Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Toulon?

Q: Is one day enough time in Toulon?

One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Toulon even though it's not huge. A shorter schedule may leave you feeling like you didn't fully get to find the best deals at the shops, lounge on the beach, browse through museums, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. To genuinely appreciate the best areas of the off-the-beaten-path port city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to two days here. After all, Toulon is a small port city with a some good sights and activities, but still hosts a fairly small number of tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Toulon?

Most visitors spend one to two days in Toulon when visiting. The off-the-beaten-path port city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the quaint shops, the beaches, the museums and landmarks, and the food.

Toulon is often overlooked for more famous nearby cities, but for an off-the-beaten path experience along the French Riviera then this port city is one of a kind. It's probably more famous for its naval base than its appeal to tourists, but the old town has many sights and cafes and the harbor is a fun place to explore. There are also nearby beaches that are more frequented by locals than by travelers.

Do you have one or two days to visit Toulon? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Toulon?

One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Toulon even though it's not huge. A shorter schedule may leave you feeling like you didn't fully get to find the best deals at the shops, lounge on the beach, browse through museums, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. To genuinely appreciate the best areas of the off-the-beaten-path port city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to two days here. After all, Toulon is a small port city with a some good sights and activities, but still hosts a fairly small number of tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Toulon

Shopping in Toulon is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. 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.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Tasting Bandol Wines & Visit of Cellar (in English) ($13)
Vineyard visit in Gyropode, visit of Cave & Tasting Wines of Bandol ($37)
Cellar Visit & Bandol Wine Tasting (in French) ($13)

Toulon is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the port city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. You can walk around the old town and harbor area where many of the sights are concentrated.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Toulon?

Two days or a full weekend in Toulon is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to two days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the quaint shops, the beaches, the museums and landmarks, and the food. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Toulon, France

How to spend 2 days in Toulon

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Toulon, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the port city has to offer.

The beautiful beaches await you in Toulon, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sea kayaking in the heart of the Ramatuelle Nature Reserve ($42)
Transfer from Toulon Cruise Port to Marseille Provence Airport ($117)
Private Transfer from Toulon Cruise Port to Marseille city Hotels ($117)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. 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.

The public transit in Toulon is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the port city quite easily and affordably. There are buses as well as petits trains (little tourist trains) that you can take around town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Toulon, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.