Toulouse Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

The gem of southern France is the pink city of Toulouse. Ideally positioned close to both Spain as well as the Mediterranean Sea, Toulouse has access to some of the freshest produce and finest wines France has to offer. Not only that, but it is the home of the aerospace industry in France, making it an important commercial centre. In this Toulouse destination guide we share everything you need to know to plan your next trip to Toulouse.

What is Toulouse famous for?

Toulouse is known as the pink city or la Ville Rose in French. It owes this name to the rosy hue of its terracotta brick buildings. These buildings, made from local clay, glow in the sunset light along the River Garonne. The city boasts a rich architectural heritage, with churches such as the UNESCO listed Basilica of Saint-Sernin, Renaissance mansions and neo-classical facades. It is also a city of Art and History, with many museums and cultural attractions.

As the heart of Europe’s aerospace industry, Toulouse hosts the headquarters of Airbus and other aerospace engineering and research companies in its Aerospace Valley.

Toulouse is also a paradise for food lovers, with regional specialties such as cassoulet, saucisse de Toulouse and tarte aux noir. These dishes reflect the city’s tradition of hearty and delicious cuisine.

Why you should visit Toulouse France

Toulouse has a unique blend of culture, history and geography which makes it a must visit destination in France. It is a very scenic city, set on the Garonne River. The famous Canal du Midi starts in Toulouse, connecting the Garonne River with the Mediterranean Sea. One of our favourite things to do in Toulouse is to go to the banks of the Garonne in the late afternoon and watch the sunlight filter down on the city. Many buildings throughout the city were built using terracotta bricks and this has given the city a pinkish hue. This has earned the city the nickname “La Ville Rose” or The Pink City.

Toulouse is also home to the aviation and aerospace industry in Europe. A popular tourist attraction in the city is Cite de l’espace, which is a spaceflight discovery centre that attracts millions of visitors each year. Other popular destinations in the city include the many historic buildings in the town centre and the expansive gardens dotted throughout the city. To top it all off, Toulouse is known as a foodie destination due to its proximity to some of the best agricultural areas in France.

Toulouse Destination Guide: Know before you go

Basic info about Toulouse France

• Language – French, although the regional language Occitan is still spoken by a small portion of the population. English is spoken to some extent, particularly in hotels and tourism businesses. However not everyone you meet will be able to speak English. We find that if you at least attempt to speak a bit of French, you will get a warmer reception than if you just assume everyone speaks English. In our experience, most people we’ve spoken to start speaking English as soon as they hear our feeble attempts at speaking French.
• Currency – euro (EUR). This has been the official currency of France since 2002. Currency exchanges can be found in Toulouse and ATMs are widely available.
• Population – 46,000 (2015)
• Area – 65 km²
• Department – Haute-Garonne
• Region – Occitanie (in the former Midi-Pyrénées region). Toulouse is the capital of this region.

Utilities in Toulouse France

• Electricity – France uses Types C and E power plugs. The country operates on a 230v supply voltage at 50Hz. Power outages are not common in France.
• Water – the tap water in Toulouse is safe to drink. In cafes and restaurants, you can ask for a “caraffe d’eau”, and the waiter will bring you a pitcher of water that is free and safe to drink.
• Toilets – sit-down flushing toilets are the most common type of toilet in France. You can flush your toilet paper directly into the bin. Public toilets are common in France. Many public toilets are free to use, but some charge anywhere from 50 cents to 2 euros to use.
• Telephone country code: +33

Where is Toulouse France?

Toulouse is the capital of the Occitanie region of southern France. The Occitanie region was formed in 2016 as an amalgamation of 2 former regions. The region that Toulouse lies in used to be known as the Midi-Pyrénées region.

The closest major French cities to Toulouse are Montauban, Narbonne as well as Montpellier. Toulouse is around one hour by train from Montauban, 1.5 hours by train to Narbonne and 2 hours from Montpellier. Toulouse is also only one hour by train ride from the historic castle city of Carcassonne. If you are considering visiting France overland, Toulouse is also one of the closest major cities to the countries Andorra and Spain.

