What To Do On Frioul Islands Marseille? Ferry Guide & Best Beaches
Frioul Islands, Marseille: Ferry Guide, Best Beaches, & Things To Do (2025)
Is Frioul Island worth visiting?
TLDR; Quick Planner - All You Need To Know Before Visiting Frioul Islands in Marseille
🏝️ Why is Frioul Island worth visiting?
- Unique limestone scenery, crystal clear bays and coves for swimming
- Calanques Natural Park vibes without the hours of hiking there first
- Accessible directly from the main harbour right in centre of Marseille (Vieux Port)
- Great half day/ day trip from Marseille
⛴️ How do I get to Frioul from Marseille?
- Ferries run year-round (weather permitting) with more departures in summer.
- Get your ticket and hop onboard at Vieux Port (right in the centre, few steps from the metro)
- Check the timetable and map: Le Bateau Frioul
⏰ How long is the ferry to Frioul?
- Travel time is ~20–30 minutes by ferry from Vieux-Port (Old Port) to Port Frioul (Ratonneau)
🌞 Best beaches?
- Plage de Saint-Estève (easy access)
- Morgiret cove (near port)
- wild coves on Pomègues (hikes)
🏰 Don't miss
- Château d’If
- The haunting Hôpital Caroline ruins; sweeping viewpoints on Pomègues
- Good-to-know: Sail/boat tours sometimes spot dolphins near the islands; crossings and sheltered coves chosen based on Mistral wind. Office de Tourisme de Marseille
🌸 Best time to visit Frioul Islands
- May–October: Warm seas and frequent ferries; July–August are the busiest (and hottest).
- Shoulder months: Spring and early autumn offer the best hiking temps with swimmable water.
🐬 Good to know!
- Wind watch: The Mistral can cancel ferries or make hikes unpleasant. If you’ve booked a boat tour, operators will adjust coves based on wind and sea state.
- In the busiest summer months the queues get so long you might have to wait in line until the next ferry!
What (and where) are the Frioul Islands?
The Frioul Archipelago is a cluster of four islands about 4–5 km offshore: Pomègues and Ratonneau (linked by a causeway and forming the main “Frioul”), plus tiny Tiboulen and If. The area’s dry, salty micro-climate fosters rare, sometimes endemic flora and hosts sea birds like the yellow-legged gull (locals say “gabian”). It’s part of the wider Calanques environment.
What most people don't know: Pomègues hosts an organic aquaculture farm! Check out this cool eco-story for travelers who love sustainability and local food.
The most frequent question about Frioul: How do I get there?
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FERRY ⛴️
Operator: Le Bateau
Route: Vieux-Port → (optional stop at Château d’If, not open on certain periods in the winter) → Port Frioul (Ratonneau) → return
- Frequency: Year-round; more in summer; weather (Mistral) can suspend service! Check same-day schedules. lebateau-frioul-if.fr
- Tickets & Price: round trip costs 11,90 (one stop at Frioul) 16,90 (two stops If+Frioul). Get your tickets online (up to 2h before departure), at the ticket office or onboard.
An alternative: Small-group boats & sunset cruises
If you’d rather swim straight from a boat and tuck into protected calanques when the wind blows, consider a skippered boat trip. Operators navigate to the best coves based on wind direction and occasionally spot dolphins around If/Frioul—epic for families and photographers.
Be sure to do some research, the prices, times and what's included vary!
What to do on Frioul (beyond “go to the beach”)
1) Walk the islands: easy to moderate trails
The Frioul Islands are car-free and built for hiking between calanques, batteries, and lookouts. Expect limestone paths, thyme and immortelle scents, and sea-to-city panoramas.
Ratonneau loop: Port Frioul → Plage de Saint-Estève → Hôpital Caroline (neoclassical “Greek-temple” vibe from 1828) → port. The hospital complex once served Marseille’s disease-control strategy when the islands were a quarantine (“lazaret”) zone—one of the most fascinating, under-told stories here.
Pomègues ridge: Cross the causeway and follow the spine for wild views and quiet coves. Keep an eye out for seabirds and resilient coastal flora that thrive in this arid microclimate.
