12 Best Things to Do in Toulon, France: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide
Last Updated on October 10, 2026 by April Nicole
Toulon may not be as famous as Nice, Cannes, or Marseille, but that is part of what makes it worth visiting. This Mediterranean port city has colorful Provençal markets, a charming Old Town, beautiful beaches, and incredible views from Mont Faron.
During my visit, I discovered that Toulon has much more to offer than its naval port. You can browse the Cours Lafayette market, explore the city’s maritime history, ride the cable car above the city, or spend the afternoon at the beaches of Mourillon.
Whether you are visiting for a day, arriving on a cruise, or staying for a weekend, this guide covers the best things to do in Toulon and shares practical tips to help you plan your trip.
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Quick Toulon Trip Planning
🏨 Where to stay: Compare hotels in Toulon close to the Old Town, harbor, and train station.
⚓ What to book: Browse Toulon tours and experiences, including food tours, walking tours, and shore excursions.
🚆 Getting there: Compare train tickets to Toulon from Paris, Marseille, Nice, and other French cities.
If you are in a hurry, here’s a summary of things to do in Toulon:
Is Toulon Worth Visiting?
Yes, Toulon is worth visiting, especially if you enjoy coastal views, local markets, maritime history, and destinations that feel less touristy than Nice or Cannes.
You can see many of Toulon’s highlights in one day, but staying for a weekend gives you more time to visit Mont Faron, explore the Old Town, and relax along the Mediterranean coast. Toulon also makes a convenient base for visiting nearby places such as Hyères, Porquerolles, and Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer.
If you plan to stay overnight, central Toulon is the most convenient area for reaching the train station, Old Town, and harbor on foot. Le Mourillon is a better choice if you want to stay closer to the beaches and waterfront. You can compare hotels in Toulon to find the best location for your trip.
How to Get to Toulon
Toulon is easy to reach by train from Paris, Marseille, Nice, and other cities in southern France. Toulon’s train station is centrally located, approximately a 10-minute walk from the Old Town.
Direct high-speed trains connect Paris Gare de Lyon with Toulon, while regional trains serve cities along the Mediterranean coast. You can compare train times and ticket prices to Toulon before your trip.
If Toulon is part of a longer Provence or French Riviera road trip, renting a car can make it easier to visit vineyards, coastal villages, and destinations outside the city. However, you will not need a car to explore most of central Toulon.
1. Ride the Cable Car to Mont Faron
Riding the cable car to the top of Mont Faron was one of the highlights of my time in Toulon. The journey takes less than six minutes, and as you climb above the city, the views stretch across Toulon’s harbor and the Mediterranean coast.
Once you reach the summit, you can follow a walking trail, enjoy the panoramic viewpoints, or stop for a picnic overlooking the city.
Check the official Mont Faron website before visiting. Hours change throughout the year, and the cable car may close because of strong winds, annual maintenance, or extreme wildfire risk.
My tip: Visit earlier in the day rather than waiting until sunset. The final departure varies by season, and ticket sales close shortly before the last ride.
2. Visit the Mont Faron Memorial
While you are at the summit, visit the Mémorial du Débarquement et de la Libération en Provence. The museum tells the story of the Allied landings in Provence in August 1944 and the liberation of southern France.
Inside, photographs, military objects, maps, and audiovisual displays explain the events leading up to the landings and recognize the different forces that helped liberate the region. The museum’s location also offers beautiful views over Toulon and the coast.
My tip: Check the memorial’s opening hours before your visit. Hours vary by season, and it closes on certain Mondays between November and March. Access may also be affected by weather or wildfire restrictions on Mont Faron.
3. Explore Toulon’s Old Town
One of the best ways to experience Toulon is simply to wander through its Old Town. The narrow pedestrian streets are lined with colorful buildings, small shops, cafés, fountains, and lively squares that feel distinctly Provençal.
Begin at the Cours Lafayette market, where you can browse stalls selling fruit, vegetables, olives, cheese, flowers, and other regional products. This is also a good place to try cade, Toulon’s traditional chickpea-flour specialty. The market generally takes place Tuesday through Sunday in the morning, but check the current schedule before visiting.
Continue to Place Puget to see its unusual moss-covered fountain, then visit Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-la-Seds, a historic cathedral with architectural details from several periods.
My tip: Visit in the morning when the market is open and the Old Town feels most lively.
4. Visit the Toulon Naval Museum
Located beside the entrance to Toulon’s naval base, the Musée National de la Marine is one of the best places to learn about the city’s maritime history. Its collections explore Toulon’s role as a major Mediterranean port and the development of the French Navy over several centuries.
Inside the Toulon Naval Museum, you will find historic ship models, paintings, maps, navigational objects, and exhibits explaining how warships were designed and built. The museum’s ornate entrance gate is also one of the most recognizable landmarks near Toulon’s harbor.
