Free walking tours in Toulon and what to see

Must-sees

Toulon is France’s great naval base on the Mediterranean, embraced by a wide harbour and Mont Faron. The old town, between the port and the boulevards, mixes lanes, squares with fountains and the market on Cours Lafayette. On the harbourfront, the National Maritime Museum tells the story of the arsenal and the fleet with models and pieces of ships. The opera house and the cathedral complete the centre.

To see the city from above, take the cable car up Mont Faron. At the top are the memorial to the Provence landings and liberation, devoted to the fighting of 1944, and trails with views over the harbour. East of the centre, the Mourillon district has beaches in sheltered coves and Fort Saint-Louis. Boats leave the port to cross the harbour to La Seyne-sur-Mer and Saint-Mandrier.

Free tours and guided visits

Toulon has no regular free walking tours. Civitatis offers tickets for the National Maritime Museum, which you can explore at your own pace, and a private guided tour of the city. Another easy way to see the port is to join one of the harbour boat trips, which pass the warships and explain the port’s history.

How long to spend

With a full day you can see the old town, the market and the Maritime Museum and go up Mont Faron. If you also want to enjoy the Mourillon beaches and cross the harbour by boat, allow two days. With three or four days, Toulon is a good base for trips to the island of Porquerolles, Hyères or coastal towns such as Sanary-sur-Mer and Bandol. The Cours Lafayette market is best enjoyed in the morning.

Where to stay

The centre, near the port and the station, is the most practical if you are travelling without a car: the museum, the market and the cable car are close at hand. If you are here for the sea, Le Mourillon puts you next to the beaches, with restaurants and a neighbourhood feel. Further east, Cap Brun and Le Pradet are quieter, and across the harbour La Seyne-sur-Mer has beaches and a direct boat to the centre.