A Travel Price Comparison for France Toulon vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Toulon or Avignon?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Toulon and Avignon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Toulon

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

Avignon

Avignon is a scenic, picturesque, and historical town. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Toulon and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toulon or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Toulon. While Toulon is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Toulon is more popular for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty. Avignon is more touristy than Toulon and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Also, Avignon is famous for Palais des Papes. Toulon is well known for its old town, its coastal setting, and its popularity with local vacationers.

How is Toulon different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Avignon is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Avignon that are not to be missed. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Toulon offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Toulon or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is an unbeatable 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.

Avignon has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

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 Toulon or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Toulon is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

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.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Toulon or Avignon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Toulon is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Avignon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to 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.

Avignon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Toulon or Avignon Better for Beaches?

Toulon is a good destination for the beach. However, Avignon is not a beach destination.

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.

Avignon is not a beach destination.

Is Toulon or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Toulon is not a good port city for its old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Avignon offers plenty to see. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

You can check out the historic old town in Toulon. The old town has plazas, terraced cafes, and plenty of outdoor shopping opportunities that visitors can enjoy.

Is the Shopping Better in Toulon or Avignon?

Toulon is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Toulon or Avignon Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Toulon or Avignon.

Toulon is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Avignon is a family-friendly port city. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Toulon or Avignon Better for Couples?

Avignon 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.

Avignon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

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 Toulon or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Toulon and Avignon are notable destinations for backpackers.

Toulon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

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

Both Toulon and Avignon offer notable public transit options.

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

Avignon has some public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Toulon or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Toulon is a very walkable port city. 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 Toulon Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Toulon?

How long in Toulon or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Toulon or Avignon to fill your time. In our opinion, Avignon has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Avignon than Toulon. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

One day in Toulon or Avignon?

In Toulon, you'll find nightlife and food. This port city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Toulon or Avignon?

In Toulon, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Toulon has to offer.

Avignon 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.

Five days in Toulon or Avignon?

Toulon is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

A week in Toulon or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Toulon. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Toulon. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon 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. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to France, The Best Budget Tours to France, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, and The Best Contiki Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Toulon and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Toulon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Toulon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Toulon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Toulon.

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

Which is Bigger, Toulon or Avignon?

Toulon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Toulon and Avignon, 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 Toulon or Avignon?

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 Toulon or Avignon in the Summer?

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

In July, Toulon is generally around the same temperature as Avignon. Daily temperatures in Toulon average around 24°C (75°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Toulon. In the summer, Toulon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Avignon. Toulon gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Toulon usually gets less rain in July than Avignon. Toulon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Avignon in the Autumn?

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

Toulon is around the same temperature as Avignon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Toulon averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Toulon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Toulon usually receives more sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Toulon gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Toulon usually receives less rain than Avignon. Toulon gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Toulon or Avignon in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Toulon is around the same temperature as Avignon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Toulon in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Avignon averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Toulon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Avignon. Toulon gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Toulon usually gets more rain in January than Avignon. Toulon gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Avignon in the Spring?

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

In April, Toulon is generally around the same temperature as Avignon. Daily temperatures in Toulon average around 13°C (56°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Avignon. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toulon. Toulon usually receives more sunshine than Avignon during spring. Toulon gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Toulon usually receives less rain than Avignon. Toulon gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Toulon