Is Toulouse Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons to Visit Toulouse (2024)

Toulouse is the Occitanie region’s capital and France’s fourth-largest city. However, it’s a city that most people visiting France know little about and often skip over in preference for the coastal town of Nice or Paris. Thus, you may be wondering, “Is Toulouse Worth Visiting?” After spending some time in this vibrant city last year, I can share a few of my honest thoughts and experiences. This way, you’ll be able to decide if a stop in Toulouse is worth adding to your France itinerary or not!

Is Toulouse Worth Visiting? (2024)

My highly biased opinion is that Toulouse is worth visiting for a few days. That said, I also believe it’s pretty hit-and-miss with some tourists, and there’s a decent chance it might not be worth visiting for you.

Now, you may be thinking, I’m being contradictory, and I’m not being super helpful. You’d be right lol. 😅 The reason is that we all have different backgrounds and interests. I know a lot of travel bloggers will blanket statement a destination by saying, “Oh x, y, z is worth visiting. You’ll love it!” I’m not the biggest fan of that. It both skews reality and often makes our expectations for a place super high.

Instead, I wanted to be transparent and give you the good and bad on Toulouse. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether or not you should spend precious vacation days in the city. Because it sucks when we visit a place and it doesn’t feel worth it, right? So, in the spirit of honesty, I’ll cover a few different scenarios in which Toulouse may or may not be worth visiting for you in the next sections!

Toulouse Is Worth Visiting If…

You’re looking to spend time in a big city without it feeling overwhelming, kinda like Montreal, Canada. This was one of the parts I enjoyed most about Toulouse. When I visited, I’d already been to Paris several times and spent some time in Nice. Thus, I wanted to branch out to less visited cities of France and areas I hadn’t been to before, such as Carcassonne, Strasbourg, and Toulouse.

But, I was also on the tail end of my 7-week solo trip across Europe. Therefore, I craved a destination that wouldn’t feel overwhelming or have too much commotion. With these factors in mind, Toulouse proved to be the ideal destination.

Another scenario where Toulouse may be worth visiting is if you want to see lots of colorful buildings. The city is nicknamed “La Ville Rose” or The Pink City because the majority of the buildings are constructed out of terra cotta brick, which gives off a pink and orange-ish hue. And when the sun is out, it’s hard not to spend hours admiring all the different colors while strolling down the winding streets.

The third main reason Toulouse might be worth visiting is if you’re an aerospace lover. Toulouse is home to several aerospace-related institutions, making the city the de facto space capital of France. And while you won’t see any rockets launch, you can geek out at the massive Musée Aeroscopia, which is dedicated to the history of aviation, or Cité de l’Espace (Toulouse Space Center), which is geared towards space.

Overall, if any of these descriptions resonate with you, then Toulouse is probably worth visiting. But even if they don’t, you still might enjoy Toulouse because there are tons of other reasons to visit… more on that later! 😉

Toulouse Is Not Worth Visiting If…

To hold up my promise of explaining both the good and the bad, here are some cases in which Toulouse may not be the best fit for you.

You’re looking to do some more adventurous activities. For instance, I’m big on thrilling adventures, like surfing in Biarritz, paragliding along the Swiss Alps, or chasing waterfalls. None of these activities are offered in Toulouse… the closest you’ll get to having a nice adrenaline rush is doing a bike tour of the city lol. Again, it’s not the biggest downside and probably almost preferable for many. But, Toulouse is certainly more focused on history and culture.

In a similar vein, Toulouse is not the most exciting place in terms of geography. The city’s most notable features are Canal du Midi and the Garonne River. While the Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for being a true engineering feat that shepherded in the Industrial Revolution, you can only admire a waterway for so long…

Lastly, it’s not the best place if you’re looking for a wide array of places to visit. There are enough things to do around the city to last you a solid 2 or 3 days, but it’s a far cry from the French capital or Barcelona, both of which have a seemingly endless list of museums, cathedrals, and neighborhoods to explore. So, if you’re on a tight schedule and trying to hit up some of the more noteworthy destinations, I would skip over Toulouse…

Again, these are all just my personal opinions and observations after spending some time in the city and chatting with other tourists. So, your opinion may differ, but that’s why it’s always good to keep reading and researching! 🙂

Map of Toulouse France

If you’re unsure where Toulouse is because let’s face it — geography is rough for most people, here’s a little map displaying Toulouse in relation to other popular French cities. The uppermost pin is Paris, which is 5 hours away from Toulouse via train. So, far away enough that you wouldn’t want to do a day trip, but close enough that you could do a long weekend getaway.

