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Voykit pocket guide · France
Le Lavandou
Two nights if you want beach days and a boat trip to Porquerolles; one night if you are passing between Toulon and Saint-Tropez.
Le Lavandou is a south-facing resort on the Var coast with a string of sandy coves and a working port. It works best as a short beach stop between Toulon and Saint-Tropez, or as a base for the Hyères islands. The town itself is compact: a seafront promenade, a handful of restaurants and a market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowded, high prices), Nov–Feb (many places closed)
- 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 €50–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ 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 | €1.50–3.00 |
| Baguette sandwich | €5–8 |
| Menu du jour (lunch) | €15–25 |
| Beer (pint) | €5–8 |
| Glass of rosé | €4–7 |
| Ice cream (two scoops) | €3–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TLN · Toulon-Hyères
- About 25 km (16 mi); taxi or bus #7801 (check)About 16 mi (25 km); taxi or bus #7801 (check)
- NCE · Nice Côte d'Azur
- About 100 km (62 mi); bus or rental carAbout 62 mi (100 km); bus or rental car
- MRS · Marseille Provence
- About 120 km (75 mi); bus or rental carAbout 75 mi (120 km); bus or rental car
Typical fares
- Bus Toulon–Le Lavandou (#7801)
- about €10, about 1 h (check)
- Boat Le Lavandou–Porquerolles
- about €35 return, 30 min (check)
- Taxi Le Lavandou–Bormes-les-Mimosas
- €15–25
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
On foot in the centre. A car or bicycle is useful for the coves east of the port. Buses #7801 and #8814 connect to Toulon and Saint-Tropez but run infrequently and can be late in summer.
See and do
Known for
- Sandy coves (plages)
- Boat links to Porquerolles and Port-Cros
- Wednesday and Saturday market
- Proximity to Bormes-les-Mimosas
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Porquerolles | Vedettes Îles d'Or from the port, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Bormes-les-Mimosas | Bus #8814 or a 10-min drive | About 20 min |
| Saint-Tropez | Bus #8814 via Cogolin, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Cavalaire-sur-Mer | Bus #8814, about 30 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Town centre / port
- Close to restaurants and the boat pier; parking can be tight.
- Along the D559 coast road
- Quieter, often with sea views; you will need a car or bike.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much? | Combien ?kom-byehn |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syohn, seel voo pleh |
| Where is the beach? | Où est la plage ?oo eh la plahzh |
| Do you have a table for two? | Avez-vous une table pour deux ?ah-vay-voos ewn tah-bl poor duh |
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
- Boat tickets to Porquerolles sell out in July–August: book a day ahead.
- Many restaurants close for lunch between 14:00 and 19:00.
- Parking in the centre is paid and scarce in August.
Le Lavandou is a low-crime resort. Watch for pickpockets on crowded beaches and the boat queue. Summer heat can exceed 30°C (86°F); carry water and sunscreen.Le Lavandou is a low-crime resort. Watch for pickpockets on crowded beaches and the boat queue. Summer heat can exceed 86°F (30°C); carry water and sunscreen.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Le Lavandou yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sandy coves (plages)
- Boat links to Porquerolles and Port-Cros
- Wednesday and Saturday market
- Proximity to Bormes-les-Mimosas
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: Le Lavandou, revision 4014068 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4014068
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/le-lavandou). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.