Want to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown La Ciotat? The charming Plage Saint-Jean, a little out of the way and generally not very busy, is ideal. It offers a beautiful view of the city and the shipyard gantries.
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to Plage Saint-Jean in La Ciotat, on the Côte d’Azur.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is Plage Saint-Jean worth it?
Yes, it’s a beautiful beach and well worth a visit. We liked the fact that it was atypical of other beaches in the region. Its large rocky beaches will appeal to those who like to bask in the sun without the inconvenience of sand. The water is transparent, so if you like snorkeling, this is the ideal beach!
This beach is one of the places to visit in La Ciotat during your stay.
Type of beach
Sand or no sand?
You won’t find any sand. This beach is almost entirely made up of large, flat rocks. We found them ideal for a nap! Part of the beach is also adorned with small flat pebbles. The same ones you’ll find in the water.
Swimming conditions and supervision
The beach is unsupervised. Indeed, it’s more like a small cove sheltered from houses than a classic beach.
Installations
We didn’t see any showers or toilets on the beach.
Plage Saint-Jean in La Ciotat: how to get there
Where is Plage Saint-Jean?
- In the city of La Ciotat
- 10 minutes by car from La Ciotat’s Old Port
- To the east of the city, in Baie de la Vierge
Access by car and parking
It’s a 10-minute walk from the nearest parking lot to the beach. It is located at 6 Impasse des Vieux Moulins in La Ciotat.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Access from town or parking lot
From the city center, we recommend you opt for the car or public transport. In fact, the beach is more than a 45-minute walk away.
From the parking lot, take Avenue Saint-Jean. The access road to the beach is opposite the school, near the hotel. Note that this path is not the most pleasant, but the reward is at the end of the road!
Public transport access
Saint-Jean Beach is served by the 40, 70and200 bus routes of the local transport network, at the Saint-Jean La Poste stop.
To plan your itinerary, we invite you to consult the official website of the public transport network here.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN La Ciotat
- Things to do in La Ciotat
- Best hotels to stay in La Ciotat
- Best restaurants (coming soon)
- La Ciotat’s most beautiful beaches
- Tour de l’Île-Verte (coming soon)
- Calanques de Figuerolles
Special features
Dog
Dogs are welcome on La Ciotat’s Plage Saint-Jean!
Reduced mobility access
There are no facilities for disabled access.
In addition, the access road has stairs.
With children
On the pebble beach, the slope entering the water is very gentle. However, we do not recommend setting up on flat rocks. Children can get hurt if they fall. What’s more, rocks in the water can be slippery.
Naturism
Naturism is not permitted in this cove. La Ciotat’s only naturist beach is Plage du Liouquet.
Eating out
There are a number of restaurants close to the beach, including Le Nautique and Le Grand Large, both about a 10-minute walk away.
Otherwise, we recommend returning to the city center. La Ciotat is home to some very fine restaurants. We’ve rounded up our favorites in our article dedicated to the city’s best restaurants.
Hotels
La Ciotat is an ideal place to spend the night. Located near Cassis and Bandol, it’s easy to get around Provence and discover all the jewels of the Côte-d’Azur.
Here are our recommendations for your stay:
WHERE TO STAY IN La Ciotat
Option 1: Old port side
Enjoy the charm of the old town, the port and all the restaurants.
We recommend..:
- Best Western Vieux-Port Hotel with rooftop pool – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Beach side
With sea views and direct access to beaches. We recommend..:
- Aparthotel A Deux Pas de L’Eau – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Rose Thé – prices, pictures and availability
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