The next highest pin is Lyon, which is like Paris on a smaller scale. Lyon is about 4 hours away from Toulouse via train. Again, not ideal for a day trip. Furthest to the left is Bordeaux, which is the wine capital of France 👀… Bordeaux is only a 2.5-hour train ride away from Toulouse, so you could do a day trip in either direction, but you might be a bit rushed for time.

And then lastly, all the way on the right is Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera and probably my favorite place in all of France. Unfortunately, there’s no direct train route between Nice and Toulouse, and the shortest route between the two cities takes about 7 hours. Some train routes can make the journey about 10 hours… So, I would visit another French city, like Montpellier or the seaside town of Marseille if you wanted to see Toulouse and Nice.

9 Reasons Why to Visit Toulouse

Remember when I said there are plenty of other reasons why to visit Toulouse… well in case you’re keen on learning more about the capital city of the Occitanie region or simply need more reasons to travel 😅 I got ya covered! Below are 9 additional reasons why I had a lovely time in Toulouse.

1. Abundance of Beautiful Architecture

Along with the various shades of red, orange, and pink on most buildings, I enjoyed taking in the different architectural styles throughout the city. For example, I loved seeing the Basilique Saint-Sernin, which is the largest Romanesque church in France and the only other UNESCO World Heritage Site in Toulouse. This church dates back to the 11th century and is free to enter, which I highly recommend doing!

And for any Harry Potter fans, be sure to walk down the steps in the back. This will lead you down to the crypt, which will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during the Goblet of Fire! No joke, I had a field day envisioning myself in the triwizard tournament and this ended up being my favorite part about the church, next to the beautiful bell tower!⚡️

Other spectacular landmarks include the iconic Capitole de Toulouse and the striking Saint-Etienne Cathedral. The massive Capitole de Toulouse features a neoclassical architectural style and is impossible to miss as it’s smack in the heart of Toulouse. You can technically walk around inside, but it’s harder said than done. The visiting hours change daily, so you’ll have to be persistent.

Another thing — beware of potential scammers. At these historic landmarks, a common tourist trap is for people with clipboards will approach you. The hook is them asking you to sign some petition. If you sign, they’ll then ask you for a donation to support their cause. And if you don’t have cash, they’ll ask for your credit card information. Just politely say you don’t have any money and walk away. Don’t get scammed like my friends.

2. Good Food & Wine

Keeping in line with most places in France, Toulouse has a thriving food and wine scene! The dish that the region is most famous for is Cassoulet, which is a rich, slow-cooked French stew. This dish goes as far back as the mid-1300s and was originally a peasant dish that consisted of whatever was on hand.

Since then, countless versions of the dish have been made. However, you can generally expect the dish to consist of beans, a variety of meats, herbs, and some other seasonings. And in terms of places to find it, the traditional dish available in most restaurants around Toulouse that serve French cuisine.

Another spot to hit up while in Toulouse is the Victor Hugo Market. This is the largest food market in town and it’s a fun place to walk around for any foodies! There’s even a popular food tour available that allows you the opportunity to sample some local cheeses and sausages, do a wine tasting, and chat with the local vendors. And, of course, your expert local guide will give you lots of insight into the history of cuisine in Toulouse.

My piece of advice is to try to do a tour of Toulouse on one of the first days you’re in the city. This way, you can get insider info on all the secret spots to hit up for delicious food and regional wine. And honestly, who better to ask about the local culture than someone who lives in the city!?

✅ 🥖 Check rates & availability for this crowd-favorite food tour

3. A Clean City

Something that I appreciate about Toulouse is the fact that it’s a fairly clean city. They aren’t quite at the level of literally vacuuming the streets as they do in Bilbao, Spain, but I distinctly recall being pleasantly surprised at how tidy everything was in Toulouse. From the streets to the city parks, it just felt well-maintained and cared for. It’s almost the complete opposite of what you would see on the streets of Paris…🙈

Ok — yes I know that was an unfair dig at Paris given how many more tourists Paris receives and the size of Paris… but it’s the small things that can truly enhance your experience right!?!

4. Festivals to Attend

Another reason why Toulouse may be worth visiting is to attend one of their annual festivals. For instance, a popular outdoor music festival that takes place over 5 days in the middle of June is Rio Loco. This festival happens right in the heart of Toulouse at Prairie des Filtres, one of the lovely parks along the Garonne River.

There are no assigned seats, it’s just everyone outside together and dancing under the sun! And for those traveling with little ones, this is a family-friendly music festival as you’ll find interactive game areas set up around the park.

