Place du Capitole and the Capitole
Toulouse's civic heart: a vast square with the 18th-century Capitole facade, town hall and Théâtre du Capitole.
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About Toulouse
Toulouse is the prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and the capital of the Occitanie region in south-west France, known as La Ville Rose for its pink brick architecture. Visitors come for the Place du Capitole, the UNESCO-listed Basilique Saint-Sernin and the Canal du Midi, the Couvent des Jacobins, the Musée des Augustins and the Halles Victor Hugo, as well as for Europe's aerospace industry at the Cité de l'espace and Aeroscopia. The compact centre is easy to walk, two metro lines, trams and buses cover the rest, and TGV trains link the city to Bordeaux in about 2 hours and Paris in about 4 hours 15 minutes. Cassoulet, Toulouse sausage and violet sweets are the local specialities.
- Capital
- Paris (national capital); Toulouse is the regional capital of Occitanie
- Largest city
- Toulouse (largest city of Occitanie)
- Population
- About 510,000 in the commune of Toulouse; about 1 million in Toulouse Métropole (recent INSEE estimates)
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- Euro
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris (UTC+1, summer UTC+2 CEST)
Explore Toulouse by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Toulouse
The 21 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Basilique Saint-Sernin
The largest surviving Romanesque church in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage stage of the Camino de Santiago.
Couvent des Jacobins
Gothic Dominican church with the famous palm tree vault, cloister and refectory.
Musée des Augustins
Fine-arts museum in a medieval Augustinian convent, with Romanesque sculpture and French painting.
Cité de l'espace
Space-themed park with a full-scale Ariane 5 rocket, Mir station and a planetarium.
Aeroscopia
Aviation museum where visitors walk through a Concorde and a Super Guppy.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Toulouse Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Toulouse, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Toulouse
- Days 1-2Toulouse city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Toulouse
- Days 1-3Toulouse comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Toulouse, departure
Where to stay in Toulouse
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget EUR 55-100 (~$63-115)
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range EUR 140-260 (~$161-299)
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury EUR 400-1,000+ (~$460-1,150+)
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Grand Hôtel de l'Opéra
Upscale hotel at 1 Place du Capitole, in the historic centre close to the Place du Capitole and the Capitole metro station (line A). The hotel occupies a former 17th-century monastery on the Place du Capitole and has 55 rooms; its restaurant Les Jardins de l'Opéra holds a Michelin star.
Check rates on Booking.comLa Cour des Consuls Hôtel & Spa - MGallery
Luxury hotel at 46 Rue des Couteliers, in the old town between Place Esquirol, the Pont Neuf and the Garonne, near Esquirol (line A) and Carmes (line B) metro stations. Five-star hotel in two 18th-century buildings with 32 rooms, a spa, the restaurant Le Cénacle and the cocktail bar Le 46.
Check rates on Booking.comLe Grand Balcon
Upscale hotel at 8-10 Rue Romiguières, in the historic centre close to the Place du Capitole and the Capitole metro station (line A). Interiors by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel; the building is linked to the pioneering airmail pilots, including Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who used it as a base in the 1920s.
Check rates on Booking.comHôtel SOCLO
Boutique hotel at 34B Rue Valade, in the Saint-Sernin quarter near the Basilique Saint-Sernin, a short walk north of the Capitole. Boutique hotel in an old private mansion with a garden and a seasonal heated outdoor pool.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Toulouse
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Restaurant Émile
Regional restaurant open since 1947, known for cassoulet toulousain, Michelin-selected.
Le Genty Magre
Bistro that won Best Cassoulet in the World at the 2023 Toulouse championship.
L'Impériale
First-floor restaurant of Marché Victor Hugo serving cassoulet with Tarbais beans, Toulouse sausage and duck confit.
Le Colombier
Traditional restaurant serving a Castelnaudary-style cassoulet with goose confit and pork knuckle.
Le Bibent
Historic brasserie on Place du Capitole beside Capitole metro station.
