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Toulon Rugby Matchday Guide: The Best Walk to Stade Mayol
- Sports Travel Tom
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
A practical guide to experiencing a Toulon rugby match — the walk to the stadium, what it’s like, and is it worth it?
Toulon is less about the glitz and glamour often associated with the French Riviera. It’s a working town, built around its harbour — home, no less, to the French Mediterranean naval fleet. But on matchdays, the town works for you.
With Stade Mayol located right on the edge of the harbour, a Toulon matchday pulls you through the city — not just the streets around the stadium.
It starts with a morning coffee around Place de la Liberté, before drifting down towards the waterfront where thousands of fans are already gathering, choosing their spot along the water's edge.
The harbour wasn’t built to create the perfect pre-match walk — but that’s exactly what it becomes. As you move from bar to bar, with Stade Mayol gently drawing you in, it’s hard to think of a better way to arrive at a stadium.
As part of my French Riviera journey, exploring the region through its sports events and experiences, Toulon is one that should firmly be on your list.
At a Glance
Location: Toulon, France
Stadium: Stade Mayol
Sport: Rugby Union (RC Toulon)
Best seats: South East corner sections I, H, G (best value and views)
Ticket difficulty: Straightforward
Why go: One of the best pre-match atmospheres in European sport
Key tip: Give yourself time for the walk to the stadium and keep an eye out for the team bus passing by
Watch the full Toulon matchday experience here.
What makes a Toulon rugby matchday different?
Toulon is synonymous with rugby, and RC Toulon are one of the most successful clubs in France.
Stade Mayol is rich in history and intimate, with just over 17,000 seats. But it’s the setting that sets it apart — a coastal stadium, right in the heart of the city.
Both elements combine to make it a special place to watch rugby.
But what really makes a Toulon matchday stand out is everything that happens before kick-off.
It’s one of the few stadiums where the journey to the ground feels just as important as the match itself.
The walk to Stade Mayol (the real experience)
Starting at the western edge of the harbour
Around three hours before kick-off, I started at the western edge of Toulon’s harbour. From here, the route to matchday is simple — a steady walk east towards the stadium.
To your right, boats rock gently in the water.
To your left, a near continuous line of bars and restaurants.
My first stop — and a good tone-setter for the rest of the day — was Marina Ristorante.
Pizza, a beer, and time to watch as hundreds of fans continue to arrive, many clearly realising what lies ahead for the first time.
The pub-to-pub build-up
It’s important to pace yourself on this walk. There are more than enough places to stop — and if you tried to visit all of them, you’d struggle to make kick-off.
Le Navigateur is one of the best known pre-match spots. Inside it’s huge, but on a warm afternoon, everyone spills outside.
In front of you: sailing boats, ferries, and the French naval fleet. If the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is in port, you won’t miss it.
As you continue east, the bars keep coming — broken only by more restaurants and the steady flow of fans moving in the same direction.
By the halfway point of the promenade, the atmosphere is building.
Le Grand Café is packed, but I find a seat at Le France — and by now, with the afternoon sun at its strongest, it feels unmistakably Mediterranean.
The Toulon team bus passes by
At around 2:40pm, there’s a sudden shift.
Car horns. Shouting. Movement.
Just off the promenade, fans begin lining Avenue de la République. Flares are lit, flags raised.
The Toulon team bus is about to arrive — nearly two hours before kick-off.
When it does, the reaction is instant. Noise, colour, energy. It’s a moment that adds another layer to the day — unplanned, but completely part of the experience.
Arriving at the stadium
As you reach the eastern edge of the harbour, it’s worth stopping at Le Corsaire — another well-known pre-match spot just across from Stade Mayol.
From there, you cross into the stadium precinct.
Despite its size, the atmosphere builds quickly.
DJs, brass bands, and fans gathering in tight spaces between the harbour and the stadium walls.
It feels compact, busy, and alive — a natural continuation of everything that’s come before.
What the match experience is like
The south east corner is a great place to sit — often offering some of the best value tickets in the stadium. I was seated on the back row of Section I.
You get partial cover, a full view of the pitch, and a clear look across the stands towards the Monts Toulonnais beyond.
Like many rugby stadiums, you can take drinks to your seat — which feels fitting after the walk to get there.
And the atmosphere delivers.
For a stadium of under 20,000, Stade Mayol generates serious noise. A live orchestra on the pitch before kick-off, brass bands in the stands, and a crowd fully engaged throughout.
It feels like a continuation of the harbour — just now everyone is together in one place.
How to get Toulon rugby matchday tickets
Tickets are easy to get and good value.
I paid around €20, and cheaper options are often available depending on the fixture.
You can buy directly through the RC Toulon website, where you’ll be able to choose your seat from an interactive stadium map.
If you’re aiming for the south east corner, look for the top right section of the map when selecting seats.
Practical tips for matchday
Toulon is well connected by train from Marseille and Nice along the French Riviera line
Most hotels are located around Place de la Liberté — a good starting point for the day
Arrive 3–4 hours before kick-off to enjoy the full harbour walk
Start at the western edge of the harbour and walk east towards Stade Mayol
Is it worth it? (final thoughts)
A Toulon matchday isn’t just about the rugby.
It’s about how the day unfolds.
From a quiet coffee in the morning, to the gradual build along the harbour, to the noise and energy inside Stade Mayol — it feels like a full experience rather than just a few hours at a game.
The walk to the stadium is what makes it. It’s unforced, natural, and something you could easily miss if you went straight to the ground.
If you enjoy sport as part of a wider travel experience — where the setting, the people and the build-up matter just as much as the event itself — this is one of the best matchdays you’ll find.
It’s not polished. It’s not designed for tourists.
And that’s exactly why it works.
If you’re planning a trip along the French Riviera, there are plenty of other experiences worth building into your journey — I’ve linked a few below.
You can follow more journeys like this on YouTube and Instagram @sportstraveltom.
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