Its position facing the Mediterranean to the south makes it a popular location for tourism in the winter, and facilitates the raising of palm trees; about 100,000 trees are exported from the area each year.
Greek and Roman antiquities have been found in the area. The first reference to the town dates from 963. Originally a possession of the viscount of Marseilles, it later went to Charles of Anjou. St Louis landed at Hyères in 1254 when returning from the Crusades.
The three islands of the Îles d'Hyères (namely Porquerolles, Port-Cros and the Île du Levant) are located just offshore.
