Musée National de la Marine
Musée National de la Marine
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Musée National de la Marine and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Place d'Armes - Arsenal
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
728 within 5 kms
Attractions
149 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
566 reviews
Excellent
275
Very good
228
Average
52
Poor
8
Terrible
4
AMsays
Thornhill, Canada4,746 contributions
Nov 2022
This museum sits beside the Naval base accessed by the original doors of the Arsenal built in 1738. There’s a fair few exhibits here. Walk through an amazing array of naval equipment of all sorts, model ships, cannons, paintings and so much more as Toulon’s remarkable maritime history unfolds,
The way the port has changed over the years is displayed here and its role in the war. There are explanations of how they installed the heavy masts to the ships, where rope rigging was created and even where and how training was conducted. There’s a good free multilingual audio guide with your admission, so take advantage.
PS As you leave, do not take pictures of the Naval base - you will get in trouble - take it from me!!
PPS Cruise passengers get a nominal discount
The way the port has changed over the years is displayed here and its role in the war. There are explanations of how they installed the heavy masts to the ships, where rope rigging was created and even where and how training was conducted. There’s a good free multilingual audio guide with your admission, so take advantage.
PS As you leave, do not take pictures of the Naval base - you will get in trouble - take it from me!!
PPS Cruise passengers get a nominal discount
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barheat
Hamilton, Canada1,739 contributions
Nov 2022
The museum is well laid out with covering the history of the French navy from its beginning to modern ships. An audio headset provides commentary at each of the displays, just enter the number into the set. What I found most interesting was the model of the rope making building and the story behind it. The building was 400m long in order to manufacture ropes of that length. Ships of the line carried miles of rope to rig the sails.
Museum contains numerous paintings and models, some large models were used by the naval academy to train officers. The second floor is mainly dedicated to the 20th century navy.
A must see for any military history buff.
Museum contains numerous paintings and models, some large models were used by the naval academy to train officers. The second floor is mainly dedicated to the 20th century navy.
A must see for any military history buff.
Written December 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilfred W
Manchester, UK10 contributions
Jan 2024
I visited this Museum in January 2024. There weren't too many people at this time. I spent some 1.5 hours there and paid EUR 6 for the ticket as far as I can remember. Very interesting museum, I also appreciated that they had audio available and you didn't actually need a paid guide. I'd recommend going in the morning though because when exiting, a queue was already forming.
Remarkable history, well illustrated and obviously quite concentrated on the navy. I would not recommend if you are not a fan (which, for my part, I am).
Remarkable history, well illustrated and obviously quite concentrated on the navy. I would not recommend if you are not a fan (which, for my part, I am).
Written January 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
27508518717
World22 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
A very well made exhibition! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. You could leave bags and belongings behind the counter. The museum had very clean toilets. The museum is in a beautiful building right next to the harbour. Tickets to the museum can be reserved online.
Some information in the displays was written in both English and French, but some information was only available in French.
Some information in the displays was written in both English and French, but some information was only available in French.
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard
Norwich, UK4 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
To be fair there was a sign on the door saying the museum doesn’t have air conditioning. The leaflet you are given doubles as a fan and boy do you need it! Fascinating museum with plenty of information in English and German. Amazing models showing how they built and repaired ships in the past , together with plenty of interesting information about the first and second world wars . Just wish it wasn’t so blooming hot and humid in there …
Written September 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are pleased that you enjoyed your visit. We're sorry you had to suffer from the heat, we're doing our best to improve conditions for visitors.
Written September 13, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
camperben
Jensen Beach, FL74 contributions
Sept 2012 • Solo
I really had a great time at the Museum. Toulon was a port of call for our cruise ship and there seemed not alot to do. In town are about 2 or 3 streets 8 blocks long with shopping. Not much else. I'm an Amature Military Historian so I'm pretty picky about Military Museums. This one was abolutely unique.
