Plages du Prado
Marseille's city beaches, which wake up with the mistral's westerly swell.
The Prado beaches, in southern Marseille, are man-made sand-and-gravel beaches split by groynes. They work mainly when the mistral raises a west or south-west swell and then eases off.
It's the city's urban spot, with lots of surfers and bodyboarders when there are waves.
Spot facts
| Wave type | Beach break |
|---|---|
| Direction | Lefts and rights |
| Level | All levels |
| Best swell | SW, S, W |
| Best wind (offshore) | E, NE, SE |
| Tide | All tides |
| Size | 0.5–1.5 m |
| Best season | Autumn to spring |
| Crowd | Medium |
| Localism | Medium |
Surf forecast
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Hour-by-hour forecast for 14 days, with stars for your board and level, and the whole site without ads.
Model forecast for open water a few kilometres offshore: it can't see sandbanks or the shelter of headlands and jetties. The rating (0–5) is worked out from this spot's ideal swell and wind. Use it as a guide and check the sea before paddling out. Data: Open-Meteo (DWD, ECMWF; CC BY 4.0)
Which board to bring
A funboard or longboard; a fish or shortboard on the best days. How many litres? Work out your volume with the volume calculator.
What to bring to surf Plages du Prado
The water is around 13 °C in winter and 23 °C in late summer. This is what we'd bring for this spot's water, level and boards.
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
View on AmazonFor water from 17 °C.
View on AmazonThe safest, easiest board to learn on here.
View on AmazonKeeps your board from drifting off or hitting someone.
View on AmazonThe classic fish fins: speed in soft waves.
View on AmazonHold and smooth turns for a single fin.
View on AmazonAmazon affiliate links: if you buy through them, Shapers Europe earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Localism and vibe
A large local community; respect priority.
Surfing style
Short waves between groynes.
Hazards
Rock groynes, crowds and strong wind.
Map
Shapers near Plages du Prado
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.
Other spots nearby
Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Reefs on the Côte Bleue west of Marseille, among the best waves in Provence.
La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var)
Toulon's surf beach, on the Saint-Mandrier isthmus, with an easterly swell.
Hyères (Var)
The beach on the Giens isthmus, a windsurfing mecca that picks up the mistral swell.
Sète (Hérault)
The sandy lido between Sète and Marseillan, where Montpellier's surfers meet.
All spots in the French Mediterranean →
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.