Toulon Cruise Port, sometimes known as Le Seyne Sur Mer on cruise itineraries, is nestled between the mountains and the sea on the French Riviera! (Le Seyne Sur Mer, across the harbour from Toulon Cruise Port, is where larger ships dock.)
Toulon Cruise Port sometimes gets overlooked in favour of its glitzier neighbours such as Cannes, Nice and Monaco but there’s so much to do in Toulon!
From its bustling harbour, home to a major French naval base, to the sun-drenched beaches of Le Mourillon and the panoramic views from Mont Faron (with its famous cable car), Toulon offers a compelling blend of maritime heritage, Provençal culture, and Mediterranean beauty. So let me show you how to make the best of your day at Toulon Cruise Port!
This blog post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no cost to you.
On This Page
Toulon Cruise Port: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎😎😎 Straightforward
Toulon Cruise Port is absolutely jam-packed full of stuff to do! I’ve rated a DIY shore excursion at Toulon Cruise Port 😎😎😎😎 Straightforward, because all of them are easily accessible:
- Walkable City Centre: Toulon City Centre is relatively compact and you can easily walk from the port gates if your ship is docked at Toulon Côte d’Azur Terminal
- Sea Shuttle or Public Ferry to Toulon: If your ship is docked at Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal, then catch the “sea shuttle” or a public ferry to Toulon. Once you get off the ferry, you’re right in the heart of Toulon.
- Easy Bus/Ferry Connections: Buses from Toulon ferry terminal will whisk you away to the beaches of Le Mourillon and Les Sablettes. You’ll also get dropped off right outside the Mount Faron cable car station.
Toulon Cruise Port Essentials: All You Need to Know
1. Toulon Cruise Port Terminals
Depending on the size of your ship, you may either dock at Toulon Côte d’Azur Terminal (in the heart of Toulon itself) or at Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal, across the bay in Le Seyne Sur Mer from Toulon.
The larger your ship, the more likely you will be docked at Le Seyne Sur Mer. For example, Virgin Voyages’ ships typically dock at Toulon Côte d’Azur Terminal itself, whereas P&O’s Arvia (its largest ship) docks at Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal. Most cruise lines, if docking in Le Seyne Sur Mer, will make that clear in the cruise itineraries.
I’ve marked both on my Toulon Cruise Port Map 🗺️📌👇 below. For detailed directions on how to get to Toulon City Centre from both cruise terminals, read my “Toulon Cruise Port to City Centre” section below.
2. Toulon Cruise Port: Useful Tidbits
- Currency: Euros
- Language: French
- Official Tourism Website: Provence’s official tourism authority is Provencemed.com,
- Official Tourist Map: Want a downloadable PDF map on your phone? Then this official tourist map is one of the best I’ve seen!
- eSIM for France: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout
Toulon Cruise Port Map
- On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
- On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
- If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps
Toulon Cruise Port to City Centre
1. Toulon Côte d’Azur Cruise Terminal to City Centre
Docked at Toulon Côte d’Azur cruise terminal? Then you can just walk off the ship and be in the heart of Toulon in under 10 minutes’ walk.
Just exit the port gates and walk around the big roundabout, keeping the harbour on your left. You’ll see the city centre within minutes.
2. Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal to City Centre
There are two main options to get from Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal to Toulon City Centre:
(a) “Sea Shuttle”
Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal runs a “sea shuttle” to the Toulon Ferry Terminal. (Your cruise line decides whether it’s paid or complimentary.) The ride takes about 20 minutes and will drop you off right in the heart of Toulon – see the drop off point marked on my Toulon Cruise Port map above as “Toulon Ferry Terminal”.
If it’s complimentary, I would recommend that you take the “sea shuttle”, as it will be the quickest way to get to Toulon. (It’s basically a ferry.)
While taxis are available at Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal, you’ll have to drive around the bay. It’s a long way around, so not only will it take longer, you may also be stuck in traffic.
(b) Public Ferry (Line 8M)
The alternative is to the “sea shuttle” is to do the same trip but on a public ferry. The public ferry Line 8M is run by the local transit authority Reseau Mistral.
The Line 8M ferry starts from Seyne ferry terminal (closer to Le Seyne Sur Mer’s town centre), then stops at “Espace Maritime”, before heading across the harbour towards Toulon ferry terminal.
The “Espace Maritime” ferry terminal (it’s actually just a small pier, with a pontoon for you to hop onto the ferry), is about a 10-15 minute walk on flat ground from the port gates of Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal – see this marked on my Toulon Cruise Port map above 🗺️📌👆.
- How to Get There: Turn right at the port gates. Walk along the main road and turn right at the first roundabout. Follow signs to “Espace Maritime”.
- Journey Time: 20 minutes
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes during weekdays, every 30 minutes on Sat & less frequent on Sundays.
