Where to Stay in Toulouse, France

Where to Stay in Toulouse? In this post we will analyze the best areas and when to visit this picturesque city in the South of France

This post will list some of the best places to stay in Toulouse, including the area next to the Matabiau train station and the Place du Capitole surroundings.

where to stay in toulouse
Toulouse Capitole. Photo by Benh LIEU SONG

Toulouse is the capital of the Haute-Garonne department of Southwestern France and the Occitanie region. It is France’s fourth largest city with a population of over 1.2 million.

Tourism in Toulouse: Overview

The Capitol de Toulouse are where tourists should head for all the major tourist attractions. Here, you can find places such as Hotel de Ville and the Theatre du Capitole, the opera house of the area.

In addition, the top-rated attraction in Toulouse is actually the Basilique Sant-Sernin. UNESCO added the basilica to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1998, so they could preserve the Romanesque statues carved onto the building. It attracts tourists and religious visitors from across the globe.

But, if you want something a bit different to fill up your time in Toulouse, why not try their space themed theme park? With astronaut training for all ages and real spacecraft to explore; the Cite de l’Espace is just outside of the city. Plus, it’ll only cost you around 24 euros for a 1-day adult ticket.

Best Places to stay in Toulouse

The city centre, around the area of Jardin Pierre Goudouli, has the highest concentration of hotels for your stay in Toulouse. They are in a variety of budget to mid-range prices and are in an area surrounded by shops and eateries. The area is also well-connected for public transport and getting to the city’s attractions.

The Place du Capitole is also a very important reference in Toulouse. If you are staying in the city center ideally you should look for accommodation at a reasonably short walk to the Place du Capitole. For those staying further away, a hotel with close access to the metro is recommmended.

Meanwhile, slightly to the Northeast of the city centre, is Toulouse’s major train station, the Gare de Toulouse Matabiau. This area also has a lot of hotels, mostly in mid-range prices.

The proximity to the train station means that whilst hotels here may not be very close to attractions, they are well connected with public transport. This is an ideal area to stay in the city for a day trip, traveling by train.

If you are traveling to Andorra, you might want to check our guide on how to travel from Toulouse to Andorra by train and bus.

Budget Accommodation in Toulouse

La Petite Auberge de Saint-Sernin – a cosy hostel at a prime location, just a short walk to most of the attractions in the city center.

Reasonably Priced Accommodation in Toulouse

Hôtel Le Père Léon – an excellent choice close to the Garonne river and the Esquirol metro station.

Hôtel Héliot – located in a central location in Toulouse, this hotel has easy access to the metro Jean-Jaurès metro station

Luxurious Hotels in Toulouse

La Cour des Consuls Hotel and Spa Toulouse – MGallery by Sofitel – certainly one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, in one of the best areas to stay in Toulouse.

Hôtel Pullman Toulouse Centre – a great luxurious option close to the Matabiau Railway Station.



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Cost of Travel in Toulouse

Toulouse has a wide transport system of buses, trams and the metro. And for tourists, the most cost effective way to get about is to buy a Toulouse Pass Tourisme.

This pass gives you free entry to various attractions across the city and unlimited journeys on the transport system. It even includes the airport shuttles, the river cruise and the tourist train route. Also, the theme park mentioned above has 15% off ticket prices with the Passes. It’ll cost you 15 euros for 1-day and 29 euros for 3-days.

toulouse-bridge
Toulouse Bridge. Photo by David McKelvey

When it comes to food and accommodation, the city is cheaper than more visited destinations in France like Paris and the Cote d’Azur. A budget of around 100 to 150 € per day will allow you to enjoy the city to fullest, including accommodation, food and transport.

Best Months to Visit Southern France

Since Toulouse is in the south of France, the climate is quite mild and pleasant. Even in winter, the city averages around 6 degrees in winter and in summer it can reach 40 degrees. Since its location is near the Meditteranean, they also have a very dry summer and their wettest months are actually around Easter, which is different from many parts of Europe.

Throughout the year, there are a huge range of events that you could go to. In February, they hold the Fete de la Violette, a festival celebrating the blossoming of the city’s emblematic flower. In March, the city puts on the Festival Flamenco. An international art festival takes place in June; July has an Argentinian Tango Festival and also a Summer Festival; December has the Christmas Market and all through the year are various music events.

Other Resources for Traveling in France

If you are traveling to France you might want to consider some of our other guides to the country. Check the best places to stay in Nice and where to stay in Lyon.

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