Toulon, France

A cable car ride to the top of Mont Faron provides the perfect orientation to Toulon with 360-degree views of the city and its environs. Then descend to the scenic waterfront for a stroll along La Rade, where palm-fringed sidewalks are lined with brasseries and bistros serving classics like mussels and fries or ratatouille, each dish paired perfectly with a local Provence rosé. The harbor is one of the best natural anchorages in the Mediterranean and has been a principal base of the French Navy for centuries, a history told in the impressive Musée National de la Marine located on the docks. After exploring the harbor, venture off into the narrow streets and quaint squares of the Old Town to see historic Toulon Cathedral. Further inland you’ll find the medieval villages and renowned vineyards of Provence, while the legendary beaches and boutiques of the French Riviera await east of Toulon in towns like Saint-Tropez.