Michel Sarran
Michelin-starred restaurant of chef Michel Sarran, rated 17/20 and Table de Prestige by Gault&Millau.
Book a food tour in Toulouse We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Getting around Toulouse
Transportation options in Toulouse include local buses, taxis, and rental cars. Check local conditions before planning your travel.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in EUR, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | EUR 28-60 (~$32-69) | EUR 85-160 (~$98-184) | EUR 220-550+ (~$253-633+) |
| Food (per day) | EUR 18-28 (~$21-32) | EUR 40-70 (~$46-81) | EUR 110-280+ (~$127-322+) |
| Transportation | EUR 0-6 (~$0-7) | EUR 5-18 (~$6-21) | EUR 30-150 (~$35-173) |
| Activities | EUR 0-12 (~$0-14) | EUR 15-40 (~$17-46) | EUR 40-200+ (~$46-230+) |
| Daily total | EUR 55-100 (~$63-115) | EUR 140-260 (~$161-299) | EUR 400-1,000+ (~$460-1,150+) |
Best time to visit Toulouse
Weather through the year in Occitanie
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Occitanie.
April-June and September to mid-October
Late spring and early autumn combine warm days, open terraces and walkable streets. Spring thunderstorms are short and heavy; carry a light waterproof. In summer, walk before 11AM or after 6PM and use museums, shaded canal towpaths and the covered Marché Victor Hugo in the afternoon heat.
Essential travel tips
- Buy Tisséo tickets from metro machines or the Tisséo app and validate them on every ride.
- Book the Cité de l'espace and Aeroscopia (Airbus plant tour) online in advance, especially in school holidays.
- Visit the Halles Victor Hugo market in the morning; upstairs restaurants serve lunch only.
- Many restaurants close on Sunday and Monday; reserve dinner ahead.
- Take the TER train to Albi or Carcassonne from Gare Matabiau rather than driving.
Safety information
Keep phones, passports and wallets in zipped inner pockets or a cross-body bag worn in front on Rue d'Alsace-Lorraine, Rue du Taur, Place Esquirol and around Gare Toulouse-Matabiau
Do not leave phones on cafe tables on Place du Capitole or Place Wilson; phone snatching from terraces is reported
Lock bicycles with two locks to a fixed rail; bike theft is frequent in Toulouse, including from courtyards
Validate the Tisséo ticket on every boarding; inspectors fine unvalidated tickets
Keep to lit streets at night around the station, Arnaud-Bernard and the canal, and take a taxi or the late metro after midnight
Stay off the Garonne riverbanks at the water's edge, especially after rain or snowmelt from the Pyrenees; currents are strong and swimming is dangerous
Do not leave valuables visible in parked cars on day trips to Albi, Carcassonne and Pyrenean trailheads; break-ins at car parks are reported
Avoid demonstrations around Place du Capitole, Place Wilson and Allées Jean Jaurès, which are common on Saturdays, and follow police instructions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Toulouse?
Entry follows France/Schengen rules. EU citizens need only a national ID card or passport; visitors from many non-EU countries may stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days; others need a Schengen visa. Check france-visas.gouv.fr.
What currency is used in Toulouse?
Toulouse uses the Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; carry a little cash for market stalls. The planning rate in this guide is 1 EUR = 1.15 USD.
How do visitors get from Toulouse airport to the centre?
The Tisséo Navette Aéroport shuttle bus (every 15 minutes from door C2) runs from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport to Gare Matabiau in about 30 minutes; tram T2 to Arènes (then metro line A) is the alternative. A taxi takes 20-30 minutes and costs roughly EUR 25-35 (~$29-40). Confirm timetables at tisseo.fr.
When is the best time to visit Toulouse?
April-June and September to October offer warm weather and open terraces; July and August can exceed 33 C.
Is Albi an easy day trip from Toulouse?
Yes. TER trains from Gare Toulouse-Matabiau reach Albi in about 1 hour 10 minutes; the cathedral and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum are a 10-15 minute walk from the station.