- Timetables: Click to timetables on Reseau Mistral’s website. (This page also updates if there’s disruptions to the ferry service).
- Tickets: €2 one-way, cash only. Pay onboard the ferry.
Cruise lines are now charging up to £20 (~US$25) return for adults for the sea shuttle. If you’re a family or a group, it certainly adds up quick! The ferry is a good alternative and will still be easier than taking a bus. (To travel by bus from Le Seyne Sur Mer to Toulon city centre involves a change of buses, so it’s a bit more awkward compared to the public ferry.)
3. Getting Around Toulon using Public Transport
Besides public ferries, Toulon also has a great network of buses, including the bus to the Mount Faron cable car base station. Here’s my tips on how to get around Toulon using public transport:
- Use the App if you can: Download the Reseau Mistral transit app at home to your phone if you can. (Scroll down & you’ll see iOS & Android links to their respective App stores.) Most of what you need will automatically change to English.
- €3.90 Daily Pass: Using return ferries between La Seyne Sur Mer <–> Toulon? Buy the €3.90 daily pass (“Abonnement 1 jour”) and that covers your ferries and buses, if you need them. You’ll get a QR code to scan on ferries and buses.
- €10 Cable Car Ticket Pass: Planning a trip to Mont Faron? Then buy the €10 cable car ticket pass (“Abonnement 1 jour Téléphérique”). It covers a return cable car ride, your ferry rides and bus rides to/fro the ferry terminal to the cable car station. This is an absolute bargain, as the return car trip alone is €9.
- Multiple Cruisers: If you’re a couple or group, then use “Add Traveler” function to buy tickets for different people in your group, if one of you wants to buy all the tickets.
- Check Mont Faron Cable Car is running: Mont Faron cable car can shut due to high winds, so be sure to check whether the Mount Faron cable car is running first, before you buy your tickets. You can also check on the app.
- Useful Routes: Bus #40 is useful to get to Mount Faron cable car station, bus #23 to the Le Mourillon beaches & ferry route 18M to beaches at Les Sablettes. I’ll give you more information on where to catch those under those sections.
Note to seniors & those traveling with kids: There are reduced (aka concession) fares but I think these are only accessible to locals with a special card or those whose online accounts are tagged as under 18 or seniors.
Don’t want to install another app on your phone? Then there’s usually a tourist information counter at Le Seyne Sur Mer Cruise Terminal where you can purchase a paper version of the cable car ticket pass. (The €10 cable car pass is not sold onboard the ferries.) I’m not sure whether they sell the €3.90 daily pass there though.
The main tourist information office, close to the Toulon Ferry Terminal (or Sea Shuttle drop off point) – see this marked in my Toulon Cruise Port map above – sells public transport tickets. The €3.90 daily pass is sold here. But beware of queues, as there’s going to be lots of cruisers who haven’t read this guide 🤣 and will be asking questions, not buying tickets! (And they close for lunch! It’s the Côte d’Azur after all!)
Toulon Cruise Port: Top Things to Do
I’ll divide the “Things to Do” in Toulon into two parts: (a) What’s within walking distance in Toulon town centre and (b) Mont Faron. Mount Faron involves a short bus ride and then a cable car to the top but it’s absolutely worth it!
1. National Navy Museum
The National Navy Museum (Musée National de la Marine), a few minutes walk from the Toulon Ferry Terminal (where the ferry or sea shuttle dropped you off) is part of a network of museums on French naval history.
Toulon became the Mediterranean’s largest naval port during the reign of Louis XIV and the naval dockyards, next to the museum, is home to 70% of the French fleet. Today, the main branch is Paris (at the Palais de Chaillot) but this Toulon branch was the first maritime museum in France when it opened in 1814.
Housed in a history building called the Corderie (Rope Factory), you’ll see an impressive collection of detailed ship models, from historical sailing vessels to modern warships.
- Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 6pm (closed Tuesdays from September to June). Closed January for winter season.
- Tickets: €8 adults, free for kids. Those 18-25 with a EU passport also gets in for free. Audioguide is an extra €2. Cards accepted at ticket counter.
2. Old Town (Vieille Ville)
Toulon has ancient roots, dating back to the Roman period (when it was known as Telo Martius). But Toulon suffered heavy bombing during WWII, which caused significant damage to Old Town. The network of narrow, winding streets remain and you’ll see a mix of architectural styles, from medieval to 19th century.
Enter Old Town via Rue d’Alger, opposite the Toulon Ferry Terminal. Then take a right at Rue Emile Zola to take you to Toulon Cathedral (see below). Then the local market, Cours Lafayette Market, is around the corner.
Toulon’s most famous square, Place de la Liberté, is a bit further north, closer to the train station.
