Toulouse

Toulouse, France

Toulouse can only be evoked with emotion and excitement. The city seduces and amazes the visitor with its cultural dynamism and its youth shining a new light over an otherwise traditional and typically French town. It resolutely is a charming and vibrant city, where tourists and locals alike can enjoy a certain nonchalance, while following the river from one activity to the other. Tinted in pink and lighten up by the Southern sun, Toulouse is a true gem in the French province.

Population:

A little over 440,000 people

Currency:

Euro, €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

SAMU (medical emergency): 15
Police emergency: 17
Fire Service emergency: 18
European emergency line: 112

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open between 10:00 and 19:30 (or 19:00) from Monday to Saturday, with a lunch break usually between 12:00 and 14:00.

Department stores and shopping centers have longer opening hours (until 20:00) and no lunch break.

Convenience stores and supermarkets are usually open between 8:30 and 20:30 or later with no interruption.

Newspapers:

Côté Toulouse
Le Journal Toulousain
La Dépêche
Toulouse Hebdo
Flash
Toulouse Culture

The City

Toulouse, also named La Ville Rose – the “Pink City” – due to its red-brick buildings that seem to subtly change colour throughout the day, is one of France’s most exciting provincial cities. Once a city that inspired the medieval poets of courtly love, Toulouse has become a pioneer in technology and aerospace development.

Toulouse holds on to a resolutely old-fashioned French soul, with its markets, regional cuisine and cafés interspersed between second-hand bookstalls and antique shops. This 2,000-year-old historical city shows off its brick and tile architecture, typical of the cities, villages and farms of the Midi-Pyrenees region.

But with a growing and buzzing student population, the city is certainly not stuck in a time warp. With an abundance of bars, cafés, trendy shops and nightclubs, Toulouse offers a truly cosmopolitan experience.

Do & See

France’s fourth biggest city has a lot to offer, and a stroll along the Garonne and the Canal du Midi is a perfect way to spend the day.

With its 2,000-year-old history, Toulouse will satisfy everyone with an interest for architecture and museums but there are also activities for the more active traveller -hire a bike and pedal the 40km long way from Toulouse to Port Lauragais on the south bank or go on an adventure out of the city in one of the region's amazing parks.
Young, family friendly and with lots of culture, Toulouse never gets boring.

Dining

Toulouse boasts a vibrant and exciting food scene with quality offerings to satisfy every type of foodie and any budget.

Don't leave without trying some of the local specialties like the delicious cassoulet, the luxurious foie gras, and the famous Toulouse sausage. One of the best places to enjoy a delicious yet cheap lunch is the covered market at Place Victor Hugo, where quite a few restaurants linger above the marketplace, serving up delicious meals made from the freshest local produce, straight off the stalls below.

To help you find your way in this explosion of flavors, here's a guide to the best places to eat in the Pink City.

Cafes

In buzzing Toulouse, taking a break between visits and shopping sessions is a pleasant necessity. Whether you like luxurious cafes with Chef-made French pastries or relaxed and trendy coffee shops, Toulouse has all your sweet-tooth needs covered.

Here are a few picks from the countless options for a relaxed coffee break, an afternoon tea, or a brunch offered by the city.