Toulouse in February

February is not really the best season to visit Toulouse, that being said I won't talk about the weather since due to climate change you could either have a few snowflakes or a temperature of 15°C (60F) in the afternoon.

The historic center of the “pink city” is relatively small and you can visit most of the city on foot.

This is the kind of walking tour I recommend to visitors

https://goo.gl/maps/cJujzhgXgXNAa5hDA

It goes through:

The Capitol Square, the Capitol (town hall, opera and tourist office), the Saint Sernin Basilica, the Jacobin Convent, Saint Peter's Square, the banks of the Garonne river, Carmel Square, Saint Etienne Cathedral, Saint George Square.

It's easily done in a day if you take your time. You can add a visit to the Victor Hugo covered market (mornings only), one of the most beautiful markets in France which is located 5 minutes from Capitol Square.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6sy2R-3Oe8

Toulouse is the capital of the French space and aeronautical industry. If you are interested you can visit the Airbus factories.

Another indescribable attraction but which you might like: and which reopens mid-February

“La Halle de la Machine”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgY9ku1c79k

http://www.halledelamachine.fr/en/1203-2/

You can also eat there served by.. ..machines

As for restaurants, you could go to Bibent on Capitole square, this is where every good basic tourist thinks they should go.

But if you want a memorable gourmet meal (Michelin-starred) go to Michel Sarran.

https://www.michel-sarran.com/en/

To spend a little less (and even a lot less) and have a good lunch (it's closed in the evening and on Mondays), I highly recommend going to the Victor Hugo covered market that I mentioned.

Go visit it in the morning, and around 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. go up the stairs which lead to the 4 or 5 restaurants located on the floor above the market. all the restaurants are lined up along a corridor, check the menus and reserve a table for lunch. You'll eat like a local with locals

Whatever restaurant you choose, you will eat a meal with local products from the market just below for less than €20..

To eat a "Cassoulet", the region's specialty, absolutely avoid "La maison du Cassoulet", a tourist trap. Instead, go to “Emile” at Place Saint Georges.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4UaXMN1Rogr1dk8f9

Emile is on vacation and returns tomorrow, January 15

Or if you are very hungry: Les copains d'abord (Friends first)
https://www.lescopains.fr/

I didn't talk about museums, but for more information check: https://www.toulouse-visit.com/discover-toulouse

You can also take a day trip to Albi, the Episcopal city, and its famous brick cathedral. It's about an hour train ride

https://www.albi-tourisme.fr/en/

JoLui has hit the highlights, but if you have time for more, here's my rather extensive list, compiled for a 2017 trip (things may have changed). I really liked Toulouse even though it was very hot during my summertime visit and I was somewhat under the weather. I apologize for the poor organization. It's not in priority order, and I suspect it isn't organized geographically, either.

• Tourist Office offers tours, but I'm not sure about February.
  • Major flea market 1st Fri-Sat-Sun of month at Alles Jules Guesde
  • Saturday flea MKT, Compans Caffarelli - Pierre Baudis, Boulevard Lascrosse.
    
  • Hotel Bernuy on Rue Gambetta: Rine mansion. Can freely visit courtyard.
  • Fondation Bember, Hotel d’Assezat, place Assezat: Exceptional collection of paintings. Fee for museum; might still be free to enter the building.
  • Basilique St-Sernin: Largest Romanesque church in Europe, 11C/13C. Priceless relics.
  • Les Jacobins church: Major masterpiece of Gothic art.
  • Espace d’Art Moderne et Contemporain
  • Musée des Augustins: One of Europe’s finest collections of Romanesque sculpture and religious paintings. Housed in former Gothic convent.
  • Musée St-Raymond: Archaeological museum. Extensive collection, second only to Louvre for sculpture and Gallo-Roman objects.
  • Place de la Daurade: Among the city’s nicest squares.
  • Chateau d’Eau: water tower now with modern photo exhibitions.
  • Rue des Changes has interesting buildings at #16, 19 and 20.
  • Place Arnaud Bernin, near St. Sernin: North African quarter
  • Marche Victor Hugo: Large covered market (restaurants upstairs) surrounded by food and antique shops. Restaurants only open for lunch; visit market in morning, around 1000-1100.
  • St.-Pierre Quarter: cheap student bistros near river and on streets radiating back to Capitole.
  • Rue de Taur from Capitole to St Sernin Cathedral: good for cafes and shops.
  • River cruise
  • St. Cyprien is chichi quarter.
  • 18C Capitole world’s most elegant town hall. Free. Closes for official functions and weddings.
  • Place du Capitole has up-market cafes.
  • Rue Perchepinte: antique district
  • Hotel du Vieux Raisin, 36 rue de Languedoc: Interesting façade.
  • Musée Paul Dupuy, 13 rue de la Pleau: Medieval applied arts in 17C mansion.
  • Notre-Dame de la Dalbade: Colorful 19C ceramic tympanum over Renaissance door.
  • Rue St-Rome, rue Croix Baragnon, rue des Changes and rue d’Alsace-Lorraine: good shopping streets.

