As of this writing in 2026, I’ve now spent a month or more in each of five French cities, and multiple weeks in Paris. And as of this writing, I can confidently state that while each of them has offered something wonderful, and each of them has been great, Toulouse is my favorite. It’s a term I don’t throw around lightly.
Why is Toulouse my favorite? It is beautiful, with a historic center done mainly in pink brick (hence the nickname the Pink City). It has some cool history, stunning churches, fascinating museums, amazing food, and even some lovely day trips. The city is peaceful, safe, walkable, affordable. It is everything you could possibly want France to be.
This guide will endeavor to give you all the information you need to decide if Toulouse is the right destination for you, and to help you plan your trip if it is. Links throughout will take you to more detailed articles about specific aspects of the city, so be sure to click on those.
And if you enjoy this guide, click here to see our Ultimate Guides from all around the world!
Getting There
If Toulouse has an obvious weakness, this is it. It is in the southwest of France, not especially near anything else. Bordeaux is 2-3 hours by train to the north; Marseille is 4-5 to the southeast. So unless you are coming from one of those, you’ll most likely be flying in.
Toulouse-Blagnac airport is reasonably sized, and while it does not offer any flights from North America as of now, most European carriers seem to fly in from their hubs, meaning you can probably get here with a single stop. To reach the center from the airport is a bus or tram and then the metro. (There will be a better metro option once the city’s third line opens.) Or it is a €20ish Uber or taxi.
If you do happen to take a train or bus into the city, Toulouse Matabiau station (the bus station is directly next door to the train station) is centrally located, either a 15-30 minute walk into the center (depending where you are going) or a couple stops on the metro. Just note that with construction on the new line, the station’s metro stop is about a 5-8 minute walk around right now.
Getting Around
While within the center you’ll most likely walk, navigating Toulouse by transit is fairly easy. Right now, the city has two metro lines, with a third under construction. There are also a couple tram lines and some buses, although with the exception of going to the airport or the Aeroscopia/Airbus museum, you are unlikely to use those.
The metro is €1.60 one way, with transfers included. The best part is that contactless payment options like Apple Pay work, meaning you won’t have to use a ticket machine. Trains are regular, smooth, clean, and fast. And stations are labeled with both names and images. (For instance, the stop for my apartment was Esquirol, also labeled with a squirrel image.)
What to Do
While Toulouse doesn’t have the world-class museums of Paris, or the iconic sights, what it does have is a lot of just cool things to see. Most of those are in the city center, and a couple are outside.
This city has some of the best churches you’ll find anywhere in Europe. They are red brick, huge, and awesome. Saint-Etienne cathedral and Saint-Sernin basilica are free (make sure to see the crypt at Saint-Sernin for a ton of relics of saints), while the Counvent des Jacobins (an old monastery) is only free for the church and has an admission fee to access the rest of the complex. (Click here to read more about Toulouse’s churches.)
The political center of Toulouse is the Capitole. It is a gorgeous building, but make sure to visit during the day to go inside. It is one of the most beautifully decorated buildings you’ll find. And it is also free. (Click here to read about the Capitole.)
Make sure to give yourself time to wander around the city center to see all the beautiful brick. Some of those buildings have been repurposed into art museums (the Musee des Augustins is my favorite). And head across the Pont Neuf for a continuation of old Toulouse. (Click here to read more about all of that.)
Do you like airplanes? Head up to Blagnac to Aeroscopia for an awesome airplane museum. Or if you prefer space, Cite de l’Espace is a celebration of the European Space Agency. Toulouse is Airbus’ headquarters so it is the best city in Europe for those things, and you can click here to read more.
Besides the Garonne River, Toulouse also has the Canal du Midi, a canal that connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic so that French boats didn’t have to round Spain back in the day. Now you can do little day tours on it, a fun experience, or just walk. (Click to read about the Canal du Midi.)
Are you looking to get out of town? Toulouse is one gateway (Barcelona is the other) for Andorra. And while my most recent trip there was canceled, you can read about Andorra here from my visit in 2019.
For a day trip option, you might be interested in Carcassonne, one of the coolest walled cities in France. Click here to read about that.
Or maybe you want to try wine tasting! I went to the Gaillac region, which you can read about here, but there are a ton.
Finally, Albi is an easy day trip if you like the art of Henri de Toulouse Lautrec – and a stunning cathedral. (Click here to read about Albi.)
(Note that there are sometimes €1 each way train trips on the slower local trains for these day trips. They sell out so get yours early if they are offered.)
Where to Stay
American hotel brands aren’t as common in Toulouse as in other cities. There are a few, both in the center and near the airport. There are also European chain brands, like Novotel and Mercure.
Stay in the center, unless you only have day or so and need to be by the airport. It’s safe, clean, beautiful, and it’s where all the good food is. Basically draw a square between the Garonne, Canal du Midi, Saint-Etienne cathedral and Saint-Sernin basilica. Stay in that if you can.
What to Eat
I wrote a whole guide to the food in Toulouse, which you can find here. But I’ll give you a couple of my favorite dishes and restaurants.
There are two things you MUST try in Toulouse, assuming dietarily you can eat them: magret de canard (duck breast) and cassoulet. This is duck country, and if you eat that marvelous bird, you’ll do well with either of these dishes, as cassoulet has duck confit.
My favorite cassoulet was at La Gouaille, although it is cash only. But it’s a great deal for a two course meal.
My favorite magret – and my favorite meals overall – were at La Cindree.
Other Useful Information
Toulouse can get windy. While temperatures are generally mild, there can be up to 300 windy days per year. On particularly windy days, parks and gardens will be closed for safety.
Within the city center, car access is restricted. But that doesn’t mean it is non-existent. Some streets seem like pedestrian only, but might not be. Exercise some caution.
It isn’t really useful per se, but interesting. Toulouse has a thing for cinnamon rolls. Try Carmel Coffee Shop for my favorite, but they are everywhere in this city.
Conclusion
Those of you who visit The Royal Tour often know I don’t easily throw around terms like “favorite.” But Toulouse is a place I could live, not just visit. I seriously loved this city and I know you will too!
Like it? Pin it!