2) Swim & snorkel in calanques
Plage de Saint-Estève (Ratonneau): easiest access, lifeguarded in high season; clear, family-friendly water.
Anse de Morgiret (near the port): tiny, rocky, great for quick dips before/after your ferry.
Pomègues coves: more rugged and uncrowded—pack water and reef-safe sunscreen.
Wind tip: When the Mistral blows from the west, many boat skippers—and swimmers—shelter on Ratonneau side coves. If the wind rotates, your “calm” spots may change; locals choose beaches accordingly.
3) Step into a novel at Château d’If
The 16th-century fortress-prison where Dumas set The Count of Monte Cristo sits on its own island (separate from Frioul but on the same ferry line). Combine an If visit with Frioul in a single day if you start early.
4) Eco-curious? Meet island biodiversity
Ecology-minded travelers will appreciate that the site is co-managed by Marseille, the Conservatoire du Littoral, and the Calanques National Park - with efforts to protect arid-island habitats and seabird nesting. Tie in a restaurant stop back in Marseille to sample island-farmed sea bream or bass stories from Pomègues’ award-winning organic aquaculture.
The best beaches on Frioul (with time-boxed itineraries)
If you have 3–4 hours (half day)
Do: Ferry to Ratonneau, walk 20 minutes to Saint-Estève, swim, and detour to the Hôpital Caroline viewpoint.
Eat/Drink: Grab a cold drink at the port cafés before your return ferry.
If you have a full day
Morning: Ferry to If (1–1.5 hours inside the fortress), re-board to Ratonneau.
Midday: Swim at Saint-Estève or Morgiret.
Afternoon: Cross to Pomègues for a scenic ridge-walk and secluded cove.
Sunset: Port drink, then head back as Marseille glows gold across the bay.
(Boat tours add swim stops and a shot at dolphins—a plus for families.)
Where to eat & practicalities
Food on island: A handful of cafés/restaurants cluster around Port Frioul on Ratonneau—handy but limited. Bring water and snacks for hikes. (Multiple traveler guides and official pages flag the “limited services → plan ahead” reality.)
Footwear: Paths are rocky; wear trainers or hiking sandals.
Shade: Sparse on trails—pack a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.
Cash/card: Cards accepted at most places, but keep small cash for kiosks.
Facilities: Toilets near the port; none at remote coves.
Accessibility: Saint-Estève is the most practical beach for varied mobility levels; the causeway is paved but many paths are rough.
Cultural side-quest: a mini island “new town”
A lesser-known angle: the small Frioul village on Ratonneau was designed in the 1970s with Mediterranean-modernist influences. Only a quarter of the original project was built - one reason the islands still feel wild. If you like architecture and social history, this juxtaposition of low modernist blocks with raw limestone is surprisingly photogenic.
When to go (and when not to)
May–October: Warm seas and frequent ferries; July–August are the busiest.
Shoulder months: Spring and early autumn offer the best hiking temps with swimmable water.
Wind watch: The Mistral can cancel ferries or make hikes unpleasant. If you’ve booked a boat tour, operators will adjust coves based on wind and sea state.
Responsible visiting
Because Frioul sits within the Calanques’ protected environment and hosts rare flora and nesting birds, stick to marked paths, pack out all trash, and avoid trampling vegetation. Skip loud music at coves! Sound carries far in the wind.
Is Frioul worth it?
FAQ
How do I get to Frioul from Marseille?
Walk to the Vieux-Port and take the Frioul-If Express ferry. Optionally stop at Château d’If, then continue to Port Frioul on Ratonneau. lebateau-frioul-if
How long is the ferry?
Around 20–30 minutes to Frioul (Ratonneau), depending on routing and sea state. lebateau-frioul-if
Where can I swim on Frioul?
Saint-Estève is the main sandy-pebble beach. For quieter coves, hike along Pomègues. Boat tours will choose sheltered sides if the Mistral is blowing. Office de Tourisme de Marseille
Does Marseille have an island fort?
Yes—Château d’If on its own island. You can combine If + Frioul in one round-trip ticket if you start early. The Glittering Unknown
Is there wildlife?
Yes—seabirds (gull colonies) and rare island flora; on certain boat outings you may spot dolphins offshore. Office de Tourisme de Marseille+1
