A French city with a Spanish twist: top things to do in Toulouse
From history lessons to thrilling theme parks – via some sublime local cuisine – this southern French city has it all. Here's our day-by-day itinerary of the top things to do in Toulouse.
Toulouse, or La Ville Rose as it’s also known, is distinctly southern European with its dusty-red buildings that sit under pastel blue skies. This ‘pink city’ may be in the south of France but it’s just 75 miles from the Spanish border and has strong roots in Occitania, a historical linguistic region that encompassed this part of France and small areas of Italy and Catalunya.
No wonder then that a night out in Toulouse has a Spanish twist. Tapas bars abound, with menus mixing Basque pintxos with local produce. The city’s large number of students and ever-expanding population – attracted by jobs in its booming aeronautical industry – add to the cultural cassoulet, layering youthful energy over a laid-back southern soul.
Use our tips for the top things to do in Toulouse for your weekend escape.
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Friday
Get there: In addition to regular flights from the UK, Toulouse is now more accessible by train thanks to the new high-speed line between Paris and Bordeaux. Jump on the Eurostar to Paris and then change to a TGV for the four-hour journey to Toulouse.
Check into: Hôtel des Beaux-Arts. Overlooking the Garonne river, this place embraces the eccentric with pieces of contemporary art displayed throughout the hotel. Spot an erotica-inspired lampshade in the foyer and Star Wars figurines dotted about the breakfast room.
See sunset at: Quai de la Daurade. On a warm, sunny early evening, this spot on the shore of the river Garonne is where locals come to chat, drink and watch the sun go down. You might even catch a wakeboarder blazing a trail under the nearby Pont Neuf bridge.
Try tapas at: Monsieur Georges. Get a feel for Toulouse-style tapas at this popular restaurant on the buzzy Place St Georges. Spanish classics such as Serrano ham croquettes and chorizo with grilled squid sit alongside local cheeses from Toulouse fromagerie Betty.
Saturday
Top tip: Pick up a Toulouse Pass (from €15 a day, valid for up to three days) for free public transport throughout your stay, free or reduced entry to the city’s major museums and attractions and a complimentary guided tour by the tourist office.
Discover: the pink city’s fascination with colour. Join a tour or set off on your own to visit some of the city’s grand townhouses that sprung up during the 15th and 16th centuries, when Toulouse was a prosperous producer of woad, a blue pigment used to dye textiles. One impressive mansion is the Hôtel d’Assézat, built for a wealthy Toulouse woad merchant and now home to the Fondation Bemberg art gallery.
Have a coffee break at: Place du Capitole. Toulouse’s glorious 18th-century town hall, Le Capitole, is a hive of activity on Saturday mornings. Join locals in the cafés that line the vast square in front of this imposing building.
Shop in: Rue d’Alsace Lorraine. This pedestrianised boulevard in the city centre is the place to go for high street brands. But make time to get lost in the maze-like streets either side, including Rue des Puits-Clos and Rue de la Pomme, home to independent shops and cafés. The delightful Bouquières quarter also has some lovely boutiques and is worth a wander on your way to visit St-Etienne cathedral.
Have lunch at: Le Murano. Local Valentin Neraudeau competed in Top Chef, France’s equivalent of Professional MasterChef, and opened this smart restaurant in 2016. His seasonal, locally-sourced dishes are exquisitely presented and taste as good as they look.
Learn about air travel at: the Airbus factory. Toulouse’s long association with aviation started when French engineer and entrepreneur Pierre-Georges Latécoère opened an aircraft factory here during the WWI. These days Toulouse is where the Airbus A380 is put together. A tour of the factory is a fascinating experience, even if you’re not a plane-spotter. It's a little way out of town, near the airport, but is well worth the visit.
Have an apéro at: Chez Tonton. This popular bar on the Place Saint-Pierre is something of an institution, known for serving the southern French apéritif Pastis by the metre.
Eat meaty tapas at: J’Go. Committed carnivores will love this restaurant. It specialises in meat dishes such as Toulouse sausage, pig’s feet, beef tartare, steaks and burgers. The casual tapas bar upstairs is a great spot to while away an evening sampling slices of marinated beef, chargrilled pork and charcuterie, washed down with local Gaillac red.
Have a drink at: No. 5 wine bar. Round off the evening at this celebrated little enoteca (wine shop). Bottles are kept in self-service receptacles offering tasting measures so you can try a few before you buy a larger glass of your favourite. Simple pintxos (snacks) are available to soak up the booze.
Sunday
Walk inside a space station at: Cité de l’Espace. Toulouse has been at the forefront of space research since a national space centre was established here in the 1960s. At this space-related theme park south east of the city centre, look inside training versions of genuine spacecraft, including the Soyuz capsule and the Mir space station, and view the Earth from space in the IMAX cinema.
Have coffee at: Place de la Trinité. Less touristy than other parts of town, this square is ideal for a pitstop prior to visiting the covered food market Marché des Carmes to pick up treats for a picnic.
Cycle along: the Canal du Midi. Hire bikes at La Maison du Vélo near the train station and cycle the tow path alongside this remarkable UNESCO-listed canal. Pedal past narrowboats and locks and stop to enjoy your picnic before your trip home.
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