My tip: Check the museum’s official calendar before visiting. Guided tours, temporary exhibitions, and family activities are offered on selected dates.
5. See an Opéra de Toulon Performance
The historic Opéra de Toulon is one of the city’s most beautiful 19th-century buildings, but its main theater is currently closed for extensive renovations. You can still admire the ornate exterior while exploring the city center.
The Opéra de Toulon continues to present operas, concerts, dance performances, and other productions at temporary venues throughout the area. Depending on the program, performances may take place at the Zénith de Toulon, Palais Neptune, or Châteauvallon-Liberté.
My tip: Check both the date and location carefully before purchasing tickets. The performance venue will vary while restoration work continues at the historic opera house.
6. Walk Along Toulon’s Harbor
A walk along Toulon’s harbor is an easy addition to any day in the city. Start near Quai Cronstadt, where fishing boats, ferries, and naval vessels share the waterfront with cafés and restaurants.
I enjoyed slowing down here and watching the activity around the port. Although Toulon is home to France’s principal Mediterranean naval base, the waterfront still feels relaxed and is a pleasant place to stop for coffee or lunch.
You can also take a boat tour of the Rade de Toulon to learn more about the harbor, its fortifications, and its naval history. Tours and departure times can be seasonal, so check the operator’s current schedule before visiting.
My tip: If you are arriving through the Toulon cruise port, the harbor and Old Town are among the easiest places to explore on foot.
7. Relax on Toulon’s Best Beaches
The beaches of Mourillon are among the best beaches in Toulon for swimming, sunbathing, and spending a relaxed afternoon by the Mediterranean. The area has four main swimming coves—Lido, Mistral, Source, and Pins—along with grassy spaces, walking paths, playgrounds, cafés, and restaurants.
For a quieter setting, head to Plage de la Mitre or Anse Méjean. These smaller coves feel more natural than the developed beaches of Mourillon, although access can be steeper and rockier.
Keep in mind that swimming is prohibited at Anse Tabarly, which is reserved for sailing and other water activities.
My tip: Bring water shoes if you plan to visit the smaller coves. Some beaches have a mixture of sand, pebbles, and rocky areas.
8. Walk the Sentier du Littoral
The Sentier du Littoral, also known as the Sentier des Douaniers, follows Toulon’s coastline past beaches, rocky coves, pine trees, and fishing cabins. You can walk a short section near La Mitre or follow a longer route from the Tour Royale toward Anse Méjean and Anse Magaud.
The complete route takes around four hours, but you do not need to hike the entire trail to enjoy the coastal views. Some portions are easy promenades, while others include steps, rocks, cliffs, and uneven ground.
Part of the path near Cap Brun remains closed because of previous landslides, but a marked detour is available.
My tip: Wear supportive shoes, carry water, and check the current trail notice before leaving. Coastal sections may close after storms, erosion, construction, or periods of high wildfire risk.
9. Visit the Tour Royale
Overlooking Toulon’s harbor, the Tour Royale is one of the city’s most impressive historic landmarks. This 16th-century defensive tower was built to protect the harbor and is now surrounded by a peaceful waterfront park.
Even when the tower itself is closed, you can walk through the park, enjoy views across the Rade de Toulon, or continue along the coastal path toward Plage de la Mitre and the Mourillon neighborhood.
The interior opens on selected days during summer and for occasional cultural events, so check the current schedule before visiting.
My tip: Combine the Tour Royale with Plage de la Mitre and the nearby Sentier du Littoral. The waterfront park is still worth visiting even when the tower is closed.
10. Watch an RC Toulon Rugby Match
Watching RC Toulon play at Stade Mayol is one of the most exciting local experiences in the city. The stadium is located near the harbor, making it unusual for a major rugby venue and easy to reach from central Toulon.
Match days bring supporters into the surrounding streets, cafés, and restaurants well before kickoff. Listen for the Pilou-Pilou, the famous chant performed by Toulon supporters before the match begins.
Even if you are new to rugby, the energy inside Stade Mayol makes attending a game memorable.
My tip: Purchase tickets through the official RC Toulon website and confirm the match date before making plans. Kickoff times and dates can change because of television schedules or tournament commitments.
11. Taste Toulon’s Local Food
Trying the local food is one of my favorite ways to experience a new city, and Toulon has plenty of Provençal and Mediterranean flavors to discover.
Start with cade, a warm chickpea-flour flatbread traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven. It is Toulon’s local cousin of socca, which is more closely associated with Nice. You can often find cade at the Cours Lafayette or Mourillon markets.
Fresh fish and seafood also feature prominently on local menus. Bouillabaisse is most strongly associated with Marseille, but some Toulon restaurants serve their own versions of Provençal fish soup. Pair your meal with a rosé or red wine from the nearby Bandol wine region.
