Toulon
Country: France · Region: Western Mediterranean
Toulon is a medium-sized French port city between Marseille and Nice on the western French Riviera, featuring a large marina and historic old port that regularly receives cruise ships.
Top sights
Vieux Port (old harbor), Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-la-Seds, Mont-Faron Hill, Musée de la Marine (Naval Museum), Place Puget, Opera of Toulon
Things to do
- Vieux Port
- Historic old harbor with promenade featuring wooden boats, souvenir shops, coffee shops, and fish restaurants.
- Mont-Faron Hill
- 500-meter-high hilltop offering birdseye views of the town, accessible by cable car or hiking trails, with museums and a zoo.
- Musée de la Marine (Naval Museum)
- Located at the entrance of the naval base, it features collections relating to the naval history of the town.
- Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-la-Seds
- Built in the 11th century and widened in 1738, it features numerous paintings from the 18th century.
Beaches
- Mourillon beaches
- Several beaches south of the Mourillon quarter set up in the 1950s with associated parks and entertainment for children.
- Les Sablettes
- Beach in La Seyne-sur-Mer with direct access from the Grand Hotel Des Sablettes and Promenade Jean Charcot.
Where to eat
- Brasserie Le Saint Gabriel
- Mid-range restaurant serving Provençal cuisine.
- School Anne Sophie Pic (Toulon's Catering and Tourism School)
- Mid-range venue where students practice with great prices and good reviews, offering lunch Monday-Friday and dinner Tuesday-Thursday.
Bars and nightlife
- Le Chantilly
- Historic brasserie founded in 1907, located at Place Pierre Puget.
Getting around
The metropolitan bus and ferry network is operated by Réseau Mistral; a cable car (téléphérique) provides access to Mont-Faron.
What to eat
The Vieux Port area features numerous fish restaurants and coffee shops; Marché de Provence (traditional market) on Cours Lafayette offers local regional products.
Tips
Visit the Vieux Port early to avoid crowds and enjoy the still sea with typical Provençal atmosphere and wooden boats.
Best for
History, Naval heritage, Mediterranean port culture
More ports in Western Mediterranean
Ajaccio · Barcelona · Cadiz · Cagliari · Cannes · Cartagena (Spain) · Florence and Pisa (Livorno) · Genoa · Ibiza · La Spezia · Malaga · Marseille · Messina · Monte Carlo · Naples · Palermo · Palma de Mallorca · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Salerno · Sorrento · Valencia · Valletta · Villefranche