Marseille to Toulon

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

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Marseille to Toulon is a short hop along one of Europe's finest coastlines: just 65 kilometres separating France's two great Mediterranean naval cities. The TER regional train is fast, affordable and runs frequently; the coast road is beautiful if you have the time; and there is rarely any reason to fly. Here is everything you need for the journey.

The quickest and easiest way: TER regional train

TER (Transport Express Régional) trains run between Marseille Saint-Charles and Toulon very frequently — roughly every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day — with journey times of around 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes depending on the service and intermediate stops. This is one of the Provence–Alpes–Côte d'Azur region's busiest rail corridors, and trains are well used by commuters as well as visitors.

Fares are reasonable — TER tickets are generally less expensive than TGV services — and while advance booking is possible and sometimes offers small savings, the frequency of trains and the modest fares make walk-up travel perfectly practical on this short route. Reservations are generally not compulsory on TER services.

Marseille Saint-Charles is a grand 19th-century station at the top of a monumental staircase, well served by Métro and bus. Toulon station is central, just north of the old port and the main shopping street. Neither city requires much orientation to get from the station to where you want to be.

Stopping points between the two cities

The rail line between Marseille and Toulon serves several towns worth knowing about:

• Cassis — (nearest station: La Ciotat, with a bus connection) beautiful small port with a white limestone calanques landscape nearby.
• La Ciotat — a working shipyard town with a beautiful bay and a claim to cinema history: the Lumière brothers filmed here.
• Bandol — a charming small resort known for its Provençal rosé wines; the station is right above the port.
• Sanary-sur-Mer — a picturesque fishing harbour, accessible by bus from Bandol or Ollioules station.

If you have a flexible ticket or a day to play with, a slow journey stopping at Bandol for a long lunch before continuing to Toulon is very much in the spirit of the Côte d'Azur.

The cheapest option: coach

FlixBus and regional coaches run on the Marseille–Toulon corridor, with journey times typically around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Fares are low, but given that TER tickets on this short route are already inexpensive, the price advantage of coaches is small. The train is faster and more comfortable for a journey of this length. Coaches are most useful if you are travelling very late at night when trains are infrequent, or if you are departing from or arriving at a point not well served by the station.

Driving along the coast

The direct drive from Marseille to Toulon via the A50 motorway is around 65 km and takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour in moderate traffic — marginally faster than the train, station-to-station. Tolls apply on the A50.

However, the real draw of driving this route is the alternative: the D559 coast road via Cassis, La Ciotat and Bandol is one of the most scenic drives in France, hugging the calanques cliffs, dipping through the limestone white-rock landscape, and threading through the small resort towns. Allow 2 to 3 hours and stop frequently. This is a drive worth doing for its own sake, and if you have a car in Marseille, it is hard to resist.

Getting around Toulon

Toulon is a large city best known for its massive naval base — the headquarters of France's Mediterranean fleet — but the old town around the Cours Lafayette market and the hilltop Fort Mont Faron are well worth exploring. The city has a good local bus network. The port connects to Corsica: Corsica Ferries and other operators sail from Toulon to Bastia, Ajaccio and other Corsican ports, making Toulon a useful jumping-off point if you are heading to the island.

Which should you choose?

For nearly all travellers, the TER train is the right answer: frequent, fast, affordable, and conveniently central at both ends. The coast road by car is a genuine rival if you have the time and a vehicle — it is one of Provence's finest drives. Coaches make sense mainly for very early or late journeys. For more on France's regional train network, see our TGV and French rail guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the train from Marseille to Toulon take?

TER regional trains take around 50 minutes on faster services to just over an hour on those with more stops. Trains run roughly every 30–60 minutes throughout the day.

Do I need to book in advance for the TER train?

Advance booking is not necessary on TER services between Marseille and Toulon — you can buy a ticket at the station or via the SNCF app shortly before you travel. Walk-up fares are reasonable on this short regional route.

Can I visit the calanques between Marseille and Toulon?

The calanques are accessible from Marseille by boat, on foot from Luminy (bus from Marseille), or by car via Cassis. Note that access to some calanques is restricted in July and August due to fire risk — check the Calanques National Park website before planning.

Are there ferries to Corsica from Toulon?

Yes. Corsica Ferries and other operators run regular crossings from Toulon to Bastia, Ajaccio and other Corsican ports. Journey times range from about 7 to 12 hours depending on the service and vessel.