3. Toulon Cathedral
Toulon Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-la-Seds) has existed on its present site since the 5th century. The Cathedral we see today was built in the 11th century but significant expansion and alternations took place in the 17th century.
The bell tower, acts as a good landmark, for the centre of Toulon. It stands at 36m (about 120 feet) and is topped with a distinctive wrought-iron campanile. (Unfortunately, you can’t climb the tower.) The church is free to enter.
- Opening Hours: Open 8am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, from 7:30am to 12 noon, then 4pm – 7pm. Note that there will be masses during Sunday mornings, as it’s a working cathedral.
4. Cours Lafayette Market
Visit Cours Lafayette Market (Marché du Cours Lafayette) for a true Provençal market experience! Expect to see everything from fresh produce, freshly baked bread and traditional French pastries like croissants and pain au chocolat to cheeses and charcuteries.
Interested in a lunch-time walking food tour? You’ll taste typical Provençal dishes, cheeses, biscuits and the iconic Tarte Tropézienne – a halved brioche filled with mix of thick pastry cream and buttercream! 😋
- Opening Times: Closed Mondays. Open 7:30am to 1pm Tuesday to Sunday. Head there early if you can!
5. Mont Faron & Cable Car
The Mont Faron Cable Car (Téléphérique du Mont Faron) is an iconic Toulon experience! The cable car has been operating since 1959 and the bright, red cabins are easily recognisable.
It’s a steep ascent, offering spectacular views of Toulon and its harbour. It takes just less than 10 minutes to the top. Before heading to the lower cable car station, DO check that the cable car is running, as it can shut due to high winds.
- How to Get to Cable Car Station: Take Bus #40 from stop “Cours Lafayette” on Ave. de la Republique. Get off at stop “Téléphérique”, about a 20-minute ride away.
- Return Trip: To return to Toulon Cruise Port or ferry terminal back to Le Seyne Sur Mer after your excursion, the Bus #40 stop is across the street from where you got off. It drops you off across the street on Ave. de la Republique where you got on.
- Cable Car Opening Hours: (When it’s open), Daily 10am to 7:45pm (July to August), last ride varies depending on sunset. Check here.
- Cable Car Queues: As with any attraction with a limited capacity, queues will start to build up. So if you’re interested to get to the top of Mount Faron, make this the first thing on your DIY itinerary at Toulon.
- Combined Bus/Cable Car Ticket: €10 day-pass includes a return cable car ride. Buy it either from the app (see above) or from the tourist information office close to the bus stop – see this marked on my Toulon Cruise Port map above 🗺️📌. Note this €10 pass is not sold on onboard buses. If you don’t purchase this first, pay the driver €1.40 for your bus ride and then €9 return for the cable car at the cable car ticket office.
Besides panoramic views at the top of Mont Faron, there’s quite a few attractions worth visiting:
(a) Memorial Museum of the Allied Landings in Provence
This memorial museum is dedicated to Operation Dragoon, the Allied landings in Provence in August 1944. Often overshadowed by the Normandy D-day landings, Operation Dragoon was a crucial part of the liberation of France during WWII. There’s interactive displays and models that explain the strategy and execution of Operation Dragoon and it’s a must-visit if you’re interested in WWII.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10am – 12:30, then 1:15pm to 6:30pm (June to September). Closes at 5:15pm from October to May.
- Tickets: €6 adults, €3 for kids aged 10+ and students
(b) Sanctuary of Notre Dame of Faron
The Sanctuary of Notre Dame of Faron (Chapelle Notre-Dame du Faron) is a small chapel dedicated to our Lady of Faron. The interior of the chapel is quite bare. Follow signs from the cable car station – it’s about a 5 minute walk.
(c) Fauverie du Mont Faron (Zoo)
This is a small zoo with big cats, about 15 minutes walk from the upper Toulon cable car station. There’s Bengal tigers, African lions, pumas and lynxes but very few other species.
- Opening Hours: 10am to 6:30pm during summer months, typically aligns with the cable cars in other times.
- Tickets: €12.50 adults, €11 kids over 12, €7 kids over 4
6. Toulon Mini Train
Want to do an easy-going city tour of Toulon? Need hop onto the mini-train for a 45-minute circuit of Toulon city centre. During July to August, it will stop at Le Mourillon beaches and you can hop off, hopping back onto a later train, subject to available seats, so I would check with the driver first for return times.
Toulon Cruise Port to Nearby Beaches
There are two main beach areas close to Toulon Cruise Port: the Le Mourillon area (either walk or bus from Toulon city centre) and its famous cousin, Les Sablettes, a short ferry ride away.