How to get to Toulouse France

Toulouse destination guide: Arriving by land

Toulouse France intercity land transport

The main transport options for travelling overland to Toulouse France are:

• Private vehicle
• Private transport operator
• Navette (Shuttle Bus) – this runs from Toulouse Airport to the Toulouse Matabiau train station. The cost is 9 euro per person or 6 trips for 36.70 euro (prices as at 2023). Shuttles run every 16-20 minutes depending on the day and the journey time is between 20-45 minutes.
• Train
• Bus
• Bike

Driving to Toulouse from within France

If you are driving to Toulouse from within France, here are the travel times and distances:

• Montauban – 47 minutes (55km) with tolls or 1 hour 9 minutes (52km) without tolls
• Narbonne – 1 hour 44 minutes (151km) with tolls or 2 hours 43 minutes (156km) without tolls
• Montpellier – 2 hour 44 minutes (243km) with tolls or 3 hours 51 minutes (271km) without tolls
• Paris – 6 hours 50 minutes (679km) with tolls or 8 hours 52 minutes (679km) without tolls
• Carcassonne – 1 hour 9 minutes (93.4km) with tolls or 1 hour 45 minutes (105 km) without tolls

Intercity trains to Toulouse France

Trains are a cheap and efficient way to get to Toulouse France. The main train station in Toulouse is Toulouse Matabiau. This station is connected to the Toulouse Métro.

The following regional train lines service Toulouse:

• Toulouse–Albi-Rodez
• Toulouse–Montauban
• Toulouse–Saint-Sulpice
• Toulouse–Carcassonne
• Toulouse–Tarbes and Bayonne
• Toulouse–Foix
• Toulouse–Auch

The following train brands service Toulouse:

• TGV train – this is France’s intercity high speed rail service
• Intercités – this is a non-high speed rail service which operates on the ‘classic’ rail network in France
• Intercités de Nuit – this the overnight passenger train service in France
• TER (Transport Express Régional) – the TER rail service is run by the regional councils of France

The French national railway company that operates these services is called SNCF.

We recommend using the app and website TrainLine to book intercity train tickets in France. This is the app we used. We found it very easy to use with great functionality. Another great feature is that you can see days ahead to see what times of the day were the cheapest rates. The TrainLine app was much easier to use than the SNCF website and app, which we found really cumbersome and difficult to use.

Intercity buses to Toulouse France

A common way to get around France is by using intercity buses. These are a budget friendly alternative to trains, but are generally a slower option. Intercity bus companies operating in Toulouse France include FlixBus as well as Blablacar Bus. Popular bus destinations from Toulouse include:

• Barcelona Spain – travel time 5-6 hours. Tickets start from 13 euro one way.
• Andorra la Vella Andorra – travel time 4 hours. Tickets start from 36 euro one way.
• Carcassonne France – travel time 1 hour 20 minutes. Tickets cost 3 euro per way.
• Montpellier France – travel time 2.5-3.5 hours. Tickets start from 6 euro one way.
• Marseille France – travel time 5-6 hours. Tickets start from 8 euro one way.
• Lyon France – travel time 8-10 hours. Tickets cost 12 euro per way.

Toulouse destination guide: Arriving by air

The nearest airport to Toulouse France is Toulouse Airport (Airport code TLS). This international airport is also known as Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. It is 6.7 km northwest of the city.

Other nearby airports include:

• Carcassonne Airport (Airport code CCF). This airport is 82.3km away.
• Lourdes/Tarbes (Airport code LDE). This airport is 125.3km away.
• Perpignan Airport (Airport code PFG). This is 150.2km away.
• Pau Airport (Airport code PUF). This is 151.8km away.

The national airline of France is Air France.

Toulouse destination guide: Arriving by boat

The Garonne River run through Toulouse. Additionally, the Canal du Midi connects Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea. It is possible to get to Toulouse by boat, however the only commercial boat operations in Toulouse run scenic cruises in the local area.

Toulouse destination guide: How to get around Toulouse France

Walking in Toulouse France

By far the easiest and cheapest way to get around Toulouse is to walk. Moreover, Toulouse is a very walkable city. It is also very scenic, so walking is a very pleasant way to get around.

Local buses in Toulouse France

Local buses service Toulouse.

Trams in Toulouse France

Trams service Toulouse. The Toulouse tramway is a 2-line tram system which encompasses 27 tram stations.

Métro trains (subway or underground) in Toulouse France

Toulouse has a metro train system. The metro system includes 2 lines with a total of 38 stations.

Vehicle hire in Toulouse France

A wide variety of vehicles can be rented in France. This includes:

• Bicycles – Toulouse is the perfect place for cycling. There are self-service electric bike share services available in the city such as VélÔToulouse. Bikes can be found outside the train station at Toulouse and throughout the city. Alternatively you can hire a bike from a bike hire shop such as Avélo31 Bike Rentals.
• Electric scooters – electric scooters are another popular mode of transportation in France. They are lightweight and less bulky compared to bikes. Due to these qualities, they are great for navigating the little alleyways that are typical throughout France. Similarly to bikes, electric scooters can be hired in many areas around France. To hire a scooter you will need to download the relevant app in order to unlock the scooter. The price usually includes an unlocking fee as well as a by the minute rate. Expect to pay around 10-13 euro an hour.
• Motorcycles
• Cars
• SUVs
• Campervans
• Boats

The French drive on the right side of the road.

