Frioul Islands Ferry and Fort d'If

The Iles du Frioul are four islands 5 km offshore from Marseille, reachable by ferry from the Vieux-Port in 20 minutes (EUR 10.80 return). The islands are part of the national park with no permanent residents, wild limestone landscapes, and beaches with clear water. Ile Ratonneau and Ile Pomegues are the main islands, connected by a modern harbour. Fort d'If is a separate island: the 16th-century fortress where Alexandre Dumas imprisoned Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo. The fort is now a museum (EUR 6 entry, ferry not included) with the cells where Dumas set the famous escape tunnels. The ferry operators sell a combined Frioul Islands and Fort d'If ticket (EUR 17.50). Departure from Quai des Belges, ferries every 45 minutes in summer, less frequent in winter. The Frioul beaches (Plage du Grand Soufre on Ratonneau) are accessible from the port on foot (20 minutes) and offer clear Mediterranean water without the summer crowds of the Prado beaches on the mainland.