Porquerolles: A Day Trip from Toulon to the Golden Islands

There is a moment, about ten minutes into the crossing, when the mainland softens behind you and the water turns the particular blue that no postcard ever gets right. Porquerolles does that to people. The largest of the Golden Islands lies a short hop off the Giens peninsula, and despite being one of the most beautiful places on the French Riviera, it stays improbably wild — no cars, a single small village, and pine forests running straight down to the sea.

It makes for one of the best days you can have from the villa.

A day on the island

Leave the car on the mainland; Porquerolles belongs to bicycles. Rent one at the port and the whole island opens up: sandy tracks through the umbrella pines, the scent of eucalyptus and rosemary, and beaches at the end of nearly every path. Ride out to Plage Notre-Dame — regularly named among France's finest, a long curve of pale sand and shallow turquoise — or stop closer to the village at La Courtade if you'd rather not pedal far.

Between swims, there's more than enough to fill the day. Climb to Fort Sainte-Agathe, the 16th-century fortress above the village, for the history and the view; push on to the lighthouse at Cap d'Arme at the island's southern tip; or duck into the Carmignac Foundation, a striking contemporary-art space set among vines and olive trees. And yes — Porquerolles makes its own wine, so an end-of-afternoon glass under the plane trees of the village square is practically obligatory before the ferry home.

Practical information

• Getting there: Drive to La Tour Fondue, at the tip of the Giens peninsula (about 40 minutes from the villa), and take the ferry — roughly 20 minutes, departures every 30–45 minutes in summer, around €24 return. Arrive early in July and August: the car parks at Tour Fondue (€10–18 for the day) fill quickly.

• On the island: No vehicles. Rent a bike at the port (≈ €30/day, e-bikes ≈ €45) or bring your own on the ferry. Good walking shoes work too for the village and nearest beaches.

• Best time: May, June and September are ideal — warm water, fewer crowds. Midsummer is glorious but busy; take the first ferries.

• Budget: Allow a full day. Ferry + bike + a relaxed lunch comes to a comfortable day out for two.

• Last ferry: The final boat back leaves around 6:30 pm — keep an eye on the time, or you'll be sleeping under the pines.

Mauricette's Tip

Take the very first ferry of the morning. You'll have Plage Notre-Dame almost to yourself for an hour before the day-trippers arrive — and that hour, with the light still low and the water like glass, is the Porquerolles people fall in love with. Pack a picnic from the Toulon market the day before; the island's restaurants are lovely but few, and the queues at noon are not.

Make a day of it from the villa

Porquerolles pairs naturally with the rest of the Giens peninsula and a boat trip out to Grand Ribaud, or a windsurfing afternoon at Almanarre. It's one of many days out within easy reach — see our full guide to things to do around Toulon. Base yourself at Villa Mauricette, with the sea on one side and a pool to come home to: see the house and book direct.