But the best part about the festival is that an eclectic mix of music is performed. Rio Loco features music from 5 of the 7 continents around the world. This means you’ll hear all kinds of genres of music, such as soul, folk, pop, hip-hop, blues, samba, rap, reggae, afrobeat, dubstep, and so much more.

It’s truly a wonderful opportunity to not only discover new artists but also to explore different cultures! And everyone can find something that suits their musical taste. Oh, and tickets for Rio Loco are much more affordable! It costs €30 for a 5-day pass.

Other noteworthy festivals include Piano aux Jacobins, a month-long Piano festival in September that’s held in Toulouse’s famous Couvent de Jacobins. Or, there’s the Violet Festival that’s dedicated to celebrating the fragrant flower in the Place du Capitole. You’ll find numerous stalls selling everything from liqueurs and honey to candies and hot coco with violets.

✅ Check out smaller events & activities happening in Toulouse here

5. Friendly People

You know how French people have a reputation for not being the most friendly of people? In Toulouse, I experienced the complete opposite. Toulouse was the place where I made the most friends compared to everywhere else I traveled during my 7-week solo trip. Maybe it was just the time of the year, or I got really lucky, but everyone I interacted with was so kind — from the people I shared a room with within my hostel and the actual staff at the hostel to shop vendors and restaurant staff.

Heck, I even had a couple of random people wave and cheer me on during my morning runs. For context, this rarely happens when I’m doing my morning runs in Europe. So, from my perspective, Toulouse gets a huge thumbs up for being a city full of friendly people. And this probably goes without saying, I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same experience. But, I’d say that the people are more friendly or approachable than in other places!

6. See Various Hôtels Particuliers

Something that few know about is hôtels particuliers, which are essentially these grand townhouses. As you can likely guess, these hôtel particuliers were built for the wealthy, or aristocrats. You can find several of them scattered in cities across France, such as Paris and Bordeaux, but there are 16 hôtels particuliers alone in Toulouse. Some of them aren’t open to the public while others function as museums and galleries.

A fun thing to do is to do a little scavenger hunt by searching for them and observing their different architectural styles. Plus, it’s always fun imagining what it would be like to live the life of the top 1%, kind of like in Monaco lol! Anyway, you can either search for the hotel particuliers on your own or opt for a tour.

The advantage of a tour is that you can easily gain insight into the history and background of the estate without doing excessive amounts of research. Plus, you’ll get to see tons of other notable landmarks within the city, which is another bonus. And in case you’re wondering which one is the most famous, it’s Hôtel d’Assézat.

7. Nice Home Base for a Variety of Day Trips

For those looking for a change in scenery or who want to explore some of the smaller towns in France, Toulouse makes an excellent home base for doing so. One of the most popular day trips from Toulouse is to the medieval town of Carcassonne. Here, you’ll find a massive fairytale-like castle and ramparts dating back to the 13th century. It’s one of the most well-preserved medieval structures in the whole world and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

And I know some people may not geek on this stuff. That’s fine, but I loved visiting this historic city. As I was walking around the Cité de Carcassonne, I was listening to the soundtrack from The Witcher because it perfectly matched the ambiance haha. Also, whether you go via a tour or on your own, it’s a pretty affordable excursion, so that’s another plus! We love financially friendly options! 😌

Another day trip that you can do is to Albi and Cordes sur Ciel. These two French towns are pretty close to each other and offer picturesque views of the countryside. So you have lots of options if you’re trying to explore the more hidden side of France!

8. You Can Easily Visit Andorra From Toulouse

Another reason I opted to visit Toulouse is because you can comfortably reach Andorra from La Ville Rose. For those who don’t know, Andorra is a very small, mountainous country between France and Spain. Due to the geography of the country, there’s no airport or train station. As such, the only way in and out is by bus or car.

And since visiting the country isn’t exactly in high demand by tourists, transportation options are limited. Despite this, I knew I wanted to visit Andorra and get out of the big cities for a bit. So, when I saw that Toulouse had several buses that would transport you to the small principality, I was sold.

The journey takes about 2.5 – 3 hours via bus, depending on traffic, and is very scenic. You’ll pass through the Pyrenees Mountains and pass the biggest ski resort that is a crowd-favorite during the wintertime. Thus, if you’re like me and want to travel off the beaten path… to a relatively affordable destination that I discovered very few Americans know about 🥲, Toulouse is a good place to do so.

Anyway, if you’re keen on visiting Andorra from Toulouse, you can grab your bus ticket here! Or, you can do a short excursion from Barcelona, which is what most tourists tend to do lol.

