Toulouse, France: travel guide
The pink-brick city of the south-west, with a Romanesque basilica and cassoulet
La Ville Rose — named for the rosy terracotta brick that glows pink in the southern light.
About Toulouse
Toulouse is known as La Ville Rose for the rosy brick of its buildings, which glows warmly in southern light. It sits on the Garonne in south-west France, and has a youthful, university-city energy alongside a strong sense of Occitan identity.
Things to do in Toulouse include visiting the Romanesque Basilica of Saint-Sernin, strolling the Place du Capitole and the riverbank, and exploring the Canal du Midi, which begins here. The city is also the centre of France's aerospace industry, and aviation history draws many visitors. Cassoulet and good local markets define the table.
Toulouse suits relaxed city breaks and is a convenient base for the Pyrenees and medieval Cathar country. Spring and early autumn are the pleasant seasons.
- Country
- France
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Nearest airport
- TLS
Last updated
Top places to visit in Toulouse
Place du Capitole Toulouse
civic square · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The grand neoclassical heart of Toulouse — a vast public square dominated by the 18th-century Capitol Building. The pink terracotta facades glow warm at sunset, earning the city its nickname La Ville Rose.
Toulouse Cité de l'Espace
space-museum · 4.7 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
La Cité de l'Espace — the spectacular space-themed park with full-scale models of the Ariane 5 rocket, the Mir space station, planetariums, and the IMAX theatre, in the European space capital.
Toulouse Pink City Walking
pink-city-walk · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A walking tour of La Ville Rose (the Pink City) — Toulouse's historic centre with the distinctive pink brick architecture, the Place du Capitole, the Renaissance hôtels particuliers, and the famous Place Saint-Étienne.
Toulouse Carcassonne Castle
medieval-fortress · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · entry €19 (≈ ₹2,030)
A day trip to Carcassonne — the spectacular medieval fortified city, UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the dramatic walls, 52 towers, the Comital Castle, and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin Toulouse
Romanesque basilica · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest Romanesque church in the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site — an 11th- and 12th-century basilica built as a key Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage stop. The crypt holds relics of 128 saints. The five-naved interior stretches…
Toulouse Garonne Canal
unesco-canal · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Canal du Midi from Toulouse — the UNESCO World Heritage 17th-century canal connecting the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, with the historic locks, the plane tree-lined banks, and the famous boat trips.
Toulouse Albi UNESCO Day Trip
unesco-town · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Toulouse to Albi — the UNESCO World Heritage town with the spectacular fortified Sainte-Cécile Cathedral (the largest brick cathedral in the world), and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum.
Toulouse Marché Victor Hugo
food-market · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Marché Victor Hugo — Toulouse's historic covered food market, with the spectacular array of southwest French gastronomy: foie gras, cassoulet ingredients, magret de canard, and the regional specialties.
Toulouse Pyrenees Day Trip
mountain-day-trip · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Toulouse to the Pyrenees — the spectacular mountain range with the historic Lourdes pilgrimage town, the Cirque de Gavarnie, and the dramatic alpine landscapes.
Toulouse Convent Jacobins
dominican-monastery · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹530)
The Couvent des Jacobins — the spectacular 13th-century Dominican monastery with the famous palm tree vault, the tomb of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and the beautiful Gothic cloister.
Toulouse Airbus Factory
aerospace-tour · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Airbus Factory tour — visiting the spectacular assembly line of the Airbus A380 (the world's largest passenger aircraft) and the A350, in the world's aerospace capital.
Toulouse Aeroscopia Aviation
aviation-museum · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Aeroscopia Aviation Museum — the spectacular museum of aviation history with full-scale aircraft including the Concorde, the Airbus A300, the Caravelle, and the rich heritage of Toulouse aviation.
Things to do
- Airbus Factory Tour — A380 & A350 Final Assembly Line Cultural · 3 h · from EUR 18 per person
- Canal du Midi Sunset Boat Tour from Toulouse Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 23 per person
Where to stay in Toulouse
- Capitole & Saint-Cyprien about EUR 135 per night
Toulouse's rosy heart — the grand Place du Capitole with its café terraces and the creative Saint-Cyprien quarter across the Garonne bridge are the best bases for exploring.
Hotels
- Hôtel Le Grand Balcon 4-star · EUR 175 to EUR 320 per night
- Hôtel de Brienne 3-star · EUR 90 to EUR 160 per night
- Auberge de Jeunesse Toulouse Wilson (HI) 2-star · EUR 19 to EUR 68 per night
Where to eat
- Chez Emile french, occitan · about EUR 35 per person
- Pâtisserie Maison Rieux french, pastry · about EUR 15 per person
- Le Genty Magre french, bistro, southwest_french · about EUR 40 per person
Getting to Toulouse
Airport: Toulouse (TLS)
Getting around
- Metro
- Walking
More in France
Frequently asked questions about Toulouse
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Toulouse?
- The highest-rated places in our Toulouse guide are Toulouse Carcassonne Castle, Toulouse Albi UNESCO Day Trip, Place du Capitole Toulouse, Toulouse Cité de l'Espace, Toulouse Pink City Walking.
- Where should I stay in Toulouse?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Toulouse: Capitole & Saint-Cyprien.
- How do I get around Toulouse?
- Ways to get around Toulouse covered in our guide: Metro, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Toulouse?
- The nearest airport to Toulouse has the code TLS.