Toulouse Travelers Recommend

Toulouse is ideally situated for visiting the historic villages and UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Occitanie region, and with three days, there’s time to take in all the highlights and enjoy a day trip out of the city. Here are some ideas for how to spend three days in Toulouse.   

Day 1: Sightseeing in the Pink City

A hop-on-hop-off-bus tour is a convenient way to explore Toulouse. Jump off to stroll around the historic center and admire the elegant pink-hued buildings that give the city its nickname, the Ville Rose (Pink City). Must-see sights include the grand Place du Capitole, the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Sernin, and the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi. A walking tour of the Left Bank offers insight into Toulouse’s history—including the Hospital des Graves and the Roman ruins of the Raymond II Gardens—and a cruise along the Garonne River takes in waterfront landmarks such as the Notre-Dame de la Dalbade cathedral and the New Bridge (Pont Neuf). Don’t miss a visit to the Victor Hugo Market, where you can sample local specialties such as Toulouse sausage and cassoulet (bean stew) and take in the view from the top floor of the Galeries Lafayette department store. 

Day 2: Space City and City Neighborhoods

Journey to outer space at the interactive Space City (Cité de l'Espace), one of Toulouse’s most visited attractions—book skip-the-line tickets to dodge the long summer queues. Back in the city, spend the afternoon discovering Toulouse’s atmospheric neighborhoods and visiting its many museums. Art lovers should head to the Musée des Augustins and Les Abattoirs, while a visit to the Natural History Museum can be combined with a walk around the neighboring Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens. To save on museum fees, consider investing in a Toulouse Pass. The quarters of Saint-Étienne and Les Carmes are ideal for shopping and strolling, and the many restaurants, terrace cafés, and wine bars spring to life after sunset.  

Day 3: Take a Day Trip

There are a number of options for day trips from Toulouse, but to maximize your time, look for a tour that visits multiple destinations or combines sightseeing with wine tasting in the Gaillac wine region. Popular options include the medieval town of Albi, the hometown of painter Henri de Toulouse Lautrec; the picturesque hilltop village of Cordes-sur-Ciel; and Carcassonne, a fortified medieval citadel with a dramatic hilltop setting and UNESCO World Heritage status. A little farther south, the city of Lourdes is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in France and home to the sacred Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

With two days in Toulouse, you’ll have enough time to sample local culture and discover the city’s atmospheric neighborhoods and museums. Plan ahead to maximize your time, look for tours that visit multiple attractions, and invest in a 24- or 48-hour Toulouse Pass to save on admission fees. Here’s how to spend two days in Toulouse.

Day 1: Explore the Ville Rose

Morning: A hop-on-hop-off-bus tour is a convenient way to take in all the main sights of the Pink City (Ville Rose). Jump off to admire the historic landmarks of Place du Capitole, see the magnificent Basilica of Saint Sernin, or enjoy a walking tour of the Left Bank, home to the Hospital des Graves and the Raymond VI Gardens.

Afternoon: This afternoon, sample regional delicacies such as Toulouse sausage and violet jam at the Victor Hugo Market, Toulouse’s main market hall, then head to the Galeries Lafayette department store nearby to enjoy the views from its top-floor observation deck—arguably the best in the city. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Saint-Étienne and Les Carmes, where you can browse antique shops and boutiques or enjoy a coffee at one of the terrace cafés.

Night: Take to the water this evening with a scenic dinner cruise along the Garonne River, passing landmarks including the New Bridge (Pont Neuf) and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Daurade. For a comprehensive tour, choose a cruise that also explores part of the Midi Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2: Family-Friendly and Cultural Toulouse

Morning: Dedicate this morning to exploring Space City (Cité de l'Espace), one of Toulouse’s most visited attractions. Book skip-the-line tickets to experience highlights including a life-size replica of the Ariane 5 rocket, a moonwalk simulator, and a re-creation of an International Space Station.

Afternoon: This afternoon, head to the Natural History Museum, another fun destination for families that’s right next door to the botanical garden (Jardin des Plantes). Alternatively, art lovers should check out the Augustinian Museum (Musée des Augustins), the Fondation Bemberg, and Les Abattoirs (Toulouse’s modern-art museum, housed in a former slaughterhouse). Safe money with a Toulouse Pass if you’re planning to visit a number of museums.

Night: Tuck into a bowl of hearty cassoulet at one of the city’s top restaurants, then top off your visit at the wine bar of your choice—the N°5 Wine Bar is among the most renowned—or sample the nightclubs along Jean-Jaurès to experience Toulouse nightlife.

With just one day to explore Toulouse, every moment counts, so prebook hotel and airport transfers, look for tours that visit multiple attractions, and save money on entrance fees with a Toulouse Pass. Here are some ideas for how to spend one day in Toulouse.

Morning: Explore the Pink City

Toulouse is nicknamed the Ville Rose (Pink City) for the many rose-hued buildings that line its Old Town, and the historic center is the obvious starting point for a tour. Take a hop-on-hop-off-bus tour to get your bearings in the city, or opt for a walking tour or bike tour instead to get a closer look at the city’s highlights. However you travel, admire the grand buildings around Place du Capitole, the Basilica of Saint Sernin, and the botanical gardens (Jardin des Plantes). Tours typically take in the views along the scenic Garonne riverfront, home to landmarks including Notre-Dame de la Dalbade cathedral and the New Bridge (Pont Neuf), then cross the river to see historic sites such as the Hospital des Graves and the Raymond VI Gardens.

Afternoon: Shopping in Toulouse’s Quarters

Time your arrival at the Victor Hugo Market, Toulouse’s main market hall, for lunch—this is the place to sample local specialties such as Toulouse sausage, violet jam, and cassoulet. Nearby, the famous French department store Galeries Lafayette is at the heart of the city’s main shopping quarter and offers an incredible view over the city from its top-floor observation deck. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the atmospheric neighborhoods of Saint-Étienne and Les Carmes, where the streets are lined with markets, antique shops, and independent boutiques. Do as the locals and stop for a goûter (coffee and cake) at one of the terrace cafés.

Night: Cruise the Canals

Experience Toulouse from the water on an evening boat cruise. Set sail along the Garonne River and admire the waterfront landmarks as the sun sets over the city skyline; cruise the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its impressive 17th-century engineering; or opt for a dinner cruise and dine aboard as you take in the sights. Back on land, discover Toulouse’s nightlife. On the left bank of the Garonne, the Saint-Cyprien quarter is a popular haunt for students; the waterfront Place Saint-Pierre has a number of chic wine bars; and the nightclubs along Jean-Jaurès stay open into the early hours.