BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Marseille by boat: the Frioul, If castle and the southern calanques

Renting a boat in Marseille: the Frioul archipelago, the Château d'If, Les Goudes and the calanques of Sormiou and Morgiou — routes and advice.

By Clément Lacaille, editor of Boat-Comparator · updated 7 Aug 2026

Marseille is the only major European city with a near-deserted archipelago twenty boat-minutes away. From the Old Port or Pointe Rouge, two worlds open up: the Frioul offshore, the calanques to the south.

Frioul and the Château d'If

The Frioul archipelago (Pomègues, Ratonneau) cuts limestone coves into astonishingly clear water — the Crine inlet or the Pomègues anchorage rival the Balearics in September. On the way, circle the Château d'If, Monte-Cristo's island prison.

Les Goudes and the southern calanques

Head south: the village of Les Goudes, Maïre island, then the calanques of Sormiou and Morgiou, quieter from the sea than their Cassis sisters. The Riou archipelago, a strict reserve, is skirted without landing — its seabed is among the richest on the coast.

Wind: factor number one

Marseille is the capital of the mistral: in established gusts the outing is cancelled or falls back to the sheltered southern harbour. Check the forecast the day before, and favour the flexible-cancellation offers Boat-Comparator flags on each listing.

Budget and boats

A deep fleet and some of the gentlest prices on the coast: license-free from €90, RIBs €200-400, motorboats €250-500 per day. The same boat often lists at different prices by platform — a compared search buys lunch at Les Goudes.

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