My tip: Look for a lunchtime plat du jour. It is often more affordable than ordering from the full menu and may feature seasonal ingredients.
Local Insider Tip: Many restaurants serve a ‘plat du jour’ (dish of the day) at lunchtime—these are often the best deals and the freshest meals!
12. Visit the Musée des Arts Asiatiques
Located inside a seaside villa in the Mourillon neighborhood, the Musée des Arts Asiatiques offers a quieter cultural stop away from Toulon’s busier attractions.
The museum’s collection includes art and objects from China, Japan, India, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. Most of the collection was donated or left to the city by private collectors, giving the museum an interesting connection to Toulon’s maritime past and its historic links with Asia.
Its location near the waterfront makes it easy to combine with Fort Saint-Louis, the Mourillon beaches, or a walk along the coast.
My tip: Check the museum’s opening hours and current temporary exhibition before visiting, as schedules can change during holidays and between exhibitions.
Best Day Trips from Toulon
If you have more time, several beautiful coastal destinations are easy to reach from Toulon. These day trips are perfect for adding beaches, nature, and a slower pace to your itinerary.
Porquerolles and the Îles d’Hyères
Porquerolles is one of the most popular day trips from Toulon. The island is known for its sandy beaches, vineyards, scenic cycling trails, and clear Mediterranean water.
The main ferry to Porquerolles leaves from La Tour Fondue on the Giens Peninsula in Hyères. Seasonal crossings may also depart from Toulon and other nearby ports, so confirm your departure point before booking.
Renting a bicycle was my favorite way to explore Porquerolles, especially the ride to Plage Notre-Dame.
My tip: Reserve your ferry and bicycle in advance during summer.
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer
For an easier half-day or full-day trip, take the boat-bus across Toulon’s harbor to Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer. This quiet fishing village has a marina, waterfront restaurants, beaches, and coastal walking paths.
Spend some time around the port, stop for lunch overlooking the water, or continue to Plage de la Coudoulière or Plage de Sainte-Asile.
My tip: Check the Réseau Mistral schedule before leaving, especially on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Travelers planning several independent day trips may find it more convenient to compare rental cars in Toulon, especially when visiting smaller coastal villages and vineyards with limited public transportation.
How to Spend One Day in Toulon
If you have only one day in Toulon, focus on the Old Town, Mont Faron, the harbor, and the coast. This itinerary gives you time to enjoy each stop without rushing across the city.
Morning: Old Town and Mont Faron
Begin at the Cours Lafayette market, then wander through Toulon’s Old Town. Stop at Place Puget and visit Toulon Cathedral before making your way to the Mont Faron cable car.
At the summit, choose between visiting the Mont Faron Memorial or taking a short walk to one of the viewpoints. Trying to do both may feel rushed if there are lines for the cable car.
Afternoon: Lunch, the Harbor, and Naval History
Return to the city center for lunch, then walk along Toulon’s harbor. Visit the Musée National de la Marine if you are interested in the city’s naval history.
If you would rather spend more time outdoors, take a harbor tour instead. Check departure times in advance because schedules can vary by season.
Evening: Mourillon and Dinner
Head to Le Mourillon in the late afternoon for a walk along the waterfront or time at the beach. You can also see Fort Saint-Louis from the nearby fishing port.
End your day with dinner in Le Mourillon, the Old Town, or along the harbor. If the Opéra de Toulon has a performance that evening, confirm its temporary venue before purchasing tickets.
More Things to Do in Toulon
If you have more than one day in Toulon, consider adding one of these attractions to your itinerary:
- Tour Royale: This 16th-century defensive tower overlooks Toulon’s harbor and is surrounded by a waterfront park. Interior access is generally limited to selected summer days and special events, so check the current schedule before visiting.
- Musée des Arts Asiatiques: Located in a seaside villa near Fort Saint-Louis, this small museum displays art from China, Japan, India, Tibet, and Southeast Asia.
- Hôtel des Arts: This cultural center in central Toulon hosts changing exhibitions focused on contemporary art, design, photography, and visual culture. Check which exhibition is running during your visit.
These attractions are helpful alternatives for rainy days or travelers who want to explore more of Toulon’s art and history.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Toulon
Toulon may not be the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to the South of France, but that is part of its appeal. Between the views from Mont Faron, the colorful Old Town, the naval history, and the beaches of Mourillon, the city offers an enjoyable mix of culture and coastal scenery.
I hope this guide to the best things to do in Toulon helps you plan a visit that feels relaxed rather than rushed. Whether you are spending one day in Toulon or staying for a weekend, make time to explore beyond the harbor and experience the more local side of the city.
Continuing along the French Riviera? Use these guides to plan your next stop:
