phocaean City and its islands.
How to go on foot to the beaches of Marseille?
To avoid paying for the bus or taxi, here is how to get to the beaches of Marseille on foot: Plage des Catalans (the closest), Plage du Prophète, Plage du Prado (the largest), Plage de la Pointé rouge, Ladies Bay.
Follow the route below to get there on foot:
How to go on foot to the coves of Marseille?
If you are looking for typical Marseille coves with small cabins and turquoise waters, then head for the coves! Departing from the Old Port, you will have the choice between:
- theAnse du Bain des Dames (metro M1 La Fourragère exit Castellane + bus n ° 19 exit Engalière),
- theAnse des Phocéens (metro M1 La Fourragère exit Castellane + bus n ° 19 Madrague de Montredon exit Grotte Rolland),
- theColombet Cove (metro M1 La Fourragère exit Castellane + bus n ° 19 Madrague de Montredon exit Grotte Rolland),
- la Verrerie beach (metro M1 La Fourragère exit Castellane + bus n ° 19 Madrague de Montredon exit Verrerie).
Cheap excursion to the Frioul Archipelago
Even if there are very beautiful beaches in Marseille among those I have just mentioned, I recommend that you go for 1 day to the Frioul archipelago to discover the most beautiful beaches in Marseille!
Just 30 minutes by boat from the Old Port of Marseille, for only €15 return , you can spend a dream day relaxing on an island in the Frioul archipelago.
How to go to the islands of Frioul?
The pier for the Frioul islands is located in the Old Port (at l'Ombrière). Shuttles run back and forth every hour, with a first departure in the morning at 1:6 a.m. and the last returns at 30 p.m. Perfect to spend the day there!!!
You can book your tickets online at https://lebateau-frioul-if.tickeasy.com/fr-FR/billetterie-lebateau-frioul-if
Best beaches in Marseille in Frioul
Located just 4 km from Marseille, the Frioul archipelago which has 4 islands is best known for its fortress and its superb coves.
The islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau are linked by a causeway forming a small harbor. These two islands boast some of the nicest beaches in Frioul and the most beautiful coves in the archipelago.
Ratonneau Island - Saint Estève Beach
This is where you'll find the village of the Frioul Islands , known as Port Frioul, and where the shuttle will disembark you. It's the most popular island, serving as the starting point for numerous activities and hikes, and boasting shops, restaurants, and bars.
It is on this island that we find a beach renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in Marseille: the beach of Saint Estève.
To access this dream beach (but a little too crowded in peak season) from the port, you have to go to the left towards the Caroline hospital and take a short walk of about 20 minutes (a small train also provides the route for 2 Euros).
Ile de Pomègues - Tahiti Beach
Tahiti Beach, located in the Calanque de la Crine, is in my opinion the MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH in Marseille. It's not on Ratonneau Island, but on Pomègues Island, which boasts the wildest calanques.
To get there, it's a good hour's walk but it's definitely worth it. The heavenly place that awaits you, being a little far away, is not too crowded with people!
Discover the Calanques of Marseille for cheap
For those who don't want to spend their entire weekend on the beaches, here's my top tip for discovering the coastal landscapes with the coves and Calanques of Marseille off the beaten track: The Blue Coast train.
For the price of a TER journey, you can discover splendid panoramic landscapes on a 32 kilometer circuit around Marseille. To do this, book your TER ticket which connects Marseille to Miramas, it is the famous Blue Coast train.
See also: How to visit the Calanques of Marseille
Cheap tourist bus to visit Marseille
The Marseille tourist bus is an economical and super practical way to discover all the emblematic sites of Marseille. You can get on and off at any stop, take the time you need to explore the Marseille city and take the bus again to continue the tour!
Book the Marseille tourist bus
What budget for this weekend in Marseille?
Here is a budget estimate for this weekend by the sea with my good deals in Marseille for 2 people and 2 nights (excluding meals and drinks):
- Train (€50 x 2) = €100
- Hotel (2 nights) = 200 €
- Frioul crossing (€ 15 x 2) = € 30
- TOTAL WEEK END FOR 2 = € 330
If we break down the price of a weekend in Marseille for 1 person, it comes to only 165 Euros per person ! It's really a great deal for a sunny weekend getaway that's affordable for everyone.
If you'd prefer to choose a hotel for your weekend in Marseille, here are the 3 best budget hotels in Marseille.
And if you want to extend your weekend, here are some ideas: