Tourism in the Var Visits & Places not to be missed

Toulon nestles in an exceptional setting, at the end of one of the most beautiful natural roads of Europe, leaning against white limestone mountains. This cultural and lively town with opera and museums is built in Hausmann style with vast arteries scattered with fountains. Still, the best views can be found on the summit of the Mont Faron, accessible by cable car. The military harbour and war ships can be discovered during a boat trip.

Hyères is a renowned beach resort since the 19th century and has managed to preserve a traditional charm with its racecourse, botanic gardens, vast buildings and wide avenues edged with palm trees. Besides the « Belle Époque » districts of the town, Hyères is also worth a visit for its old medieval centre stretching at the foot of a hill, dominated by a castle.

The biggest of the Golden Islands faces the Bay of Hyères. It is also the most inhabited island. It is covered by a vineyard producing the labeled and renowned « Côtes de Provence » wines. Porquerolles is pleasant in all seasons and is part of the protected Nature Park of Port Cros since 1971. On arrival by boat at the marina of Porquerolles, you’ll discover a charming village offering all kinds of facilities: restaurants, bicycle hire, as well as hiking tracks to discover the creeks and beaches of this exceptional place.

Between Hyères, the peninsula of Giens and Saint-Tropez, La Londe is a well-appreciated beach resort for its 2,5 km of beaches. Leaning against the Maures Massif, La Londe faces the Golden Islands. On this land, the Côtes de Provence wines are grown, and you’ll find production of olive oil, flowers and cork oaks.

Bormes-les-Mimosas is a typical Provençal town, set against the hill. It is known for its mimosas that brought the village the title of one of the best flowered villages of Europe. A botanic hiking trail will take you along the streets of the centre, coloured by these yellow flowers.

Le Lavandou stretches more than 12 km of coast as well as 10 beaches and creeks, making it a very popular and lively beach resort. In the summer, you’ll find a great number of cultural and sports activities. The harbour of Le Lavandou houses more than 1000 fisherman and pleasure boats on 7 ha. Every morning, you can observe the traditional return of the fisherman boats.

The Island of Port Cros, 3 km wide and 4 km long, is scattered with 5 forts that recall the defensive vocation of the island, even if only one of them is open to the public. The island became National Park in 1963, covering a maritime area of 600 metres around the coast. It is a well-appreciated diving site to discover the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea. A hiking track will allow you to discover amazing viewpoints on the sea and the Var coast.

Levant Island is a long stretch of rocks of 8 km long and 2 km wide, covered with lush Mediterranean vegetation. It is visible from the sea when arriving by boat and a stairway will take you to the nature reserve of Arbousiers with exotic flora and splendid panoramas. Along the coast, you’ll find extraordinary beaches, some of which are reserved to naturism.

Saint-Tropez immediately makes you think of international jet-set, luxury yachts and glamour. Still, it offers the authentic side of a former fisherman village with coloured fronts facing the sea and a charming little harbour. Saint-Tropez is also a painter’s town that has always attracted painters, as you can see at the Musée de l'Annonciade where you’ll find the works of Bonnard, Picasso and Signac.

Aqualand is a family leisure park. The great number of attractions will be a delight to children with the « Children’s Paradise » and the water play garden, but also to lovers of sensation with giant water slides to hurtle down from.

Marineland offers 40 different animal species, shows with killer whales, sea lions and dolphins as well as exhibitions. It is Europe’s biggest sea park. You can admire water animals from all over the world, including polar bears and sharks. A true plunge in the world of the seas, to the delight of the entire family.