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

Is there more to do in Toulon or Marseille?

You'll generally find more things to do in Marseille than Toulon. Marseille is bigger than Toulon, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Marseille is better known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Toulon is more popular for its museums and scuba diving & snorkeling. Marseille is more touristy than Toulon and is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. Also, Marseille is famous for The Vieux Port. Toulon is well known for its old town, its coastal setting, and its popularity with local vacationers.

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.

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

Toulon is a nice place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Toulon. 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.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Marseille 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.

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?

Marseille is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for nightlife and partying.

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 Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Toulon is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Marseille 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.

Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Toulon and Marseille are notable 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 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?

Marseille 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, 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 the Shopping Better in Toulon or Marseille?

Both Toulon and Marseille are excellent 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 Christmas Markets?

Marseille is very good for its Christmas markets. However, Toulon does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille offers some nice Christmas markets. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Toulon does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Families?

Toulon is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Toulon is a family-friendly port city. 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 doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Couples?

Marseille 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.

Marseille is a very popular place to visit for couples. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

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 Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Toulon and Marseille 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 Marseille. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Toulon or Marseille Better for Students?

Marseille is a well-known place for students. However, Toulon is not popular with students.

Marseille is very popular with students. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Toulon is not popular with students.

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

Both Toulon and Marseille 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.

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 excellent 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.

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

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 in Toulon. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Toulon, and 2-3 days is enough time in Marseille.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marseille than Toulon 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 Marseille.

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 off-the-beaten-path 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 industrial 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 energetic 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.

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 Marseille, we can see that Marseille 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Toulon or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Toulon. When comparing the sizes of Toulon and Marseille, 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 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. Daily temperatures in Toulon average around 24°C (75°F), and Marseille fluctuates 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 daily temperature in Toulon averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates 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 average around 7°C (44°F), and Marseille averages at 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. Daily temperatures in Toulon average around 13°C (56°F), and Marseille fluctuates 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