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Toulouse

Ochre rooftops and blushing brick churches earned Toulouse the nickname ‘La Ville Rose’ (The Pink City). Its enchanting Vieux Quartier (Old Quarter) is a dreamy jumble of coral-coloured shopfronts and churches. Beyond the old town, Toulouse sprawls into France’s fourth-largest metropolis. It’s an animated, hectic place, but Toulouse – nestled between a bend in the Garonne River and the mighty Canal du Midi – is invigorated by its waterways.

Toulouse has one of the largest universities outside Paris: at its core this southwestern French city is home to students and scientists. French aeronautical history continues in the Airbus factory outside town. But Toulouse knows how to have a good time, whether in teeming food markets, salons de thé or the thick of its smouldering jazz, techno and rock scenes. From the tips of dusky pink spires to its loudest bars, time spent in Toulouse truly has a rose-tinted sheen.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Toulouse.

  • Museum

    Cité de l’Espace

    The fantastic space museum on the city's eastern outskirts brings Toulouse's illustrious aeronautical history to life through hands-on exhibits, including…

  • Church

    Couvent des Jacobins

    This elegant ecclesiastical structure is the mother church of the Dominican order, founded in 1215. First admire the Église des Jacobins' ornate stained…

  • Church

    Basilique St-Sernin

    This well-preserved Romanesque edifice is built from golden and rose-hued stonework up to the tip of the octogonal bell tower. Entry is free, but it’s…

  • Square

    Place du Capitole

    Toulouse's magnificent main square is the city's literal and metaphorical heart, where Toulousiens turn out en masse on sunny evenings to sip a coffee or…

  • Gallery

    Musée des Augustins

    Located within a former Augustinian monastery, this fine-arts museum spans the Roman era through to the early 20th century. Echoing stairwells and high…

  • Architecture

    Capitole

    On the eastern side of place du Capitole (the main square) is the 128m-long façade of the Capitole, Toulouse's city hall. This neoclassical masterpiece,…

  • Museum

    Fondation Bemberg

    This luxurious museum of fine arts and historic design is housed within Toulouse’s most impressive hôtel particulier (private mansion), the Hôtel d…

  • Museum

    Musée St-Raymond

    Having trouble imagining Toulouse decorated with 4th-century nude Venuses and Corinthian columns? This light-filled museum neatly aligns the city's modern…

  • Historic Building

    Hôtel d'Assézat

    Toulouse boasts more than 50 hôtels particuliers – private mansions built for the city's nobles and aristocrats during the 16th and 17th centuries. Among…

  • Museum

    Musée Paul Dupuy

    Browse a treasure trove of religious art, pharmaceutical items and impressive clocks and watches, lovingly assembled by local collector Paul Dupuy and…

  • Museum

    Aeroscopia

    This aviation museum was built on the very spot the A380 Airbus was first completed. Here you can admire commercial and military aircraft and learn behind…

  • Church

    Église Notre-Dame de la Dalbade

    This Catholic church is a worthy stop on a walking tour of Toulouse, thanks to its brightly coloured tympanum. The semi-circular recess above its entrance…

  • Cathedral

    Cathédrale de St-Étienne

    The city cathedral dates mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries, and has a gorgeous rose window. It's also the burial place of Pierre-Paul Riquet, the…

  • Church

    Église Notre Dame du Taur

    This striking 14th-century church commemorates the city's patron saint, St Sernin, who was reputedly martyred on this very spot.

  • Park

    Jardin des Plantes

    These 200-year-old sculpted gardens are a refreshing place to take a breather from hectic central Toulouse. Find the entrance to this 7-hectare park on…

  • Museum

    Muséum de Toulouse

    This natural-history museum ranges across the epochs, with exhibits from pterodactyl skeletons to ancient fossils. Exhibits are displayed with verve and…

  • Gallery

    Les Abattoirs

    Toulouse's former abattoir is now a cutting-edge art gallery hosting temporary exhibits. It's open until 8pm on Thursdays outside school holidays; ask…

  • Gallery

    Château d'Eau

    This 19th-century brick tower once pumped out fresh water, but since the 1970s it's been a venue for contemporary photography displays.

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Toulouse.