Camping Pascalounet

It’s sensible to allocate a fair chunk of your stay to that gorgeous beach, but also worth leaving a little bit of time for further Côte Bleue exploring. There are several other small beaches along the coast, and plenty of watersports – try Cap Couronne for boat hire and jetskiing, or Sausset-les-Pins (10 minutes away) for scuba and snorkelling trips. More of the coastline can be seen on boat trips from Marseille, half an hour away by car. Visit the islands of If and Frioul or scoot along to see the limestone calanques (cliffs and creeks) south of the city. There are also some fab museums in town if you’re in a land-dwelling mood: try the history museum or the eclectic new MuCEM. Up in Martigues, 20 minutes away by car, there’s much ambling to be done around the harbour, along the canal paths and around the town’s baroque churches. Just outside the town is Parc de Figuerolles, on the banks of the huge Étang de Berre, where you can roam on nature trails, ride the carousel and meet friendly farm animals.