Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France, in the southwest of the country on the river Garonne and an hour and a half from the Pyrenees. With no local stone it was built in brick for centuries, and because the facades turn pink in the evening sun it is called the Pink City. It is the aerospace capital of Europe: the Airbus headquarters and assembly lines are at the western edge of the city, the French space agency is based here and two universities bring more than 100,000 students. Cassoulet with confit of goose, candied violets and a passion for rugby are part of daily life in Toulouse.
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See flights to Toulouse →When to visit Toulouse
May to June and September to early October are the easiest periods, with daytime temperatures of 22C to 27C and evenings spent on the banks of the Garonne. July and August pass 30C in the dry heat of southern France, and the city quietens in August. November to February is mild but wet at 8C to 12C, and snow is rare. The Pyrenees are in ski season from December to March.
Things to do in Toulouse
The Capitole
The town hall of 1760, facing the main square with a 128 metre facade of pink brick and white stone, is also the opera house. The Salle des Illustres on the first floor, with 19th century ceiling paintings and statues telling the history of Toulouse, is free to visit in office hours. The bronze Occitan cross set into the square and the painted ceilings under the arcade are the meeting point.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin
Built in brick in the 11th century for pilgrims on the road to Santiago, the basilica is 115 metres long, the largest surviving Romanesque church in Europe, and has been UNESCO listed since 1998. Its five tiered octagonal bell tower defines the skyline of the city. The ambulatory of relics behind the altar and the crypt are paid; on Sunday mornings an antiques market sets up around it.
Couvent des Jacobins
The brick church built by the Dominican order in the 13th century is plain as a fortress outside and famous inside for its palm vault, where twenty two ribs spring from a single column. The relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas have rested on the altar here since 1369. The church is free; the two storey brick cloister and the piano festival held there on summer evenings are paid.
Cité de l'espace
The space park at the eastern edge of the city, opened in 1997, is the public face of Toulouse's space industry. A 53 metre model of the Ariane 5 rocket, a walk through replica of the Mir space station and a Soyuz capsule stand in the grounds, with a domed planetarium and an IMAX theatre. Families set aside a full day, and weekend tickets are best bought in advance.
Aeroscopia Museum
The aviation museum opened in 2015 beside the Airbus site at Blagnac shows two Concordes, an Airbus A300 and the giant Super Guppy transport aircraft under one hangar roof, with access into the cabins. Guided Airbus tours of the A380 and A350 assembly lines start from the museum and need advance registration with a passport. It is 30 minutes from the centre by tram.
Canal du Midi
Opened in 1681 and linking Toulouse to the Mediterranean, the 240 kilometre canal has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996; its stretch through the city is a cycling and walking path in the shade of plane trees. The three bridges at Port de l'Embouchure, where the canal meets the Garonne, and the marina in front of Matabiau station are the starting points. In summer canal boats run hourly trips.
Flights from Turkey to Toulouse
Direct flights to Toulouse from Turkey leave from Istanbul Airport, operated year round by Turkish Airlines on six days a week, and take about 3 hours 40 minutes. Departures are in the morning or afternoon. Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is about 8 kilometres northwest of the centre; the airport shuttle reaches Matabiau station in 30 minutes and the T2 tram reaches the centre in 40 minutes.
Toulouse FAQ
How many days do you need in Toulouse?
The Capitole, Saint-Sernin, the Jacobins and the Garonne banks take a day and a half. A second day goes to the Cité de l'espace or Aeroscopia. Adding the walled city of Carcassonne, Albi or the Pyrenees stretches the trip to four or five days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is about 8 kilometres from the centre. The airport shuttle leaves every 20 minutes and reaches Matabiau station in 30 minutes; the T2 tram reaches the centre in 40 minutes and a taxi takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a visa for France?
France is in the Schengen area, so a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa. Applications go through the French consulate's service provider, and appointment times can stretch before summer, so apply at least two months before travel. Holders of a valid Schengen visa enter without further documents.
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