A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taormina vs. Toulon for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Taormina or Toulon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Toulon can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Taormina

Taormina is a exclusive, opulent, and historic town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Toulon

Toulon is a industrial, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Taormina and Toulon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Taormina or Toulon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Toulon than Taormina, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Toulon is better known for its scuba diving & snorkeling, historical sights, and shopping, while Taormina is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Taormina is more touristy than Toulon and is popular for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views. Toulon is well known for its old town, its coastal setting, and its popularity with local vacationers. Also, Toulon is famous for The Old Town.

How is Taormina different from Toulon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Toulon and Taormina. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Taormina or Toulon?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Toulon and Taormina.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Taormina. The main landmark in town is the Greek Theater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Also visit Madonna della Rocca as well as Castello di Taormina, which is perched above the sea.

Toulon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Many of the sights are found in the old town and harbor areas. Some of the most interesting attractions include the Opera House, the Allied Landings Museum, the Naval Museum, and Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-la-Seds.

Is the Food Better in Taormina or Toulon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Taormina is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Taormina makes for a great culinary experience. The local dishes draw on traditional Italian flavors such as pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables, but they're also heavily influenced by the island's many historical invaders. You'll find a variety of ingredients in recipes including red chilies, tuna, swordfish, sardines, pine nuts, capers, and olives.

Toulon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a variety of cafes and restaurants that are found along the harbor or in the old town. Whether you want waterfront views or a charming street front cafe, there are great options available. Many restaurants offer local seafood but you'll also find pastries, traditional local food, a several Italian restaurants.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Nightlife?

Taormina is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Taormina offers plenty to do in the evening. The town has a bit of an exclusive vibe and that's felt in the nightlife scene as well. There are lounges and exclusive clubs that serve fine wine and cocktails. You'll also find some late night dance clubs around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Toulon. It's a relatively large city and traditionally a sailor's town, so the city has a long running tradition of partying into the night. While it doesn't have the party-hard reputation of some places, you likely won't be bored at night. Head to the harbor area or the beaches around Mourillon for the most lively bars and cafes.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Resorts?

Taormina is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Toulon is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Taormina. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Toulon is not a resort destination.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Toulon is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Taormina is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Toulon. There are a few beaches in the area that are worth checking out with a mask and snorkel. You'll likely see some underwater life hanging out by the rocks in the quieter areas.

Taormina is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Beaches?

Both Taormina and Toulon are considered to be notable beach destinations.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Taormina. The easiest beaches to access from town are Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella Beach. The beaches are near hotels and there are restaurants as well as beach umbrellas and chairs that you can rent.

Toulon offers a nice beach destination. The beaches are sandy and less crowded than some of the more popular areas. The most accessible beach is Mourillon Beach which has public facilities and restaurants. If you're willing to venture a little farther from the center of town you'll find Mitre Beach which has some snorkeling. Battere Basse Beach is a bit quieter and also has snorkeling. Anse de Méjean is a popular spot with the locals.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for its Old Town?

Toulon is adequate for its historic old town charm. However, Taormina does not have a historic old town.

The old town area in Toulon is worth visiting. The old town has plazas, terraced cafes, and plenty of outdoor shopping opportunities that visitors can enjoy.

Taormina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Taormina or Toulon?

Toulon is a great port city for its shopping areas. Also, Taormina is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Toulon. If you're looking for traditional local shopping opportunities then this is your place. There are a number of traditional Provençal markets around town but the most famous is Cours Lafayette. You can shop with the locals looking for produce or flowers. There's also a weekend farmers market, Petit Cours, that is fun to explore.

Taormina is a great destination for shopping. It's a fashion-conscious town and you'll find boutiques and shops that carry high end Italian brands. There are also shops that sell local pottery and other items.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Families?

Toulon is a port city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Toulon offers lots of family activities. The city may be known as a hub for the French navy, but there are also activities that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There are several military themed museums, a few good beaches, and local shopping. There's also the enjoyable cable car ride that you can take to the top of Mont Faron as well as several nice seaside walks in the area.

Taormina is not the most family-friendly destination. Kids may not appreciate everything that the adults enjoy about this town, but they will likely have fun taking a ride on the cable car and visiting the Greek Theater. There are also wonderful desserts that kids will enjoy.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Couples?

Taormina is a well-known place for romance. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its romantic activities.

Taormina is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's a truly beautiful town with impressive views and a great atmosphere. It makes a wonderful stop off for couples or honeymooners who want to soak up the region's beauty.

Toulon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will appreciate the walks along the coast or through the harbor. There are also nice restaurants, interesting art galleries, and a few good hotels around town that make for a nice couple's weekend.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Toulon is a port city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Taormina is not known for backpackers.

Toulon is a good port city to visit for backpackers. It doesn't have the reputation of many nearby towns along the French Riviera, so you can still find some affordable hostels and cafes in the area. You also won't find the crowds so you can enjoy a touch of the authentic local culture.

Taormina is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There aren't many hostels around town and you won't find a large backpacker crowd here. The town has the feel of an exclusive resort community with high end resorts more common than anything else.

Is Taormina or Toulon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Taormina and Toulon both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Taormina offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the town.

Toulon has a few public transit options. There are buses as well as petits trains (little tourist trains) that you can take around town.

Is Taormina or Toulon a more walkable city?

Taormina and Toulon are superb when it comes to walkability.

Taormina is a very walkable destination. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the town.

Toulon is very walkable. You can walk around the old town and harbor area where many of the sights are concentrated.

For even more information, also check out Is Taormina Worth Visiting? and Is Toulon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Toulon or Taormina?

How long in Taormina or Toulon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Taormina or Toulon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Taormina than Toulon because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Taormina, and 1-2 days is enough time in Toulon.

Families should spend more time in Toulon than Taormina. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Toulon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Taormina than Toulon. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Taormina that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toulon than Taormina if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Toulon.

One day in Taormina or Toulon?

Taormina might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The port city of Toulon offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Taormina or Toulon?

Taormina is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Toulon is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Toulon, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Taormina or Toulon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Taormina. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Toulon is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Taormina or Toulon?

Taormina is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Toulon is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This port city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Luxury Tours to France, and The Best Budget Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Taormina and Toulon, we can see that Toulon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taormina Expensive? and Is Toulon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Taormina or Toulon?

Toulon has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Taormina and Toulon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Taormina or Toulon?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Taormina or Toulon in the Summer?

Both Toulon and Taormina during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Taormina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Toulon for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Taormina is a little warmer than Toulon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Taormina in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Toulon averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Toulon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Taormina. In the summer, Taormina often gets less sunshine than Toulon. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toulon receives 366 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets more rain in July than Toulon. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Toulon receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Toulon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Toulon. Most visitors come to Taormina for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Toulon because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Taormina is generally a little warmer than Toulon. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 21°C (69°F), and Toulon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Toulon this time of the year. Taormina usually receives less sunshine than Toulon during autumn. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Toulon receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Taormina gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Taormina usually receives more rain than Toulon. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Toulon receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Taormina or Toulon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Toulon. The winter months attract visitors to Taormina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toulon this time of year.

Taormina is much warmer than Toulon in the winter. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Toulon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Taormina often gets less sunshine than Toulon. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toulon receives 150 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Toulon. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Toulon receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Toulon in the Spring?

Both Toulon and Taormina are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Taormina this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Toulon for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Taormina is a little warmer than Toulon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Taormina in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Toulon averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Toulon. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Taormina. Taormina usually receives less sunshine than Toulon during spring. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Toulon receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Taormina usually receives less rain than Toulon. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Toulon receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Toulon and Taormina