9. Toulouse Is a Walkable City

Last but not least, Toulouse is a super walkable city. You might find it weird that I would cite this as a reason to visit Toulouse, but I’m a huge fan of walkable cities. First, it means that you can save money by not having to rely so much on public transportation, unlike in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.

Second, for those with mobility issues, it just makes life so much easier. Heck, I consider myself a pretty fit person considering I run most mornings, but I get winded walking around cities with rolling hills. So I can’t imagine how people with limited mobility feel.

Similarly, Toulouse isn’t fairly condensed. It doesn’t feel jammed packed, but it’s not spread out like Tahiti where you need a car to go from one tourist attraction to the next. Thus, I think Toulouse is nice to visit in that you can walk almost everywhere without getting too tired. And hey, if you want to use public transportation, it’s an option but not a necessity.

Oh! And if you want to explore the city faster than you would on foot there’s also a highly-rated 3-hour bike tour available. It visits all the main highlights and is one of the better options if you happen to only be in the city for a day or two.

✅ 🚴‍♀️ Check rates & availability for this lovely bike tour of Toulouse

Best Time to Visit Toulouse

Toulouse experiences at least a few rainy days every month, and depending on when you go, there may be only 5 days of rain or 10 days of rain. If you don’t want to deal with the rain, the best time of the year to visit is from July – September. During this period, temperatures are in the high 70s°F (21°C) and there are only an average of 5 rainy days per month. But, the trade-off is that you’ll have to deal with the throngs of tourists that travel during the summertime.

So, if you have a bit of flexibility in your schedule, I’d try to go in September or October. The weather is still pleasant, there are still not that many rainy days and the city is much less crowded. Oh, and you’ll generally find hotels and hostels offering accommodations — which we love! 🤠

All this said Toulouse has fairly nice temperatures most of the year. For instance, during the wintertime, the average high temperature is 50°F (10°C) and the average low temperature is 37°F (3°C). Compared to other areas of Europe, this is quite mild. Therefore, if you’re not picky about the weather and don’t mind a bit of rain, Toulouse isn’t a bad place to visit any time of the year.

How Many Days Should I Spend in Toulouse?

I opted to spend a full 3 full days in Toulouse and thought it was the perfect amount of time. I had time to see all the main city highlights as well as fit in a day trip without feeling rushed. But, if I could go back in time with what I know, I would probably recommend 4 days because I would’ve liked to do another day trip.

Of course, if you’re short on time or just passing through on your way to Andorra or the French Riviera, then that’s ok too. Like anywhere else, you won’t see everything. But, I think you can still cover a lot of ground since the city is condensed and accessible.

Ultimately, it just depends on what you want to do and how interested you are in seeing the surrounding area or immersing yourself in the local culture. But, if you just want to pass through and catch a glimpse of Toulouse, I’d say spend two full days. Meanwhile, if you want a decent feel for the city and to do a day trip or tour, aim for three or four days.

Where to Stay in Toulouse

If you’re convinced to visit Toulouse and ready to start exploring or even lock down your housing, here are some places to check out. They are all centrally located and can be walked to from the Toulouse train station within 25 minutes.

Low-Cost Stay

• La Petite Auberge de Saint-Sernin — fantastic hostel I stayed at | ⭐️ 8.6 / 10
• Hôtel Héliot — 3-star hotel that offers airport shuttle | ⭐️ 8.5 / 10

Mid-Range Stay

• Hotel Mercure Toulouse — 4-star hotel w/ breakfast, bar, & pool | ⭐️ 8.1 / 10
• Hotel Toulouse Centre Albert 1er — 3-star hotel w/ restaurant | ⭐️ 8.8 / 10

Fancy Stays

• La Cour des Consuls Hôtel & Spa — fancy 5-star hotel | ⭐️ 8.3 / 10
• Hotel SOCLO Toulouse — 4-star hotel w/ pool & restaurant | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10

Feel free to use the buttons below to check out other housing options.

You can also use the interactive map below to find housing. The prices shown reflect current prices. However, you can enter your travel dates and the number of guests to see more accurate prices.

Visiting Toulouse France: FAQ

Wrap-Up: Is Toulouse Worth Visiting? (2024)

Toulouse is a delightful city that offers a big city environment without being too overwhelming and lacking charm. The city also feels welcoming and is fairly easy to navigate with most of the main attractions being within walking distance of each other. Plus, there’s tons of great food, historic churches, and markets to explore. So, if this sounds attractive to you, then Toulouse will likely be well worth visiting.

But, at the end of the day, it all depends on what you want out of a trip. Either way, I hope this post has been informative and helped you decide whether or not to add Toulouse to your next travel itinerary.

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