The two terminals: which one are you at?

La Seyne-sur-Mer (most large ships)

The La Seyne-sur-Mer cruise terminal is at Corniche Alphonse Giovannini on the western side of Toulon Bay. Large ships from MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean dock here. The terminal has Wi-Fi, a tourist information desk, a VPCC welcome desk, and parking at the CNIM lot at Place des Mouissèques, a 5-minute walk away (reserved for cruise passengers on homeport calls, closed for the duration of the cruise).

From La Seyne to Toulon city centre, you have two options:

• 8M Bateau-Bus (recommended): the sea shuttle runs from La Seyne to Toulon waterfront in 20 minutes. Buy a €3.90 all-day pass at the tourist information office near the Toulon ferry terminal. This covers unlimited bus and ferry trips throughout the day. The all-day pass is not sold on the ferries themselves. Single tickets are €2 each way. The ferry drops you directly at Toulon’s waterfront.
• Bus (Mistral line 102): from in front of the terminal to Toulon bus station, adjacent to the SNCF train station. Tickets €1.40, pay the driver. From the station it’s a 15-minute walk to the port or take Mistral line 3 to the “Mayol” stop (2-minute walk to the ferry terminal).

Allow extra time on the return. On busy port days, the ferry can be crowded and waits can build before your all-aboard time.

Toulon city centre (smaller ships)

Smaller ships dock closer to the marina and harbour in Toulon city centre. The waterfront, old town and main attractions are within walking distance from the dock. The ferry terminal (from which the 8M runs to La Seyne) is also nearby if you need it.

Getting around Toulon

The city centre is compact and walkable. The Réseau Mistral bus network covers the wider city and the beaches. The €3.90 all-day pass is the right option for anyone planning to use buses and ferries across the day. Buy it at the tourist information office near the ferry terminal, not on the bus or ferry.

Taxis rank near both terminals. The fare from La Seyne to Toulon centre is around €15-20 depending on traffic. The fare from Toulon-Hyères Airport to the La Seyne terminal is around €80 by taxi.

What to do in Toulon

Mont Faron cable car

The standout attraction. A cable car runs from the northern edge of the city to the summit of Mont Faron at 584 metres, with panoramic views over Toulon Bay, the Var coastline and out to the Hyères islands. The summit has a memorial museum to the 1944 Allied landings in Provence, and a zoo. Allow 2-3 hours for the round trip including time at the top. The cable car gets busy on days when multiple ships are in port. Get there early. A combined cable car ticket and day transport pass is available at the tourist information office.

Vieux Toulon (Old Town)

The old quarter runs between the waterfront and the covered market at Cours Lafayette. The market (Tuesday to Sunday, morning) is one of the best Provençal markets on the coast: fish, cheese, olives, charcuterie, flowers. The surrounding streets are genuinely lived-in rather than tourist-oriented, which makes it one of the more authentic old towns at any French cruise port. The Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-la-Seds is in the old quarter and worth a look. Allow 90 minutes.

National Naval Museum (Musée National de la Marine)

Toulon is France’s largest naval base, and the Naval Museum at the port entrance reflects that properly. Ship models, paintings, navigational instruments and exhibits covering French naval history from Louis XIV to the modern fleet. One of only five national naval museums in France. Worth an hour, and considerably less crowded than the cable car or beaches on busy port days.

Le Mourillon beaches

The nearest good beaches are at Le Mourillon, east of the city along the waterfront. Four beaches run in sequence (Plages du Mourillon), with good facilities and relatively calm water inside the bay. Fort Saint-Louis is at the eastern end of the beach strip, a 17th-century fort from the reign of Louis XIV. Accessible by mini-train from the ferry terminal (July-August only, check with the driver) or by bus on Mistral line 3.

Day trips from Toulon

• Marseille: 45 minutes by TGV from Toulon SNCF station. France’s second city, with the Vieux-Port, the MuCEM museum and the Calanques accessible by boat from the harbour. Realistic for an 8+ hour port call. See our Marseille cruise port guide for what’s worth doing there.
• Aix-en-Provence: About 60km northwest, accessible by bus or train via Marseille. Elegant university city with a famous market on Cours Mirabeau. Allow 3-4 hours minimum including travel.
• Hyères and the Îles d’Or: Hyères is 20km east of Toulon, and ferries run from its port to the three Golden Islands (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Le Levant). Porquerolles in particular has exceptional beaches and is car-free. Realistic for longer port calls.
• Saint-Tropez: About 70km east, but the coast road is slow in summer. Better by boat from Saint-Tropez’s port or by bus via Hyères. Only realistic with 9+ hours in port.
• Cannes: About 90km east. Train via Nice or bus via coastal road. A long day from Toulon. See our Cannes cruise port guide for what’s worth the journey.

Practical information

• The €3.90 all-day pass: Buy at the tourist information office near the Toulon ferry terminal. Not on the ferry or bus. Covers unlimited Réseau Mistral buses and the 8M ferry. Worth it for anyone at La Seyne planning to explore the city.
• VPCC cruise friendly card: Available at both terminal welcome desks. Lists participating restaurants, bars and shops offering discounts and special services to cruise passengers. Worth picking up on arrival.
• Mont Faron queues: Cable car gets busy on days with multiple ships in port. Earlier is better. Aim for the first run of the day if possible.
• Return timing from La Seyne: Allow 45 minutes from wherever you are in the city back to the La Seyne terminal, accounting for the ferry wait and crossing. On busy days, build in more.
• Language: French throughout. English is spoken in tourist-facing businesses near the waterfront and old town. A few words of French are appreciated away from tourist areas.
• Emergency number: 112

Common Questions

Which terminal do most large ships use?
La Seyne-sur-Mer, on the western side of Toulon Bay. MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean all dock here. Check your cruise documents for the berth number to confirm.

How do I get from La Seyne to Toulon city centre?
The 8M Bateau-Bus ferry takes 20 minutes and costs €2 each way. Buy the €3.90 all-day pass at the tourist information office near the Toulon ferry terminal to cover unlimited buses and ferries for the day.

Is Toulon worth spending time in, or should I take a day trip?
Both are legitimate choices. The Mont Faron cable car, old town market, Naval Museum and Le Mourillon beaches fill a full port day without leaving the city. If you’ve done Toulon before or want Provence specifically, Marseille by TGV is the most efficient day trip.

Is the old town safe?
Yes. Toulon has had a rough reputation historically but the tourist areas, waterfront and old town are safe and well-frequented during the day. Standard urban awareness applies.

Can I walk from the La Seyne terminal to Toulon?
Not practically. The terminal is on the western side of the bay and the walk around the waterfront is long. The ferry is the right option.

Related guides

For the full French cruise port picture, our Mediterranean cruise ports in France hub covers all the French stops. For the most common day trip from Toulon, our Marseille cruise port guide covers what’s worth doing there. For the full Western Mediterranean picture, see our Western Mediterranean cruise ports hub.

About the author

This guide was written by Patricia Langford, About2Cruise’s Mediterranean cruise specialist. Patricia rates the Cours Lafayette market as one of the three best Provençal markets accessible from any cruise port on the French coast.