Porquerolles
A car-free island off the Riviera coast that France has largely kept to itself: pine forests, vineyards, and beaches — Notre Dame chief among them — with Caribbean-clear water.
- Best forCouples · Beach lovers · Wellness & slow travel
- In March16°C · 5 rainy days
- Ideal stay2–3 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFrench
- Local time12:171h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+33
Why go
The largest of the Îles d'Hyères lies a short crossing off the Var coast, most of it national park: umbrella pine, maquis, old military forts and a handful of vineyards. Cars are effectively banned, so the soundtrack is bicycle bells and cicadas. The north coast holds pale sand and shallow, improbably clear water; the south is cliff, wind and drama. One small village sits around a dusty square.
Day trippers arrive mid-morning and leave by six, which is the argument for staying over: the island empties, the square fills with locals playing pétanque and the beaches belong to whoever is still there. Beds are few and expensive, so book early. June and September give warm sea and half the ferry queues. In deep summer, and in winter when much of the village closes, it is a different proposition entirely.
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- The vibe
- Car-free, pine-shaded, softly Provençal
From our guides
Everyone cycles; hire bikes at the port and pack a picnic from the village square market. Come in June or September, when the day-tripper numbers halve, and stay overnight to have the evening village and its pétanque court to yourselves.
Featured in Ten island hideaways built for two
Things to do
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Plage Notre-Dame
A long crescent of pale sand on the north-east coast, backed by pines and reached by a level 45 minute walk or ride from the village.
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Plage d'Argent
The closest good beach to the port, sheltered and shallow, with shade at the back and a summer beach bar. Busy by lunchtime.
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Hiring a bike
Every second shopfront in the village rents them, and the flat northern tracks put the whole island within reach. The southern climbs are harder work.
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Fort Sainte-Agathe
A sixteenth-century fort above the harbour with a round keep and a long view back across the channel to the mainland.
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The south coast cliffs
Paths along the exposed southern shore pass calanques and the lighthouse, with swimming only where the coves allow and the sea permits.
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Island wine
A few domaines still work the interior, producing Côtes de Provence rosé you can taste on the island and drink at the village tables.
Getting there
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Fly to
Hyères, Var (TLN)
Nearest airport to Porquerolles, about 12km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Porquerolles
About twenty-five minutes by car from Toulon-Hyères airport (TLN) to the ferry port at La Tour Fondue, then a fifteen-minute crossing to the island.
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On the ground
Getting around
The island is car-free. Hire a bike at the port and ride the sandy tracks to Notre Dame and the vineyards; the village is a few minutes' walk from the quay.
Public transport: Ferries run frequently in summer and a bus connects Hyères with the ferry port, so the whole trip works car-free.
Flights
Los Angeles Porquerolles, France
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Roughly 12h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 13°C in January to 32°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in November, with rain on about 8 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March16° · rain 5 daysCool with the odd shower.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
A small number of island hotels and guesthouses, plus a few rental houses. No campsite, no chains and no cars, so luggage travels by bicycle or on foot.
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Best base overall
Porquerolles village
The only settlement, around the square and the port, with the hotels, bike hire and the market. Everything on the island starts here, and there is nothing else at all after dark.
Find stays in Porquerolles village -
Quietest
Village edge towards Notre Dame
A handful of hotels set back among the pines a few minutes from the square, with gardens and no port noise. You still walk or cycle to every beach.
Find stays in Village edge towards Notre Dame -
Best value
Hyères and Giens
The mainland town and the peninsula the ferry leaves from, with far cheaper rooms and a proper choice of restaurants. You day-trip across, which means missing the island's evenings.
Find stays in Hyères and Giens -
Best with children
Le Lavandou and Cavalière
Mainland resorts along the coast with sandy family beaches, apartments and boat links. Sensible if you want one island day rather than a whole car-free week.
Find stays in Le Lavandou and Cavalière
Worth knowing before you book: Island beds number in the low hundreds and go many months ahead for summer, often with a minimum stay. Book the ferry crossing too, as sailings cap out in August.
Search everything else in Porquerolles by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Ferries cross from La Tour Fondue on the Giens peninsula in about 15 minutes, with longer seasonal sailings from Hyères, Le Lavandou and Toulon.
- Cash or card
- The village has few shops and a cash point that can run dry in August. Bring euros for the market and beach kiosks.
- Pack this
- Water, a picnic and reef-safe sun cream. Beaches have almost no facilities and the village shops close for a long lunch.
- Book ahead
- Summer ferry sailings, bike hire and the handful of island rooms all need booking well in advance.
- Park rules
- This is a national park: no fires, no camping, no cars. Fire risk can close the interior tracks entirely in hot, windy weather.
Similar places
Saturnia hot springs
Tuscany, ItalyAlso for couples and wellness & slow travel · 15°C in March, as here · cheaper to stay
Hakone
JapanAlso for couples and wellness & slow travel · 14°C in March (16°C here) · cheaper to stay
Formentera
SpainAlso for couples and beach lovers · 17°C in March, as here · cheaper to stay
Nearby destinations
Calanque d'En-Vau
Cassis, France · 59km away →
Kayaking the Verdon Gorge
France · 84km away →
Nice
France · 116km away →
Provence
France · 118km away →
Èze
France · 124km away →
Gordes
Provence, France · 130km away →Elsewhere in France
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Porquerolles?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 13°C in January to 32°C in July. Driest in July and August; wettest in November, with rain on about 8 days.
How long should I spend in Porquerolles?
Our suggestion: 2–3 nights.
How do I get to Porquerolles?
About twenty-five minutes by car from Toulon-Hyères airport (TLN) to the ferry port at La Tour Fondue, then a fifteen-minute crossing to the island.
Do I need a car in Porquerolles?
No. Ferries run frequently in summer and a bus connects Hyères with the ferry port, so the whole trip works car-free.
What currency and language are used in Porquerolles?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Porquerolles best for?
Best for couples, beach lovers and wellness & slow travel. In a phrase: car-free, pine-shaded, softly Provençal.