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 hill accessible by cable car offering birdseye views of the town, hiking paths, memorial museum, and zoo.
- Musée de la Marine (Naval Museum)
- Museum at the entrance of the naval base featuring collections relating to the naval history of the town.
- Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-la-Seds
- 11th-century cathedral near Place Puget featuring numerous paintings of the 18th century.
Beaches
- Mourillon beaches
- Several beaches set up in the 1950s just south of the Mourillon quarter with parks and entertainment for children.
- Les Sablettes
- Beach in la Seyne sur Mer with direct access from Grand Hotel Des Sablettes and Promenade Jean Charcot.
Where to eat
- Brasserie Le Saint Gabriel
- Mid-range restaurant serving Provençal cuisine at 334 Avenue de la République.
- Le Chantilly
- Historic brasserie founded in 1907 located at 15 place Pierre Puget.
Bars and nightlife
- Entracte Bar
- Brasserie bar located at 59 Quai Gabriel Péri.
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