Motorcycle accommodation in Var with secure parking

Var is one of France's most complete playgrounds for motorcycle riders. From the jagged Mediterranean coastline to the forested massifs of the Maures and Estérel, and on into the Provençal hinterland that rises toward the Verdon, every stretch of road offers something different. You can cruise along the coast at dawn before the tourist crowds settle in, then peel off inland onto empty departmental roads winding through vineyards and pine forests. The Haut-Var keeps some of the most breathtaking roads, mountain passes, clifftop routes and perched villages. The Dracénois plain offers a more relaxed pace between stages. The riding season here is long: from April to November conditions are almost always good, and some coastal routes remain rideable even in winter. In short, Var rewards those who take the time to explore it properly, and a single weekend never quite feels like enough.

What to see and do in Var ?

Var is a department of contrasts, and that is precisely what makes it so compelling. Along the coast, Saint-Tropez and its legendary harbour, Toulon with one of Europe's most beautiful natural roadsteads, and Hyères as the gateway to the Golden Islands. Porquerolles and Port-Cros are unspoilt natural gems, with remarkable marine biodiversity for divers. Inland, the Verdon Gorges are unmissable: Europe's answer to the Grand Canyon drops 300 metres above turquoise waters, and Lake Sainte-Croix just below invites a well-earned stop. Less visited but equally rewarding, the Massif des Maures hides the Chartreuse de la Verne, a medieval monastery lost in chestnut forests. Fréjus reveals one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in Roman Gaul. The hilltop villages of the Pays de Fayence, Seillans, Tourrettes, Mons are worth a detour for their authentic Provençal atmosphere. And for the palate, Bandol wines and Côtes de Provence rosés are as much a part of the journey as the roads themselves.

Motorcycle routes and road trip ideas in Var

Var ranks among France's richest departments for motorcycle riding, with a concentration of quality roads stretching from the sea to the edge of the Alps. In western Var, the D559B from Bandol winds through AOC Bandol vineyards before offering a choice between Le Castellet and La Cadière d'Azur, two hilltop villages reachable via generous sweeping bends. Further north, the D25 and D13 cut through the Massif des Maures and its chestnut forests toward Collobrières. For those after serious riding, the Verdon Gorges corniche roads, D23 and D952, are in a league of their own: cliffside routes with vertiginous drops and turquoise water hundreds of metres below. The D955 linking Draguignan to Comps-sur-Artuby is an excellent gateway into the Haut-Var, with little traffic and technically varied bends. Estérel lovers should not miss the D100 between Fréjus and Agay, carved into red volcanic rock above the sea. One tip: avoid the D41 toward Saint-Tropez in peak summer. The scenery is great, but the traffic is not.

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