It follows the history of the French Navy from Gaul through today. Toulon is the Headquarters and main port for the French Navy and a key asset for it in the Mediteranian. This port was a major Naval Base 1000 years ago and remains today active and important. Frances only nuclear aircraft carrier, The Charles DeGaulle's home port is here.
The museum is located at the end of the wharf near the entrance and main gate of the Naval Base. As I entered the portico to the huge stone museum...I immediately saw the greatest collection of Brass cannon I have ever seen. They basicly had one of every cannon the French had ever used on a ship or fort. Better yet you could touch them all you want...even sit on them. Perfectly preserved.
Inside you pay about 8 Euro for admission and the use of an Audio Guide. There are about 80 points of info available. As you enter the guide explains the many portrait paintings of Admirals and Commidores of the Fleets past. Their battles and lives summed up quickly and with many interesting facts.
Huge models of Ships of the line are everywhere. Frigates that fought England in the 1600's, and Destroyers, Aircraft Carrier's and even Naval Aircraft. Objects from the lives of Sailors and Marines, Uniforms, medals and the tools of war are everywhere.
Even more interesting, the role the port of Toulon had in the Navy is explained. There are buildings still standing today that are blocks long used to make rope for the rigging of ships. These buildings and the tech of rope building made the Navy possible.
The real show stealer for me were the paintings of the Port. Aparently its a tradition for the officail Portrait artist of the French Royal Navy to paint a true to life painting of the dock life of the port from the exact same spot and perspective every 50 years. The result is a view of the Base and its ships in a time lapse type way for hundreds of years. The people and their clothing, ships in port, goods being loaded all give interesting views of life here through out the ages.
Kids and teenage boys will love this place. Anyone who likes Art, modeling or military history will be wowed. The museum has areas geared for young kids (local schools come here to learn about local history and maritime things) so dont be afraid to bring them. Everything fragile is behind glass and is pretty kid friendly.
There is a second floor has only stairs and is not wheelchair accessable. A small 3ft set of stone stairs also barrs the front entrance to wheelchairs. There are very few places to sit inside if you get tired of standing I noticed. The bathrooms are good but you have to pay the entrance fee to use them fyi.
To see the entire museum and listen to every audio point took me about One hour and twenty minutes.
I highly recomend it if you are intrested in the above subject mater. Hope this review helps and give me a "Helpfull" click if you liked the review (and make my day ;-)
It follows the history of the French Navy from Gaul through today. Toulon is the Headquarters and main port for the French Navy and a key asset for it in the Mediteranian. This port was a major Naval Base 1000 years ago and remains today active and important. Frances only nuclear aircraft carrier, The Charles DeGaulle's home port is here.
The museum is located at the end of the wharf near the entrance and main gate of the Naval Base. As I entered the portico to the huge stone museum...I immediately saw the greatest collection of Brass cannon I have ever seen. They basicly had one of every cannon the French had ever used on a ship or fort. Better yet you could touch them all you want...even sit on them. Perfectly preserved.
Inside you pay about 8 Euro for admission and the use of an Audio Guide. There are about 80 points of info available. As you enter the guide explains the many portrait paintings of Admirals and Commidores of the Fleets past. Their battles and lives summed up quickly and with many interesting facts.
Huge models of Ships of the line are everywhere. Frigates that fought England in the 1600's, and Destroyers, Aircraft Carrier's and even Naval Aircraft. Objects from the lives of Sailors and Marines, Uniforms, medals and the tools of war are everywhere.
Even more interesting, the role the port of Toulon had in the Navy is explained. There are buildings still standing today that are blocks long used to make rope for the rigging of ships. These buildings and the tech of rope building made the Navy possible.
The real show stealer for me were the paintings of the Port. Aparently its a tradition for the officail Portrait artist of the French Royal Navy to paint a true to life painting of the dock life of the port from the exact same spot and perspective every 50 years. The result is a view of the Base and its ships in a time lapse type way for hundreds of years. The people and their clothing, ships in port, goods being loaded all give interesting views of life here through out the ages.
