A Travel Price Comparison for France Toulon vs. Marseille for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Toulon or Marseille?

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 Marseille 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Toulon and Marseille: Pros and Cons

How is Toulon different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Food?

Most foodies will appreciate the restaurant options in Marseille a bit more than Toulon.

Marseille has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

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 Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will usually choose Marseille over Toulon.

The nightlife in Marseille is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

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 Toulon or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Toulon and Marseille are good choices for a beach vacation.

Many people head to Toulon to enjoy the beach. 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 to 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.

Marseille has a beach worth visiting. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

While Toulon and Marseille both have old towns, overall Marseille is more well-known.

With a famous historical old-town, Marseille offers plenty to see. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

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 Toulon or Marseille Better for Shopping?

Both Toulon and Marseille are good shopping destinations.

Toulon is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Marseille is well-known for its shopping. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Families?

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

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.

Marseille is not always a place people visit with their families. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Couples?

Both Toulon and Marseille are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Toulon is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Marseille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Toulon and Marseille are popular destinations 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Marseille. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Public Transit?

Both Toulon and Marseille offer 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.

Marseille has some public transit options. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Toulon or Marseille a more walkable city?

Toulon and Marseille both are comparable when exploring on foot.

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

Marseille is a very walkable port city. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Toulon?

How long in Toulon or Marseille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Toulon and Marseille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Marseille than Toulon.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Toulon is 1-2 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Marseille is 2-3 days.

One day in Toulon or Marseille?

You'll find shopping and museums around the port city of Toulon. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Toulon has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Marseille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Toulon or Marseille?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the industrial destination of Toulon. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this port city has to offer. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Marseille 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 Marseille?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the off-the-beaten-path port city of Toulon. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marseille. 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 Marseille?

Toulon is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Marseille. This city 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.

When is the best time to visit Toulon or Marseille?

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 Marseille in the Summer?

Both Marseille and Toulon during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Toulon this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Toulon is generally around the same temperature as Marseille. Temperatures in Toulon average around 24°C (75°F), and Marseille stays around 24°C (75°F).

In Marseille, 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 Marseille. Toulon gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.

Toulon usually gets less rain in July than Marseille. Toulon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Marseille in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Toulon and Marseille. Many travelers come to Toulon for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Toulon is around the same temperature as Marseille in the autumn. The temperature in Toulon is usually 16°C (61°F) in October, and Marseille stays around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Toulon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Toulon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during autumn. Toulon gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Toulon usually receives more rain than Marseille. Toulon gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Toulon or Marseille in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Toulon as well as Marseille. Many visitors come to Toulon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

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

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

Toulon usually gets more rain in January than Marseille. Toulon gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Marseille in the Spring?

Both Marseille and Toulon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Toulon for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Toulon is generally around the same temperature as Marseille. Temperatures in Toulon average around 13°C (56°F), and Marseille stays around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toulon. Toulon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during spring. Toulon gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Toulon usually receives more rain than Marseille. Toulon gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Toulon