Fringed by a magnificent stretch of sand, Cavalaire-sur-Mer is considered one of the most picturesque towns on the French Riviera. It’s framed by Cap Cavalaire on one side and Cap Lardier on the other, with a charming fishing port dominating the centre of town. Restaurants serving Provençal cuisine line the waterfront while scenic hiking trails traverse the rocky coast.
Things to do in Cavalaire-sur-Mer
You can spend your days relaxing on the Plage du Centre-ville, a busy stretch of sand backed by a breezy promenade. Wander south to the yacht-filled port to discover restaurants and brasseries serving Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Further north lies the Plage de Cavalaire-sur-Mer, a wider beach with shallow water and several offshore floating platforms.
Want to stretch your legs? Follow the Sentier du Fenouillet, a 4.5-kilometre-long loop trail that departs from the Plage de Bonporteau. It winds along the rocky coast and through dense scrub vegetation while offering spectacular views across the Mediterranean Sea towards the Île du Levant.
A short drive west of Cavalaire-sur-Mer is the Domaine du Rayol, a landscaped Mediterranean garden planted with arid and subtropical species. It’s been designated as a Remarkable Garden of France and is divided into several globally-themed zones, ranging from South Africa to Australia and Chile. In addition to Chinese bamboo and Japanese cycads, you can see underwater plantings representing the Baie du Figuier in the Jardin Marin.
Getting around Cavalaire-sur-Mer
Cavalaire-sur-Mer is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and two hours from Marseille Provence Airport, both of which have flights to destinations across Europe. Buses are the main means of getting to and from the town while the centre of Cavalaire-sur-Mer is easy to explore on foot.