Kids and teenage boys will love this place. Anyone who likes Art, modeling or military history will be wowed. The museum has areas geared for young kids (local schools come here to learn about local history and maritime things) so dont be afraid to bring them. Everything fragile is behind glass and is pretty kid friendly.
There is a second floor has only stairs and is not wheelchair accessable. A small 3ft set of stone stairs also barrs the front entrance to wheelchairs. There are very few places to sit inside if you get tired of standing I noticed. The bathrooms are good but you have to pay the entrance fee to use them fyi.
To see the entire museum and listen to every audio point took me about One hour and twenty minutes.
I highly recomend it if you are intrested in the above subject mater. Hope this review helps and give me a "Helpfull" click if you liked the review (and make my day ;-)
Written January 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brucestewart
Livingston, UK10,155 contributions
Sept 2012 • Solo
We were in Toulon for the day having arrived on the Thomson Dream cruise liner. In the morning we had travelled around the city on Le Petit Train, visited the open air market, travelled on the cable car to the top of Mont Faronand had lunch at a waterside restaurant. After all this we agreed to go our separate ways as my wife wanted to do some shopping and I wanted to visit this museum as naval history, particularly in the days of sail, has always interested me. I was not disappointed. The admittance charge of 5.50 euros including a handset describing the exhibits was very reasonable. There are a good range of artifacts on show including some very interesting large scale models. I was particulary fascinated by the model in a glass case showing how the bottom sections of masts were installed on the hulls of sailing ships. My only regret was that I had agreed to meet my wife in one hour's time when we went our separate ways so my time in the museum was limited, I could have spent much longer there.
Written September 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony
Kihei, HI171 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
We were on a cruise and spent the day in Toulon, and did not want to head out of town to see more things. As the other reviews state, this is a very good site to visit in town.
The audio tour/information is very good, we have been in a lot of maritime museums before and found the history of France very interesting. Its definitely a must see site in town. Very low entry price.
We spent about 2-3 hours here.
The audio tour/information is very good, we have been in a lot of maritime museums before and found the history of France very interesting. Its definitely a must see site in town. Very low entry price.
We spent about 2-3 hours here.
Written May 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yair Bar Zohar
Qiryat Ata, Israel2,025 contributions
Oct 2019
This fascinating museum stands alongside the Clock of the Arms Warehouse, one of the only historic buildings that survived World War II in Toulon. At the National Maritime Museum you will see an impressive collection of ships, frigates, sailboats, submarines and many other things related to the city's maritime history.
Opening Hours: Wednesdays to Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How long should you visit? Between one and two hours.
Opening Hours: Wednesdays to Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How long should you visit? Between one and two hours.
Written October 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
srq2015
34 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
I am sorry we didn't have more time to spend in this marvelous museum. For anyone with an interest in maritime history, this museum is a true gem. The audio guide, included with the 4.5 euro "senior" admission price, provides a wealth of information. The ship models are extraordinary. The explanations of what it was like to work on a ship hundreds of years ago were compelling. I didn't think I would be fascinated with naval history, but I was.
Written April 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ma question s'adresse plutôt à Tripadvisor car je ne sais pas comment prendre contact autrement que par ce biais.
Vous avez téléchargé la quinzaine de photos que j'ai envoyées hier pour illustrer mon avis sur le Musée de la marine de Toulon. Or vous n'en avez publié qu'une seule. Pourquoi ?
Dans l'attente de vous lire
Capucine
Written February 11, 2017
Combien de temps faut-il compter approximativement pour visiter ce musée ? J'ai prévu aussi de voir l'expo "photographier le port".
Merci !
Written February 8, 2017
Bonjour Capucines,
L'équipe du musée de la Marine de toulon confirme les réponses données. Il faut en moyenne 1h30 pour visiter les espaces permanents du musée. En ajoutant l'exposition il faut compter 2 heures.
Bonne visite !
Webmaster musée national de la Marine
Written February 9, 2017
Le musée n'a pas de parking.
Written August 30, 2016
Showing results 1-4 of 4
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing