A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers York vs. Toulouse for Food, Old Town, Families, and Attractions

Should you visit York or Toulouse?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit York or Toulouse? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

York

York is a fanciful, historic, and medieval city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Toulouse

Toulouse is a friendly, relaxed, and dynamic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

York and Toulouse: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in York or Toulouse?

You'll generally find more things to do in Toulouse than York. Toulouse is bigger than York, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Toulouse is better known for its shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while York is more popular for its historical sights. York is more touristy than Toulouse and is popular for its markets, old town, and its many ghost tours. Toulouse is well known for its impressive old town, many museums, and delicious local cuisine. Also, Toulouse is famous for Basilique Saint-Sernin.

How is York different from Toulouse?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Toulouse and York. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in York or Toulouse?

Both York and Toulouse have excellent landmarks and museums for visitors.

York offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Popular museums include the York Castle Museum, the National Railway Museum, Castle Howard, and JORVIK Viking Centre.

Many visitors head to Toulouse specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There is a long running history with countless landmarks and museums. Highlights include Basilique Saint-Sernin, Place du Capitole, Muséum de Toulouse, and Fondation Bemberg.

Is the Food Better in York or Toulouse? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both York and Toulouse both to be terrific destinations.

For foodies, York is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Meat pies, fudge, and fish and chips are just some of the culinary experiences you'll find here. The Shambles Market has vendors that sell a wide variety of cuisines. There are also food trucks throughout town that offer affordable and delicious meal options.

Toulouse has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. There are many unique regional recipes that make use of poultry, cold meats, and foie gras. Toulouse sausage, cassoulet, Poulet à la Toulousaine, and Foie gras d’oie are all popular local dishes.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Nightlife?

Both York and Toulouse are excellent when it comes to partying.

York offers plenty to do in the evening. The young population and thriving tourist scene means there's no shortage of nightlife around town. Check out a pub or music venue to experience everything that city has to offer.

Toulouse has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a large number of students in town so the nightlife scene is active and fun. For the most lively atmosphere head to Carmes, Saint-Cyprien, or Place Saint-Pierre.

Is York or Toulouse Better for its Old Town?

York is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town.

The rich history of York can be explored in its historical center. The charming old town is filled with shops and restaurants. There are street performers, fudge shops, and all of the Harry Potter merchandise that a person could need.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Toulouse. The old town is filled with terra-cota buildings and pedestrian walkways. The area flows out around the Capitole and is crossed by the Garonne.

Is the Shopping Better in York or Toulouse?

Toulouse is a well-known place for shopping. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Toulouse is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are many great shopping districts around town including Place du Capitole, The Saint Georges district, and Rue Alsace Lorraine.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting York. The old town has many great candy stores that sell fudge and other local specialties. There are also Harry Potter stores that sell potions, t-shirts, games, and more.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Families?

York is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

York is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The city does an amazing job bringing history to life in a way that kids will enjoy. The JORVIK Viking Centre transports visitors back in time and introduces them to a fully immersive viking experience. The York Dungeon is great for older kids as long as they don't scare easily. Actors and special effects offer a terrifying and entertaining visit through a York dungeon. Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring the potion shops and broomstick stores along the iconic Shambles, which is said to be an inspiration for J.K. Rowling's Diagon Alley.

Toulouse is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city's known for its space industry so the La Cite de l’Espace (Space Museum) is a favorite attraction for kids and adults alike. You can also visit Aeroscopia, the airplane museum. La Halle de la machine is a truly unique and impressive playground. The city also has many other museums and outdoor spaces to explore.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both York and Toulouse make for a excellent place to visit.

York is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can explore the history and entertainment venues that make York an enjoyable destination. There are museums, restaurants, and outdoor markets that make this a great weekend getaway.

Toulouse makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many beautiful parks, gardens, and walking paths. Make sure you take a stroll along the Canal du Midi and visit Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis. This is also a great city for visiting a spa.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

York is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Toulouse is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit York. There are a few hostels around town as well as nightlife venues and entertainment spots that appeal to backpackers and younger travelers. For great and affordable food, grab a meal at one of the many food trucks around town.

Toulouse is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a major stop off for many backpackers in Europe so you won't find as many hostels as you do in other cities.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Students?

Toulouse is a popular place for students. However, York is not popular with students.

Toulouse is a good city to visit for students. You'll find a diverse student population with many international students.

York is not popular with students.

Is York or Toulouse Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both York and Toulouse offer notable public transit options.

York has a few public transit options. There is a reliable and efficient bus system around town.

Toulouse has some public transit options. There are a large number of bus routes that travel both locally and regionally.

Is York or Toulouse a more walkable city?

Toulouse is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Toulouse is very walkable. Within the city center it is very walkable and easy to explore on foot.

York is a somewhat walkable place. The old town has many pedestrian streets that are easily explored on food.

For even more information, also check out Is York Worth Visiting? and Is Toulouse Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Toulouse or York?

How long in York or Toulouse?

It's fun to spend time in either York or Toulouse. Both can be explored in comparable amounts of time. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in York than Toulouse. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in York, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Toulouse than York. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Toulouse that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in York than Toulouse if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in York.

One day in York or Toulouse?

The city of York offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Toulouse. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in York or Toulouse?

York is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in York, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Toulouse is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in York or Toulouse?

York is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the dynamic destination of Toulouse. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in York or Toulouse?

York is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The historic city of Toulouse offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between York and Toulouse, we can see that Toulouse is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is York Expensive? and Is Toulouse Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, York or Toulouse?

Toulouse has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of York. When comparing the sizes of York and Toulouse, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit York or Toulouse?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit York or Toulouse in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to York as well as Toulouse. Many visitors come to York in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Toulouse for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, York is generally cooler than Toulouse. Daily temperatures in York average around 16°C (62°F), and Toulouse fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toulouse. In the summer, York often gets less sunshine than Toulouse. York gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toulouse receives 275 hours of full sun.

York usually gets more rain in July than Toulouse. York gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Toulouse receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit York or Toulouse in the Autumn?

Both Toulouse and York are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to York for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Toulouse because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

York is cooler than Toulouse in the autumn. The daily temperature in York averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Toulouse fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

York usually receives less sunshine than Toulouse during autumn. York gets 112 hours of sunny skies, while Toulouse receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, York usually receives less rain than Toulouse. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Toulouse receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit York or Toulouse in the Winter?

Both Toulouse and York during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to York because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toulouse this time of year.

The weather in York can be very cold. In the winter, York is much colder than Toulouse. Typically, the winter temperatures in York in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Toulouse averages at about 6°C (44°F).

In the winter, York often gets less sunshine than Toulouse. York gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toulouse receives 88 hours of full sun.

York usually gets less rain in January than Toulouse. York gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Toulouse receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit York or Toulouse in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both York and Toulouse. Furthermore, many travelers come to Toulouse for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, York is generally much colder than Toulouse. Daily temperatures in York average around 8°C (46°F), and Toulouse fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

York usually receives less sunshine than Toulouse during spring. York gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Toulouse receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, York usually receives less rain than Toulouse. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Toulouse receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Toulouse and York