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Voykit pocket guide · France
Hyères
Spend 2–3 days in Hyères: one for the old town and the Giens peninsula, one for Porquerolles island. A day trip from Toulon works for the old town only.
Hyères is the gateway to the Îles d'Or (Porquerolles, Port-Cros) and has a preserved old town, a long sandy beach at the Giens peninsula, and the Fondation Carmignac modern art museum on Porquerolles. It's quieter than Saint-Tropez or Cannes, with a relaxed Provençal feel. Most visitors use it as a base for the islands and the peninsula, not for the town itself.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowded, hot), Nov–Feb (many island services reduced)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café crème) | €2–3.50 |
| Baguette sandwich | €5–8 |
| Beer (pint in a bar) | €5–7 |
| Glass of wine (house) | €4–6 |
| Ferry to Porquerolles (return) | €25–35 |
| Bus ticket (single) | €1.50 |
| Taxi from Hyères to Giens (about 10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi from Hyères to Giens (about 6.2 mi (10 km)) | €20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TLN · Toulon-Hyères Airport
- About 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Hyères; bus 39 to the town centre, about 20 minAbout 3.1 mi (5 km) east of Hyères; bus 39 to the town centre, about 20 min
- MRS · Marseille Provence Airport
- About 100 km (62 mi) west; shuttle bus to Marseille Saint-Charles station, then train to HyèresAbout 62 mi (100 km) west; shuttle bus to Marseille Saint-Charles station, then train to Hyères
Typical fares
- Toulon-Hyères Airport → town centre
- Bus 39, about €1.50, 20 min (check)
- Hyères → Porquerolles ferry
- about €25–35 return, 20–30 min (check)
- Hyères → Toulon train
- about €5–7, 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bus (Réseau Mistral) covers the town and the Giens peninsula; a car is useful for the peninsula and the islands' ferry ports. Bikes are good on the flat parts of the peninsula and Porquerolles.
See and do
Known for
- Porquerolles island
- Giens peninsula
- Old town (Vieille Ville)
- Fondation Carmignac
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Porquerolles | Ferry from Port de la Madrague (Giens) or the town port; about 20–30 min | About 1 h from Hyères centre |
| Port-Cros | Ferry from Port de la Madrague; about 30 min | About 1 h 15 min |
| Toulon | Train from Hyères station, about 20 min | About 40 min |
| Saint-Tropez | Car via A570 and D98, about 1 h 15 min; or bus (check) | About 1.5 h |
| Bormes-les-Mimosas | Car via D98 and D559, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Bandol | Train from Hyères, about 30 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Town centre (Vieille Ville / Port)
- Restaurants, markets and the port; walkable to the old town.
- Giens peninsula
- Beach hotels and calm; a car or bike helps to get around.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good day | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?zhuh puh pay-yay par kart |
| Where is the ferry? | Où est le ferry ?oo ay luh feh-ree |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferries to Porquerolles and Port-Cros run from the Giens peninsula (Port de la Madrague) and the town port; check the schedule in advance, especially outside summer.
- The Fondation Carmignac on Porquerolles requires advance booking (50 visitors per half hour).
- Parking in the old town is limited; use the pay lots at the port or the station.
Hyères is safe. Watch for pickpockets in the port area and on crowded ferries in summer. The main risk is sunburn and dehydration on the islands: carry water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hyères yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Porquerolles island
- Giens peninsula
- Old town (Vieille Ville)
- Fondation Carmignac
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Hyères, revision 5030238 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5030238
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hyeres). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.