Which beach town between Marseille and Cannes?

Looking for a little bit of local color and atmosphere and a few less tourists than the most visited towns. Easy access by train and/or bus would be nice and prices should not be too high. There should be good beaches and some other sights would be nice. I have some ideas, but most seem too touristy. Ideas?

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I would go for Hyeres which has a mediaeval town a bit separate from the beaches, which stretch along the Giens peninsula (you might also want to look at staying in Giens village itself), you can also visit the island of Porquerolles off the end of the Giens peninsula. Hyeres is popular with French people for holidays, so you will see plenty of visitors but they tend to be from France. See www.hyeres-tourisme.com

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I am intrigued by all Hyeres has to offer. I am also interested in a place called Sanary Sur Mer near Bandol.

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Sanary is small and quite pretty. last year and didn%26#39;t like it much - not much town centre to speak of and the main beach looks beautiful but it%26#39;s a sort of 2/3 enclosed bay and the western side of the water was a bit mucky, litter in it etc.

I love Hyeres cos there is loads to do there, you can walk up to the villa Noailles which has a lovely garden attached, and further up to the mediaeval castle (a complete ruin} if it%26#39;s open, it wasn%26#39;t last time I was there. There%26#39;s a mediaeval old town and a covered street and loads of great food shops. You can see the roman site at Olbia (not much to see, tbh!) You can lie around on one of the beaches and I believe it%26#39;s good for watersports. You can visit the Saturday market in Hyeres or the market in Giens if you can find someone who remembers which day it is. You can go to the island of Porquerolles where there are a few hotels and restaurants, no cars and hire bicycles or walk to the beach of your choice or just walk round looking at the pine forests. Or you can go along the le Lavandou and take a boat to one of the other islands. Or take a bus to St Tropez.

Am a big fan of Hyeres, as you might have guessed!

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sorry have just realised deleted a line from the above post. Should have been %26#39;Sanary is small and quite pretty. I stayed in Bandol last year and didn%26#39;t like it much . . . %26#39;

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Thanks for the info on Hyeres. I had also read some other good things about it and an added bonus is it is closer to Nice than towns like Bandol and Cassis.

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Just saw la prequ%26#39;ile again after a few years and was quite disappointed: massive crowds from numerous camping grounds made the beaches unbearable. Unsightly constructions in some places. Not too impressed. As a native from Toulon put it, go there outside of July and August and it is great.