Before you go

Your trip to Toulouse.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Toulouse – Occitânia Destination Carcassonne and Toulouse Capital

How to get there

Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) Blagnac · 10 km
Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau 2 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Toulouse-Blagnac airport (TLS) is about 10 km from the centre, linked by the tram T2 and express buses. By train, the TGV from Paris-Montparnasse reaches Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau in just over 4 hours; Bordeaux, Montpellier and Carcassonne also have direct services.

How many days

Two days allow you to see the historic centre, the main museums and the banks of the Garonne, and to spend a day on space and aviation at the Cité de l'espace or the Aeroscopia. With three days there's time left for a day trip by train to Carcassonne.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) usually have mild weather. Summer, from June to August, is hot, often above 30 °C, with long days. Winter, from December to February, is colder and nights fall early, but it seldom snows.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The centre is walked on foot, and two metro lines, trams and buses reach the more distant points like the Cité de l'espace and the Aeroscopia. Driving and parking in the centre are difficult. A car only helps if you want to go out into the region.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Toulouse

Morning
Capitole and Saint-Sernin
Start at the Place du Capitole and enter the Capitole's state rooms, including the Salle des Illustres. Continue along the Rue du Taur to the Basilique Saint-Sernin, one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe.
Afternoon
Jacobins and lunch in the centre
Have lunch between 12h and 14h, when kitchens are open. Afterwards visit the Couvent des Jacobins, with its palm-shaped column, and walk through the courtyard of the Hôtel d'Assézat, home to the Collection Bemberg.
Late afternoon
Pont-Neuf and the Garonne
Walk to the Pont-Neuf, cross to the Prairie des Filtres and view the centre from the other side of the river. In spring and summer the sun often sets over the left bank.
Evening
Dinner with cassoulet
Return to the centre for dinner from 19h30. The cassoulet, a white‑bean stew with various meats, is the regional dish; saucisses de Toulouse feature on many menus.

2 days in Toulouse

Day 1

Morning
Capitole and Saint-Sernin
Visit the Place du Capitole and the Capitole's rooms. Continue to the Basilique Saint-Sernin and, next door, the Musée Saint-Raymond, with Roman archaeology.
Afternoon
Jacobins and Augustins
After lunch, enter the Couvent des Jacobins and then head to the Musée des Augustins, the fine arts museum housed in a former Gothic convent with a cloister.
Late afternoon
Assézat and Pont-Neuf
See the Collection Bemberg at the Hôtel d'Assézat or just its Renaissance courtyard, and finish at the Pont-Neuf for views of the Garonne and the Hôtel-Dieu.
Evening
Evening in the centre
Dine in the streets between the Capitole and the river. If there's a performance, the Théâtre du Capitole presents opera and ballet seasons.

Day 2

Morning
Space or aviation
Choose between the Cité de l'espace, with a replica of the Ariane 5 and the Mir station, or the Aeroscopia, which displays Concordes. Visits to the Airbus assembly lines depart from the Aeroscopia and require advance booking.
Afternoon
Continuation of the morning
Those who went to the Cité de l'espace can stay until mid‑afternoon for the planetarium and IMAX. Those who visited the Aeroscopia can continue to the Halle de La Machine in Montaudran to see the Minotaur Astérion.
Late afternoon
Canal du Midi
Return to the centre and walk along the Canal du Midi to the Port de l'Embouchure, where three canals meet beneath the plane trees.
Evening
Saint-Cyprien
Cross the Garonne to the Saint-Cyprien neighbourhood, near Les Abattoirs, and have dinner on the left bank.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Why is Toulouse called the pink city?

Because of the brique foraine, the fired clay brick used in churches, mansions and houses in the centre. Depending on the light, the facades look pinkish or orange.

How to get from the airport to the centre?

The tram T2 and express buses connect Toulouse-Blagnac airport to the centre; by taxi it's about 10 km.

Can you visit Airbus?

Yes, with advance reservation, in guided visits of about 1h30 that depart from the Aeroscopia museum in Blagnac. You must present your original passport.

Is Toulouse a good base to visit Carcassonne?

Yes. The train takes from 45 minutes to roughly 1 hour to Carcassonne, making a same‑day return trip possible.

What to eat in Toulouse?

Cassoulet, a white‑bean stew with meats, and the saucisse de Toulouse, a typical sausage. Lunch is usually around 12h to 14h, and dinner starts from 19h30.

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