Navettes (shuttles) in Toulouse France

Navettes make short repetitive journeys between two destinations. Common journeys include going between the airport and the city centre. These journeys can be booked on demand for a fixed price. There is a navette from Toulouse Airport to the Toulouse Matabiau train station. The cost is 9 euro per person or 6 trips for 36.70 euro (prices as at 2023). Shuttles run every 16-20 minutes depending on the day and the journey time is between 20-45 miniutes.

Taxis in France

Taxis are common in France. Fares are regulated and are usually metered. The exception to this will be standard journeys such as airport trips. In this case the fare will be a fixed price. However in general your fare will include the following costs:

• The pickup fee or minimum fee – this is charged as soon as you get into the vehicle
• There may also be an additional fee for extra people or heavy luggage
• A reservation fee – this will be higher if you book in advance compared to if you want a taxi immediately
• Price per kilometre – this price can vary depending on the time of day
• Price per hour – this is a price that gets charged when the taxi is stuck in heavy traffic. The price also varies depending on the time of day

Ride-share services in France

There are many rideshare services operating in France. These include Uber, Lyft, InDriver and Carpool.

France travel guide to travelling during Covid

We have written a detailed post outlining the Covid entry requirements. You can find the post here.

Toulouse France destination guide: Is Toulouse France worth visiting?

Toulouse is a charming city in southern France that is certainly worth visiting. It is a gorgeous place with beautiful architecture and the scenic River Garonne flowing through it. Toulouse has a relaxed atmosphere, delicious local food and is also Europe’s centre for the aerospace industry. Additionally, it has spectacular parks and interesting museums, providing tourists with plenty of different things to see and do. Furthermore, Toulouse is one of France’s major transport hubs and is also in close proximity to Spain and Andorra, making it easy to get in and out of the city.

Toulouse destination guide: How long to spend in Toulouse France

Toulouse is a great place to come for a weekend. It is a very livable, cosmopolitan city which can easily keep you entertained for much longer. We spent 10 days in Toulouse and enjoyed taking time to enjoy the various activities available in this beautiful city.

Toulouse destination guide: What to do in Toulouse France

Toulouse is a beautiful French city with many activities on offer. It has a range of great free activities as well as paid activities.

Toulouse destination guide: Free things to do in Toulouse France

There are enough free activities in Toulouse France to keep you entertained for a weekend or even a leisurely week:

• Victor Hugo Market
• Capitole de Toulouse
• Basilique Saint Sernin
• Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis
• Couvent des Jacobins
• Pont Neuf
• Quai de la Daurade
• Jardin des Plantes
• Garonne River
• Cathédrale Saint-Étienne
• Canal de Brienne
• Jardin du Gran Rond
• Chapelle des Carmélites
• Espace EDF Bazacle
• Marché des Carmes
• Jardin Raymond VI
• Prairie Des Filtres

For more details, see our Toulouse travel guide on the 17 Best Free Things To Do in Toulouse France.

On the 1^st Sunday of every month entry to Toulouse museums is free. This includes:

• Musée des Augustins
• Museum of Natural History
• Musée Saint-Raymond
• Musée Georges-Labit
• Les Abattoirs
• Musée Paul-Dupuy

Toulouse destination guide: Paid activities in Toulouse France

A number of attractions in Toulouse France charge an entry fee:

• Cite de l’espace – entry fee is 24.50 euro for adults (as at 2023)
• Halle de la Machine – entry fee is 11 euro for adults. Additionally a ticket for the Minotaur excursion is 11 euro (as at 2023)

Weather in Toulouse France

Toulouse enjoys a warm temperate climate. Its climate is heavily influenced by the nearby Mediterranean area. It has cold winters, with average temperature range between 2°C and 9°C (35°F – 48°F) in the coldest month of January. Summers last from June to September and are hot and sunny, with the average temperature range between 17°C and 28°C (62°F – 82°F) in the hottest month of July. It is a windy city and experiences frequent and sometimes powerful winds. Snow is rare but not unheard of in Toulouse. The month with the most rainfall is May with 9.8 days of rain on average and the driest month is July with an average of 5.9 rainy days.

Best time to visit Toulouse France

With delicious food, bustling local markets, gorgeous riverside paths and architecturally interesting buildings, Toulouse has a lot to offer at any time of year. However Toulouse is particularly enjoyable during the warmer weather months of May to September. This is also when the city comes alive with plenty of events and festivals. Of particular note are the Rio Loco music festival, the Tangopostale Tango festival and Le Nouveau Printemps cultural festival. Toulouse also has an open-air cinema (La Cinémathèque de Toulouse) during July and August each year.

