The bus services in the area are operated by Varlib (www.varlib.fr). Other areas in the south of France are serviced by the Mistral Bus Network (www.reseaumistral.com).

Bus line #8005 runs between Bandol, Sanary sur Mer, Six Fours and Les Plagues and Toulon. Bus #8806 runs between Bandol, Sanary sur Mer, Six Fours les Plages and La Seyne sur Mer. All these are serviced by Varlib.

The Mistral Bus network circulates in all the districts of the Toulon area and the maritime shuttles provide connections between Toulon, La Syne and Saint Mandrier.

We recommend having a car during your visit so you will not be so limited in regards to what you can see and do. Car rentals are available at all arrival points in France (airport, train station, port, etc.).

The A8 motorway is the major highway from Paris to the South of France. It`s call the Autoroute du Soleil, which translates as the `Highway to the Sun.` From Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, drivers may take the A8, La Provancale, eastwards towards Cannes. The A8 stays close to the coast from Cannes to Italy, west of Cannes it heads more inland with a spur down to Toulon. The A8 is mostly narrow and can be very curvy and hilly when inland. It is pleasant to drive these roads as part of a tour but it is not really convenient, especially if speed is required, it is typically quickerto take the indirect route using the A8.

Note: You will find that most everywhere on the coast has a short supply of parking in the summer. We recommend you review parking for the individual town you will be visiting to know your parking options.

Highways A1, A6 andA7: Lille, Paris, Lyon, Marseille
A62, A61, A9,A54: Bordeaux, Toulouse, Narbonne, Montpellier, Nîmes, Arles
A54: Nîmes,Salon-de-Provence
A8: Italie,Nice, Marseille
A51: Gap,Sisteron, Aix-en-Provence

Rentals -- To rent a car, you`ll need to present a passport, a driver`s license, and a credit card. You will also have to meet the company`s minimum age requirement; 21 or above at most rental agencies. The biggest agencies have pickup spots all over Southern France, including Budget (tel. 800-472-3325); Hertz; (tel. 800-654-3001); and Europcar (tel. 877-940-6900) in the U.S. and Canada.

All About Car Rentals

Thereare some sign-posted cycling routes, but you may want to build your own route. You`ll find many excellent general websites dedicated to cycling in France and worldwide. Some worth noting that offer valuable advice and information are www.veloloisirprovence.com/fr to learn more about cycling in the Provence and www.freewheelingfrance.com.

The Var department suggests a wide range of options from the southern slopes of the Gorges du Verdon to a 75 mile coastal bike path that extends all the way from Six Fours les Plages to Saint Raphael.

When to go: In Southern Provence, the temperatures average 85 - 90°F in July and August. If you plan to cycle during these summer months we recommend you plan a long lunch-break. You shouldn’t encounter much rain in the high summer months, but there is not much you can do in regardsto the Mistral, the fierce north-west wind which can roar down the Rhone valley and surrounding area. The winds can blow any time of the year, unless you confine your itinerary to the eastern parts of Var and the Alpes de Haute Provence.

Heavy traffic can be a hazard in the popular tourist areas, especially during school holidays. Main roads are best to avoid altogether on weekends during the summer months in the height of season when French families take their summer break. A big added bonus when traveling by bike, it`s a lot easier to park a bicycle ata top tourist spot than to find a space for your car.

Taxis and private car hires are available to help you visit the Coastal Region. Some taxi services will offer you a choice of several tours and can accommodate larger groups as well.

Most of the towns and villages are small and easy to explore on foot once you get there. You will also be able to find taxi service within the towns and cities.

France`s state-owned trains are fast, efficient and typically a good value. High-speed TGV`s connect major cities; smaller towns are served by slower TER trains, sometimes supplemented by buses. TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) is the world`s fastest trains. This train links all the major cities and resorts in the South of France, allowing you to travel within the region.

SNCF (French National Railroads; www.voyages-sncf.com) also runs local trains that connect rural areas, as well as along the resort area of the French Riviera. It also operates trains running into the mountains above Nice, and over into the Italian border.

Marseille, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Nice are four of France`s busiest rail junctions, with trains departing across France every few minutes. SNCF (French Rail) offers a low cost, high speed rail travel service called Ouigo, pronounced `we go`, an independently run subsidiary of SNCF. The Train station of Saint-Cyroles-Lecques-la Cadiere is a hub in the French transport network enabling travelers to reach the region around Saint-Cyr-Mer (Var, Provence-Alps-French Riviera).

Other Transport Nearby:

Train Station of La Ciotat (3.7 miles)
Train station of Bandol (3.8 miles)
Aerodrom of the Castellet (6.2 miles)
Train station of Ollioules-Sanary-sur-Mer (7.5 miles)
Train Station of Cassis (8.3 miles)
Train Station of La Seyne-Six-Fours (10 miles)
Train Station of Aubagne (10.3 miles)
Train Station of La Penne-sur-huvaeune (11.7 miles)

Rail passes -- Rail passes as well as individual rail tickets are available from Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com; Tel. 800-622-8600 in the U.S.). Options include a 5-day rail pass usable within France for a 1-month period. Eurail (www.eurail.com) offers regional rail passes throughout Europe, including a France-and-Italy combined pass.

Aix has both a TGV and regular station and is well connected both to Paris - Marseille line and (via Marseille) to the Genoa - Nice - Barcelona line. The same shuttle that runs from the airport to Aix also services the Aix TGV station. The regular train station is at Place Victor Hugo.