Toulouse
Toulouse is the Pink City of southern France, known for brick old streets, Romanesque churches, Canal du Midi towpaths and aerospace sites.
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Toulouse sits on the Garonne in southern France and is the capital of the Haute-Garonne department. Only Paris, Marseille and Lyon are bigger. Its historic center is built mostly of warm terracotta brick, which is why locals call it La Ville rose, the Pink City. Saint-Sernin is one of the largest Romanesque churches still standing in Europe, and the Capitole on the main square is the town hall. Toulouse is also a center of the European aerospace industry, with Airbus assembly lines in the city.
Toulouse suits a city break, or a stop before or after the Pyrenees, which lie about 80 km away. The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO site, begins near the city and gives you flat walking and cycling along the water. Food leans toward cassoulet, a slow-cooked bean casserole with duck and Toulouse sausage. Summer rain is heavy, so pack a rain layer for the warmer months. Two to three days covers the old town, a few museums and a canal walk.
Toulouse in five
- See Saint-Sernin and the CapitoleThe Romanesque basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Capitole square are the old-town anchors. Both are an easy walk.
- Follow the Canal du MidiThe canal runs from Toulouse toward the Étang de Thau near Sète. Walk or cycle the towpath near the center.Sète
- Book aerospace visits aheadSpace and aviation attractions such as the Cité de l'espace and Aeroscopia take advance bookings. Check each official site for current tickets and hours.
- Use the metroTwo metro lines and a tram link the center, the station and the airport. Skip taxis inside the ring.
- Eat cassoulet onceIt is a regional bean-and-meat stew. Heavy lunches are normal, so plan a light evening.Pyrenees
Things to do in Toulouse
See all attractions in Toulouse
Need to know
- Airport
- Toulouse–Blagnac (TLS), about 20 min by tram or shuttle
- Getting there
- Train from Bordeaux about 2 hours; Paris by train is long
- Getting around
- Metro, tram and walking
- Best base
- Near Capitole or Saint-Sernin
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with aerospace
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild, springMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Spring, flowersAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, flowers
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°WarmMayRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°HotJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Hot, quiet cityJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet city
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Hot, quiet cityAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet city
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, wetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Toulouse, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Toulouse
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 55%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Toulouse
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°3°0%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°3°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed12°-1°10%Wednesday: Rain. High 12°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu18°7°18%Thursday: Fog. High 18°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri18°8°16%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sat17°7°5%Saturday: Fog. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun18°11°12%Sunday: Rain. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 09:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jan–MarCarnival of LimouxCarcassonne, a day trip
Before you go to Toulouse
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Rules for Toulouse, checked
- Check your passport validity and whether you need a visa for France and the Schengen area on the France-Visas website before you fly.Source
- Toulouse charges a tourist tax per night. Ask your hotel whether it is included in the room rate.
- Dial 112 for police, fire and ambulance. The number works from any phone in France and from mobiles across the EU.
Plan around Toulouse
Mountain valleys two to three hours south
Read the guideCarcassonne travel guideA walled medieval city to the east
Read the guideBordeaux travel guideThe wine city to the north-west
Read the guideSète travel guideWhere the Canal du Midi meets the lagoon
Read the guideIs a Eurail Pass worth it?Choose point-to-point tickets or a pass
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, trains, entry rules and money for a France trip
Read the guideToulouse FAQ
Is Toulouse worth visiting?
Yes for a relaxed city break. The old center is compact and has food, canals and a distinct brick look. It is also a good gateway to the Pyrenees.
How many days do you need in Toulouse?
Two days for the old center and a canal walk. Three days if you add the Cité de l'espace or Aeroscopia.
Why is Toulouse called the pink city?
Many buildings are made of local pink-orange brick, which glows at sunset.
Can you visit Toulouse as a day trip from Carcassonne?
Yes by train, about 1 hour each way. It is better to stay one night for the evening scene.
Is Toulouse a good base for the Pyrenees?
Yes for day trips, with 2–3 hours of driving each way. For longer hikes, stay in a mountain valley.