Bandol solo for a week in Printemps

Because holidays are sometimes much better alone, here is a week prepared with little onions to discover Bandol and its region.

Saturday: historical flower trail in Bandol

Freshly arrived, take the morning to put down your things, resume a bit of the trip and start to disconnect. For lunch, we recommend one of our many Bandolais restaurants ! Between freshly caught fish and just grilled, Mediterranean specialties or snack to take away, find the restaurants that meet your desires, click here.

The afternoon is a discovery of Bandol and its history who is waiting for you. For that, the historical route allows you to navigate from beacon to beacon, from highlights to flowery streets. Yes because, in addition to learning more about the city's past, the route will take you to hidden corners, hidden staircases and other charming Bandolean corners. To find out more about this journey, click here.

Sunday: walk to the Gaou peninsula

On this sunny Sunday, we strongly advise you to take a trip to the Gaou. This small, almost independent piece of land (yes, because it remains a peninsula), is located just opposite the island of Embiez. And it is a protected lagoon, Natura 2000 area that separates them.

On the program for this Sunday day, a picnic in the shade of the pine trees or placed on a rock with, in all cases, a beautiful view of the sea and an atmosphere at the end of the world; what do you think?

To get there, the easiest way will be by car. It will take you around 30 minutes to reach the peninsula car park, in the direction of Six-Fours-les-plages. To find out more about this beautiful peninsula, click here.

Monday: day on the beautiful PORQUEROLLES

From peninsula to island it's only a step... or rather a day in our case. Porquerolles is the pearl of the surrounding area, the little gem of which we are so proud. This island, which can be described without blushing as paradise, is located off the coast of Hyères. And for our greatest pleasure, Atlantis regularly organizes shuttles to the island, from the port of Bandol.

Meet at 9 a.m. at the boat from Atlantis, on the quay of honor. Embark on a 1-hour crossing to the magnificent island of Porquerolles. Once there, take a map of the island from the small Tourist Office and go rent a bike to explore this gem.

Good to know: electric bikes are available for rental and the island is dotted with climbs of all kinds. If you are not a great sportsman we strongly advise you to take this option.

Let's go for a day between umbrella pines and fields of vines between the blue of the sky and the sea. On site, heavenly beaches, wild landscapes and a small village are waiting for you. The island also hosts a splendid art foundation where playful exhibitions that are out of the ordinary take place every year.

To learn more about the island and the available activities, click here.

Tuesday: market and hinterland

Tuesday, in Bandol, is day of Brive market ! From 8 a.m. to 13 p.m., a large market takes place along the entire quay. Present: local producers with their delicious, tasty and fragrant fruits and vegetables, ideal for planning a salad for lunch; Provençal artisans, butcher, roaster, fisherman and many others…

In the afternoon, to stay in the Provencal atmosphere of the market, we suggest you go for a ride in countryside. Your two drop points for the day will be the Cadière d'Azur and Le Castellet. Two authentic Provençal villages, two villages facing each other and two villages with, despite everything, a soul of their own. One is one typical Provençal nest with its pretty cobbled and colorful streets and the other is a ancient medieval city with an arty atmosphere as we like them.

To get there, it will only take you 15 to 20 minutes by car. To know more, click here.

Wednesday: picnic on the coastal path

The coastal path is an institution Bandol. The walk we like to do on weekends with the family, the one we love to tread on in the morning to wake up or the one we happily take a break at the end of the day to admire the sunset.

This Wednesday will take place in two stages:

• Collect treats from daily market the Place de la Mairie for an improvised picnic lunch;
• Embark on this hike which will take you across sandy beaches, pebble coves and pine forests.

Ready ? To find out all about this coastal path, click here.

Thursday: hike in Sainte-Baume

If there is a flagship massif of our territory, even identity, it is that of Sainte Baume. More than a massif, today it is a Regional Natural Park. The latter offers numerous possibilities for hiking and cycling and above all an immersion in the Var fauna and flora.

Because to present the latter to you, nothing beats the opinion of experts and people who spend all their time there, to find out more, click here.

Friday: southern relaxation & olive oil

On this last day of vacation take it cool. Take advantage of your morning to enjoy the sun on the terrace, have a last picnic on the beach or even take a last walk on the port along the Pointus. In the end, just do what you liked best during this week with us. And above all, enjoy this ultimate relaxing morning!

For the afternoon, we would like to take you to the exit of Bandol, 5 minutes by car from port, in the town of Sanary. Your destination: a typical local olive oil mill. The Garden of Olives is an educational site for the transmission of traditional Provençal methods and know-how. It is open to all curious history and nature enthusiasts. Olive oil is a star food in our Var cuisines. So you can't leave without knowing more about this green gold!

To know more about this garden, click here.

and the memories in all this?

If you want to bring back a little sunshine with you, here are some souvenir ideas: Savonneries du Soleil, Aristide House, Val NJ Creations, See you in Provence, Creacao, Press House, wine merchants...

Good to know : at the Tourist Office we have a whole range of souvenirs ranging from postcards to Bandolese ceramics and very pretty Monsieur Z posters. To find out more, go to our shop.

Now your week in Bandol and especially Var has come to an end. We hope that all these ideas have given you just that and that you have been able to enjoy our beautiful territory. And for you, who haven't come to visit us yet, doesn't that make you want to? A small disconnection between Provence and the Mediterranean? We await you with arms wide open!

See you soon !

PS: follow our Instagram account @bandoltourismeofficiel and share with us your most beautiful memories in Bandoles territory!