Apartments and b&bs in Toulouse

The beautiful "Ville Rose", named after its distinctive redbrick buildings, is the perfect destination for your next city break. Enjoy beautiful architecture, warm weather and lots of fascinating cultural and historical activities all at once! A vibrant city full of young people, Toulouse has something to offer for every kind of tourist, so book a b&b or find a holiday apartment on Airbnb to explore properly.

When to go

Toulouse's weather can vary, but the driest and warmest months tend to be June to August. In the summertime, you will get Mediterranean temperatures of just under 30 degrees Celsius, so it's perfect for a summer holiday. At other times of the year you can even ski in Toulouse!

How to get there

Toulouse is easy to fly to, with several international destinations flying to and from Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport. It is also really conveniently situated, at only 8km west of Toulouse itself: public transport links into the city centre are reliable and regular, so it's easy to get to your holiday apartment rental in Toulouse even if you don't want to hire a car. From within France, the Toulouse-Matabiau train station is in the city centre and has links with all major French towns and cities.

How to get around in Toulouse

The city centre of Toulouse is very tourist-friendly, with green zones, pedestrianised areas, and 550km of cycle paths. Try the Vélôtoulouse bike scheme to explore the beautiful cycle paths properly: with the first half an hour free and tickets so affordable, it would be a shame not to! This makes Toulouse the perfect destination if you want to just wander around the city and explore at your own pace. On the other hand, for the more adventurous traveller or a busy visitor, the public transport in Toulouse is also great. The city has metro, tram and bus routes so it's easy to get wherever you're going for a reasonable price.

Where to stay in Toulouse

City centre

Toulouse is a fairly large city, but the major sights are all in the centre. This means if you want to walk between your apartment or hostel and the museums and attractions you have planned for the day, you should definitely book accommodation in the city centre. Particularly good for young people, the centre of Toulouse is vibrant and bustling with lots of restaurants, bars and shopping to fill your time during your stay here.

Saint-Michel

This is one of Toulouse's biggest student areas. It's well connected with public transport and has beautiful green spaces, making it a peaceful place to stay whilst still having all the usual amenities. Because of the large student population, Saint-Michel is a great option if you're trying to book cheap accommodation in Toulouse. Your best bet in this area is to have a look on Airbnb for holiday apartment rentals.

Carmes

Carmes is a small, village-like area of Toulouse. Popular with hipsters, Carmes and nearby Saint-Étienne are full of independent businesses, food markets and edgy cafés and restaurants. This makes it perfect for tourists who like to go slightly off the beaten track, and provides a great friendly but calm atmosphere to book an apartment or for your stay in Toulouse.

What activities to do

Le Capitole

This building is perhaps Toulouse's most iconic. It dates from the 18th century and houses Toulouse's town hall and Théâtre du Capitole. The inside has beautiful artworks and magnificently ornate reception rooms. The star of the show is the Salle des Illustres, a hall of mirrors with paintings tracing the city's history.

Cité de l'espace

This space museum and theme park will thrill children and adults alike. They have life-size models of rockets and space stations; a planetarium; exhibits, often interactive; and a dedicated children's area, "la Base des Enfants". Plan your visit ahead of time to see what's on at the centre while you're in Toulouse: they regularly hold special events and talks, so it's worth timing your day out here alongside one of these if possible.

Le Basilique Saint-Serin

This is France's largest Romanesque church and has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Its impressive architecture and imposing size make it difficult to miss, and definitely one of the key sights in Toulouse. This is the perfect day trip for history lovers, because the church has a fascinating history, notably as an important stop on the traditional pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Children might be impressed – or spooked! – by a visit down to the church's crypts, where you can see a sarcophagus in the shape of a cross.