Plage de la Pointe Rouge and Les Goudes France

Marseille is a seaside town, but many of its central beaches leave something to be desired. Changes in currents and wind directions can draw polluted water into the city’s sandy stretches, making for an unpleasant swimming experience. That said, the seaside scene at out-of-the-way beaches is very attractive. Plage de la Pointe Rouge (Red Point Beach) features a collection of basic seafood shacks and a seaside swimming pool, while Les Goudes, a somewhat isolated fishing village in metro Marseille, boasts a no-frills beach that is decidedly non-touristy and reasonably clean.