1. Le Mourillon
Le Mourillon isn’t just one beach, but a series of sandy coves, artificially created but beautifully maintained, forming a crescent-shaped haven along the Mediterranean. The area is family friendly and there’s numerous restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlours along the promenade. If you’re after a few hours of seaside relaxation, then Le Mourillon is a great pick!
There’s also beautifully maintained Jardins d’Acclimatation (Acclimatization Gardens) which runs parallel to the beach at Le Mourillon. So when you feel like a respite from the sun, then head to the gardens. There’s plenty of shade, as well as a kid’s playground and picnic areas.
How to Get to Le Mourillon from Toulon City Centre
- From Toulon Côte d’Azur Terminal: It’s a 20-minute walk from the port gates, along the main road. There’s lots of shops along the way, as you get closer to the beach. See the route marked in blue in my Toulon Cruise Port Map.
- From Toulon Ferry Terminal: If you’ve just hopped off the sea shuttle or public ferry from Le Seyne sur Mer, then you may not feel like doing the 30-minute walk to Le Mourillon.
- Bus Route #23: Catch route #23 from stop “Le Cours Lafayette” heading east – see this marked in my Toulon Cruise Port map above 🗺️📌👆
- Bus tickets: €1.40 cash only. Pay driver onboard.
- Combined Ferry / Bus Tickets: If your ship is docked at Le Seyne sur Mer terminal and you intend to catch the 8M ferry, then it’s easier to buy a €3.90 day pass. More details on “How to Get Around Toulon Using Public Transport“
- Or ride the mini-train from Toulon Ferry Terminal – note that the Little Train only stops at Le Mourillon beaches during July – August, so check with the driver first if you want to hop off at Le Mourillon.
Tour Royale & Fort Saint-Louis
If you’re heading to the beaches at Le Mourillon, you can also add some sightseeing to your itinerary by visiting either the Tour Royale (Royal Tower) or Fort Saint-Louis.
Fort Saint-Louis is right at Le Mourillon beach. Building in the late 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, Fort Saint-Louis was intended to define the eastern approaches to the harbour.
You can then walk along the harbour front, then along the beaches to get to Tour Royale. You can’t go inside the Royal Tower but it’s a lovely walk on the beaches!
2. Les Sablettes
If your ship is docking at Le Seyne sur Mer cruise terminal and you want to head to the beach, then Les Sablettes is much closer, without having do a detour via Toulon itself.
The main beach at Les Sablettes faces south, directly onto the Mediterranean. But it’s still relatively sheltered and you get a long, wide stretch of fine, golden sand. Unlike the man-made coves of Le Mourillon, this is a natural sandy beach.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer and there’s a nice resort town feel to it. Public showers and WCs are on the beach, with restaurants, cafes and snack bars along the promenade area.
How to Get to Les Sabettes from Toulon / Toulon Côte d’Azur Cruise Terminal
- Public Ferry: Catch the public ferry Line 18M from Toulon Ferry Terminal.
- Tickets: €2 cash, one way. Pay onboard the ferry. More information above under “Getting Around Toulon using Public Transport“.
- Frequency & Timetables: Approx. every 20 minutes from Monday to Friday, every 30 minutes on weekends – link to timetables
Once you get off the ferry at Les Sabettes, the beach is a 3-minute away.
How to Get to Les Sabettes from Le Seyne sur Mer Cruise Terminal
Les Sabettes is located about 15-minutes’ drive away. So the easiest way to get there is by bus, as the bus stop just outside the port gates.
- Finding the bus stop: Exit the port gates and turn right. Cross to the opposite side of the street and take a left to Av. Charles Tournier – see the stop marked on my Toulon cruise port map above.
- Tickets: €1.40 cash only onboard. You can also buy tickets on the app – see more information under “Getting Around Toulon using Public Transport“
- Get off at the last stop: Last stop is the Sabettes bus terminal, opposite the Les Sabettes ferry terminal, just a few minutes walk to the beach.
- Return Bus Stop: For your return trip to Ley Seyen sur Mer cruise terminal, the bus stop is on the opposite side of the street from where you got dropped off. The bus stops at Av. Charles Tournier, across the street from where you got on initially and it’s just a short way back to the cruise terminal.
- Frequency & Timetables: Around every 30-40 minutes. I recommend that you install the app or use Google Maps to find the next departure time. Link to timetables here.
Featured Photo of Plages du Mourillon by dmytrok
If you’ve got to the end, then a big-thank you for reading. I didn’t set out to write so much for Toulon but a few reader emails about concerns docking at Le Seyne sur Mer cruise terminal prompted a much longer blog post!
If you’ve visiting Toulon this summer, I hope that you’ll have a wonderful cruise and an enjoyable day at Toulon. If you’ve found this guide helpful in your planning, I would really appreciate you sharing this with your fellow cruisers in your roll call groups. Thanks so much! Zana.
