Ile de Porquerolles

Article updated in January 2025 following a new visit to the island.

Discover the magnificent island of Porquerolles, off the coast of Hyères

Porquerolles is the largest of the three Golden Islands in the Gulf of Hyères. Measuring 7km long and 3km wide, it is the most inhabited and most visited island. Situated on the same parallel as Cap Corse, it enjoys the same privileged climate: almost daily sunshine (over 300 days of sunshine a year), fairly mild winters (rarely below 0°) and hot summers deliciously cooled by the sea air.

Boats and shuttles to Porquerolles :

A renowned vineyard

The village was founded in 1820, the lighthouse in 1837 and the church in 1850. After passing through the hands of several successive owners, the island was purchased in 1912 by M. Fournier and given, it is said, as a wedding present to his wife.

Major agricultural works were then undertaken and 200 hectares of vineyards gave birth to a wine of great renown, one of the first to be classified as “Côtes de Provence”.
Today, the three Porquerolles wine estates produce an excellent wine that is as renowned as ever. They have joined forces with the Conservatoire Botanique National de Porquerolles to protect the island's natural heritage.

Preserved nature

Porquerolles, 4/5 of which was bought by the French state in 1971, is a lovingly protected island that will not be disfigured by uncontrolled real estate development. The style and architecture of the houses blend harmoniously with the beauty of the site.

Classified as a “Heart of a National Park” since 2012, Porquerolles protects, cultivates, replants and studies Mediterranean cultures thanks to its Botanical Conservatory and the Port Cros National Park. You won't be able to miss their plantations.

The charming village of Porquerolles

As soon as you arrive in port, you'll be struck by the island's charm: behind the boats moored at the quay, the first houses appear, surrounded by lush vegetation.

Once you've passed the port (where you can rent your bike and ask for a map of the island at the tourist office), you'll arrive in the village with its large square and beautiful church in the background, lined with a few shops and pleasant shaded terraces of cafés and restaurants.

Sublime landscapes and beaches

To discover the island, you can choose between several routes and several wonders...

To the north, three superb beaches offer fine sands, gently sloping shores and exceptionally pure seas. Notre-Dame beach was voted Europe's most beautiful beach!

To the south, the cliffs plunge sheer into the sea, creating a rugged landscape of calanques, points, gorges, capes and small mountains. From the lighthouse, you can admire this wild and grandiose scenery, with a 360° view over the island and the sea... it's breathtaking !

Inland, there are mosaics of vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees, with a few lemon, orange and mandarin trees here and there. The trails are lined with pines, eucalyptus and the many plantations of the Conservatoire Botanique.

Most of the trails are shaded, so you don't have to worry about getting “hot under the collar”. In spring, the maquis blooms with its rockroses, myrtles and heathers, transforming the island into an immense bouquet of fragrant flowers. The pine forest spreads its shades of green in the sun, blending with the white flowers and red fruits of the strawberry trees in autumn.
In summer, the cicadas join in these sumptuous landscapes to remind you that you're in Provence and not on a heavenly island on the other side of the world...

Please note: to preserve the island's beauty, tourist numbers are now limited. Remember to book your crossing and accommodation in advance!

Sailing trips between Porquerolles and Hyères

Boating on the turquoise waters of the island of Porquerolles is a great pleasure, sailing between the Fort de Brégançon, Hyères and Porquerolles. Here is our selection of highly professional local guides and skippers who will help you spend a dream half-day or full day on the water in Porquerolles.