Internet and mobile phones in France

Since June 15th, 2017, Roam Like at Home (RLAT) rules came into force for European Union countries. As such, people with European Union mobile numbers are no longer charged temporary mobile roaming fees if they travel within the European Union. This means that if you have a European Union mobile number, you can use that number anywhere within the European Union and you will be charged for calls, texts and data in the same way as if you were in your home country. There are limits to this in order to prevent abuse of these rules.

The main internet and phone companies in France include Orange, SFR, LeFrenchMobile, Bouygues Telecom, Lebara, Lycamobile and Free.

5G has been in France since November 2020. However 2G is expected to continue in France until 2030.

Cell phone SIM cards can be bought in many places throughout France. These include phone stores, some supermarkets, newspaper kiosks as well as online.

How much to budget for Toulouse France?

Is Toulouse expensive?

Toulouse isn’t the cheapest place to visit, but it is reasonably affordable by European standards. The city has plenty of beautiful outdoor areas to explore as well as a range of free or cheap activities. Buying food from supermarkets or looking for fixed price lunch specials is another way to keep costs down. However if you have more to spend, Toulouse can certainly accommodate more expensive tastes.

Toulouse destination guide: Daily spend for a couple travelling in Toulouse France

As a rough guide, we recommend the following budgets for a couple:

• Low-budget daily spend – 100 euro per day for a couple will get you hostel accommodation, self catering and bakery meals, walking throughout the city and free or cheap activities such as strolls along the Garonne river, exploring historic buildings such as the churches and cathedrals and visiting the markets.
• Mid-range daily spend – 300 euro per day for a couple will get you mid-range accommodation, walking or hiring a bike to get around the city, dining at reasonably priced cafes and restaurants and some paid activities.
• Luxury spend – 1000 euro per day for a couple will get you a premium experience in France, staying at luxury hotels, travelling by private transport, doing a range paid activities and eating at high end restaurants.

Toulouse destination guide: Accommodation in Toulouse France

There is a good range of accommodation to suit all budgets in Toulouse France. Airbnb operates in France and we were impressed with the range of options available in Toulouse. We found that some Airbnbs in France have very slow internet speeds, so we’d recommend making sure you are happy with the internet speed provided before making a booking.

Where to stay in Toulouse France?

We recommend the following accommodation in Toulouse France:

• Best boutique hotel in Toulouse France – Hotel SOCLO Toulouse is a beautiful Toulouse hotel in an excellent location. The rooms are clean and spacious with stylish décor. The garden, bar and pool area is a highlight and the staff are great.
• Best bed & breakfast in Toulouse France – La Mélanotte is a cosy bed & breakfast on the outskirts of Toulouse. It is on a peaceful estate with a gorgeous house and garden. Additionally, the owners are very warm and welcoming.
• Best luxury 5 star hotel in Toulouse France – for a luxury experience in Toulouse we recommend La Cour des Consuls Hôtel & Spa Toulouse – MGallery. This high end hotel is in the heart of Toulouse. The staff provide exceptional service and the facilities are excellent. This charming property is in a historic building with spacious rooms with very comfortable beds.
• Best furnished apartment in Toulouse France – we stayed at Residhome Toulouse Ponts Jumeaux. This was our first Aparthotel in France and we were extremely impressed with the quality of the rooms and the service. Our apartment was well appointed and modern décor and it had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.

How much is accommodation in Toulouse France?

For short-term accommodation, a general price per night is as follows:

• Budget accommodation – 20-30 euro for dorm accommodation
• Mid-range accommodation – 50-150 euro for a private room
• Luxury accommodation – 150-250 euro a night for a luxury hotel
• Rental property – 50-400 euro a night for a fully furnished 3-5 bedroom home

Toulouse destination guide: Food in Toulouse France

Toulouse is a food lover’s paradise. From markets such as Marché Victor Hugo to Michelin guide restaurants and everything in between, Toulouse will have your taste buds tingling!

How much does food cost in Toulouse France?

