Plage du Prado

Overview

The Plage du Prado is Marseille's largest urban beach complex — a series of sandy and grassy public beaches stretching along the Boulevard du Prado. Created entirely with landfill from the construction of the Marseille metro, it is the city's main beach destination for families and sports enthusiasts.

Highlights

• Sports Facilities: Volleyball courts, skateparks, cycling paths, and kite-surfing areas line the waterfront.
• Family-Friendly: Gentle sandy entries and lifeguard surveillance make it Marseille's safest swimming beach.
• Borély Park: The adjacent Parc Borély offers shaded retreats, a botanical garden, and the Château Borély museum.

History

The Prado beaches were artificially created between 1976 and 1981 using over 600,000 cubic meters of rubble from the excavation of Marseille's metro system. What was once industrial shoreline was transformed into 3.5 km of public beach — a remarkable piece of urban engineering.

Visitor Tips

• Cycling: Rent a Le Vélo bicycle and ride the seaside path connecting the Prado beaches to the Corniche and Vieux-Port.
• Wind: Afternoon Mistral winds make the northern beaches ideal for windsurfing and kite-surfing.
• Duration: 1–3 hours.