Things To Do and See in Toulouse
Toulouse is the 4th largest city in France and is located in the South of the country. It takes about 5 hours by train from Paris.
What I particularly loved about my visit to Toulouse is not just the extremely picturesque city with it’s cute pink streets and stunning architecture, but also the kind people, the amazing food and the chill vibe of the city.
If you want to see some more visuals, you can also check out my Toulouse vlog on Youtube!
Here’s a complete list of the best things to do and see in Toulouse, France:
Stroll around the picturesque streets
As with most European cities, the best way to explore Toulouse is by wandering around with no particular destination in mind. I was quite struck by how pretty the city looks, especially on a sunny day! It even reminds me a little of the town from the Disney movie Belle and the Beast.
While you do your wandering, check out these main sights in Toulouse:
Place du Capitole: the main square of Toulouse, home to the Capitole (city hall and opera house) and lined with cafés where you can sit and take in the view.
Basilique Saint-Sernin: the largest Romanesque church still standing in Europe, and part of the UNESCO-listed pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela.
Couvent des Jacobins: a gorgeous former convent with a church and a peaceful courtyard cloister. Look up inside the church for the palm-tree-shaped vault.
Pont Neuf: the bridge connecting the city centre with the Saint-Cyprien neighbourhood. Despite the name ("new bridge"), it was built between 1544 and 1626!
Chapelle Saint-Joseph de la Grave: the former chapel of the La Grave hospital in Saint-Cyprien, whose dome is one of the most recognisable landmarks of the city.
If you love walking tours with a guide explaining you about the history of Toulouse, then there are several available, such as this one by a local.
Walk or cycle along the Canal du Midi
The UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi starts in Toulouse, and the flat, tree-shaded towpath is perfect for a walk or a bike ride, with houseboats and waterside cafés along the way. Toulouse is a very bike-friendly city, so renting a bike is easy and a fun thing to do.
Wander along the river Garonne
The Garonne meanders through Toulouse, and walking along the river banks was one of my favourite things to do during my stay. The river is especially beautiful during sunsets and you can see all the students having a drink at the river side.
If you'd like to be out on the water, you can also go kayaking or rent a boat.
For a drink with a view, head to Place Saint-Pierre, a lively square close to the river that's popular for an apéro at golden hour.
Visit some of the museums
There are quite a few museums in Toulouse, so if you're a museum lover there will be plenty to see.
Here is a selection:
Fondation Bemberg: a museum housed in a gorgeous mansion with fine art from the Renaissance onwards.
Musée des Augustins: a fine art museum particularly known for its sculptures and paintings.
Les Abattoirs: a contemporary art museum in a former slaughterhouse, with works by Picasso and a sculpture garden along the Garonne.
La Halle de la Machine: this is something totally different and quite unique. In this museum, Giant mechanical creatures are housed, including a 47-ton Minotaur and a huge spider. They live on the old Montaudran airfield, and you can even see them move.
For airplane and space lovers
Toulouse is the home of Airbus, so it's no surprise that aviation and space are big here. If your love airplaces then this is definitely one of the top things to do in Toulouse:
Aeroscopia: an aviation museum close to Toulouse airport, with the Concorde on display. You can climb aboard the Concorde and look inside an A380. Definitely a must for plane lovers! It's easy to reach by tram or by car from the city.
Cité de l'espace: a space museum and park with life-size rockets, a planetarium and an IMAX cinema. Great for kids and adults alike.
Do some shopping at boutique stores
Toulouse has loads of cute boutique stores, so if you love shopping, check out some of the following:
BiArts: vintage clothing made new. I bought a really cute T-shirt here! They remake old clothing and add fun touches like graphics. You can also have them customise a piece just for you.
TRAIT papier: a lovely little stationery store where you can also find nice souvenirs.
Fifi Jolipois: here you can make your own bead bracelets and other jewellery.
Les Écuries: a quirky souvenir store selling locally crafted accessories and other handmade trinkets.
Browse the Victor Hugo Market
The Victor Hugo Market is a small market in the city centre with loads of local delicacies to try, and there are casual restaurants upstairs. Local foods to try are: Toulouse sausage, cassoulet and the violet sweets Toulouse is famous for.
🥖 TIP: There's also a wonderful food tour led by a chef, where you can try different local foods and snacks from the market.
Do a wine and cheese tasting (and maybe even visit the vineyards)
If you find yourself in the South of France, wine tasting is a must for any wine lover (even if you’re not to be honest)!
There are plenty of tastings available in Toulouse itself. If you're staying in the city, I tried the wine tasting with cheese pairing at Les Petits Crus, which was a fun and tasty experience. You can choose between 4 or 6 wine and cheese pairings, and you can even select your "flavour profile", such as intense or mild. I love really strong cheeses, so I went with intense 😄.
If you have time (and ideally a car), it's also a great idea to visit some of the wineries outside the city. There are plenty of wine tastings and vineyard tours you can book via GetYourGuide, which also include the transfer from Toulouse to the vineyards.
If you’d rather stay in the city for wine, try this wine tasting tour with a wine expert in the city.
Check out the parks and gardens
There are several lovely and beautiful parks and gardens in Toulouse that are worth a visit:
Japanese Garden (Jardin Japonais)
Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden dating back to the late 1700s
Prairie des Filtres
Take a Day Trip to another French city
Toulouse is close to many other beautiful places, such as Bordeaux, Carcassonne and the Pyrenees, and most are easily reachable by car or train. If you'd rather have the transport and a guide taken care of, you can for example book a day trip to Carcassonne.
Another idea is to visit the famous pilgrimage town of Lourdes by booking a day trip from Toulouse.
The city of Albi is another great option, just over an hour away by train, with its striking red-brick cathedral. There are also day trips which conveniently combine Albi and the medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel.
Other Things to do in Toulouse:
Check out my Toulouse vlog to see more of the city:
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