Our price guide for your food budget in Toulouse France is as follows (prices as at 2022):

• Restaurant meal – 15-20 for a main dish
• Bakery food – 1-2 euro for a croissant or baguette, 5 euro for a sandwich
• Glass of wine – 4-6 euro
• Coffee – 3-4 euro
• Tasting menu at 2 Michelin star restaurant – 120-155 euro per person

Regional dishes in Toulouse France

• Cassoulet
• Saucisse de Toulouse (Toulouse sausage)
• Canard de confit (duck confit)
• Tarte aux noir (walnut tart)
• Violet jam and jelly
• Foie gras d’oie (goose liver pate)
• Fénétra – a pastry with almonds, candied lemons and apricot
• Garbure – a thick stew of meat, cheese, stale bread and vegetables
• La bougnette – large meatballs made with pork, eggs and bread and traditionally made for Easter
• Cachou – a small licorice lozenge used to freshen breath

Cheap Eats in Toulouse France

• Boulangeries (French bakeries) are a great place to get cheap and delicious food. Baguettes are typically around 1 euro. Croissants and pain au chocolat are around 1 euro. Other common food that can be found in boulangeries include quiches, pastries, sandwiches and pizzas.
• Boucheries (French butchers) often have ready made food which is a great cheap eat option. We particularly enjoyed farcis, which are vegetables stuffed with meat.

Fine dining in Toulouse France

Toulouse is home to a number of Michelin Guide restaurants.

2 star Michelin restaurants in Toulouse France (2023)

• Py-r

1 star Michelin restaurants in Toulouse France (2023)

• Stéphane Tournié – Les Jardins de l’Opéra
• Le Cénacle
• Michel Sarran
• Hedone

Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Toulouse France (2023)

• L’Air de Famille
• Cécile
• Cartouches
• Une Table à Deux

Michelin Plate restaurants in Toulouse France (2023)

• Genty Magre
• Émile
• Les P’tits Fayots
• L’alouette
• Solides
• Mantesino
• Les Sales Gosses
• Gram’s
• Hito
• Les Têtes d’Ail
• Antipodes
• Les Planeurs
• Au Pois Gourmand
• L’Hippi’curien
• Mas de Dardagna

Toulouse France culture

France national holidays

• New Year’s Day – 1 January
• Good Friday – the Friday before Easter Sunday, typically in March or April. This is only observed in Alsace and Moselle.
• Easter Monday – the Monday after Easter Sunday, typically in March or April.
• Labor Day – 1 May
• Victory Day – 8 May
• Ascension Day – this is celebrated 40 days after Easter
• Whit Sunday – this is the Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is celebrated 50 days after Easter, typically in May or June
• Whit Monday – it is the day after Whit Sunday, typically in May or June
• Bastille Day – 14 July
• Assumption Day – 15 August
• All Saints Day – 1 November
• Armistice Day – 11 November
• Christmas Day – 25 December
• St Stephen’s Day – 26 December. This is only observed in Alsace and Moselle.

National symbols of France

• France flag – a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured blue, white and red from left to right.
• France coat of arms – this features a lictor’s fasces (a bundle of wooden rods with an axe protruding from the top). This symbol rests on branches of laurel and oak. There is also a ribbon with the national motto “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”. The lictor’s fasces represents magisterial power, law and governance. The oak is the national tree of France and symbolises strength and endurance. The laurel is a symbol of triumph.
• National flower – fleur-de-lis (also known as the lily flower)
• National bird – Gallic rooster

France pastimes

• National dish – Pot-au-Feu
• Popular drinks – Pastis, wine
• National sport – football
• Religion – 41% Catholic, 40% non-religious (as at 2019)

Famous people from Toulouse France

• Noteworthy people born in Toulouse France – model Tina Kunakey, singer Carlos Gardel, singer Jain, politician Louis Aliot, writer Bernard Werber, actress Camille Razat, rapper Florian Ordonez
• Sports stars from Toulouse France – footballer Blaise Matuidi, footballer Gaël Clichy, footballer Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro

Is Toulouse France Safe?

France travel guide: Safety in France

We travelled through France for two months and found the country to be extremely safe. As with any country, there are good areas as well as bad areas. Watch out for pickpockets particularly in Paris, Marseilles, Nice, Lyon, Cannes as well as Strasbourg. Also, make sure no-one is watching whenever you are entering pin codes and never lose sight of your credit card when making a purchase.

General safety considerations in France

Other general safety considerations for travel in France:

• Drinking water – The tap water is safe to drink in Toulouse.
• Mosquitoes – the tiger mosquito has been present in France since 2004. This type of mosquito spreads diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikunguya.
• Road safety – French motorways are the safest in continental Europe. However the National and Departmental roads are much less safe. Additionally, roads are the leading cause of violent death in the country. Consequently, it is important to take care on the roads in France.
• Water safety – If you visit any of the lakes or waterways near Toulouse take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect.
• Sun safety – Exposure to the sun can have adverse short-term and long-term effects on the skin, eyes as well as the immune system. Sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses is very important to ensure you don’t get burnt.

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

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