Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Toulouse?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Toulouse?
Many travelers spend two to four days in Toulouse during their visit. After all, the relaxed city has plenty to explore such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, and the historic old town.
Toulouse is located near France's Spanish border and it's the capital of the Occitanie region. It is filled with terra-cota buildings, giving it a nickname of "the pink city". You'll find a beautiful old town with many impressive landmarks and museums.
Do you have one or two days to visit Toulouse? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Toulouse?
Toulouse is a great place to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. It has some interesting activities and attractions. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the relaxed city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Toulouse
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Toulouse, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Day Trip to Carcassonne Cite Medievale and Comtale Castle Tour from Toulouse ($36)
- Toulouse Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self Guided Tour ($7)
The culinary scene in Toulouse is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Marché Victor Hugo Small Group Food Tour ($108)
- Initiatory Journey to the Country of Cheese with Tasting ($38)
Toulouse is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Within the city center it is very walkable and easy to explore on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Toulouse?
Since it's a medium-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Toulouse. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great food and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, shopping, and big city activities by staying for a weekend.
Toulouse, France
How to spend 2 days in Toulouse
With a weekend (two to three days) in Toulouse, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Toulouse Food & History Tour with a Chef (in English) ($121)
- Toulouse: Private guided walking tour ($203)
- Treasure Outdoor Escape Game in Toulouse Old Town ($8)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pub Crawl Toulouse ($20)
The public transit in Toulouse is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are a large number of bus routes that travel both locally and regionally.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Toulouse, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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