Now I want to go back myself!

mariagiraldi83,
JoLui's recommendation of a day trip to Albi is a good one. The city is beautiful, the cathedral magnificent, and you have the bonus of the Toulouse Lautrec museum. And have a good cassoulet while in Toulouse. I have been trying to make one at home but can't quite master it. (Finding the right sausage here in California is difficult.) I had my first one in Carcasson and am always seeking out another that is as good as that one was. Thanks for the restaurant recommendation, JoLui.

We missed the Victor Hugo market, but it came highly recommended for lunch and a visit and JoLui says as much. We had a very good lunch at Le Donjon which is very close to Place du Capitole. They have more than tapas.
Also, excellent meal at Ozmoz by Huitres. Yes, their specialty is oysters but they have so much more, but of course, seafood only.
We had a good meal at Osteria Le Bellini. For being right on the Place du Capitole and huge, it really was good. Seemed a better choice than a couple of others that are next door.
Toulouse is a lovely city-one we enjoyed very much.

With acraven, Judy, SJS recommendations and mine you have enough to keep you busy for a week in Toulouse! :-))

Hoping it's OK to tag onto this post. where is the best area to stay (in July)? Any thoughts on locations/recommendations of Adagio Apthotel Ramblas vs. Appart Hotel Clement Ader? We'll be using train/public transit? And, are the restaurants above the market only open for lunch? Seeking good dinner spots for 2 nights--better than tourist, but lower priced than Michelin rated. Thanks, Elaine

Adagio Apthotel Ramblas vs. Appart Hotel Clement Ader?

If it were me I would not choose the Aparthotel Adagio Rambla because of its location, not in the historic center, too close to the train station which is not a very pleasant area. The Appart Hotel Clement Ader is a little better located (not much) but still not in the historic center.

In Toulouse there is the metro, buses and tram, but in 2 days if you stay in the city center you will not even need public transport. Almost everything is doable on foot.

are the restaurants above the market only open for lunch?

Yes, and closed on Mondays just like the market.

Seeking good dinner spots for 2 nights--better than tourist, but lower
priced than Michelin rated.

There are hundreds of restaurants in Toulouse (and also lots of lively bars)

Impossible to advise without forgetting some.

See in the rue des Filatiers, a pedestrian street with lots of restaurants such as

Le Panache

https://www.lepanache-restaurant.fr/en/

Not far from there, in front of the church "Notre Dame de la Dalbade"

Le Nez Rouge (The Red Nose)

https://www.lenezrouge.fr/

Lots of restaurants also on Rue des blanchers near "Place de la Daurade" (Daurade Square) including:

Du plaisir à la Toque

https://www.duplaisiralatoque.fr/

Molette

https://www.molette-restaurant.fr/

Etc, etc

Appart Hotel Clement Ader is a little better located (not much) but still not in the historic center.
Thanks for the info. We will have suitcases in tow, so it's a balance between close to train (and later airport bus to TLS) and city center. We'll cross Adagio off the list.

It's up to you, both places are practically the same short distance from the Matabiau train station (Clement Ader is 2/3 minutes walk further). And it's at the Matabiau train station that the Airport shuttle stops.

Both locations will be more convenient for your arrival and departure from Toulouse.
On the other hand, there are no interesting places (or restaurants) in this part of the city, and although Clement Ader is closer to the historic center, you will have to walk more to visit Toulouse during your stay.

Also note that there is a 3 days Tourist Pass that can be purchased online or in town. It allows you to visit places / museum / attractions and have a guided tour in English (from 15th July to 30th September), There is also an option of 10 free transport trips by bus or metro

See detail in the link below:

https://www.toulouse-visit.com/pass-tourisme

thank you. much appreciated!

Look up the podcast "Join Us in France" that was created by two women who live in Toulouse (one French, the other American). They cover all of France, but have some special programs for Toulouse and especially the surrounding area -- which they obviously know well. February could be a good time to take a day trip (by train) to Carcasonne which is normally mobbed in the summer. Albi is great too, but deserves an overnight.

When I was in Toulouse in December, locals (especially young adults) were packing the brand new hip gourmet food court at Les Halles de la Cartoucherie. It's far from downtown, but right on a tram line. The building also has co-working spaces, dance/sports classes, a cool up-cycled clothing store, stylish bookstore, and special events. It's surrounded by a revitalized eco-district that includes a newish budget Eklo hotel. It's a great place to see contemporary, youthful, and eco-conscious France.

There were a couple articles last year about Toulouse in The Guardian written by an American who also runs food tours -- Taste of Toulouse. I find that the restaurant food quality is generally much, much higher in Toulouse than in Paris.

Hi,

We will arrive at Toulouse Airport and would like a "meet and greet" ride to Carcassonne. (our RS tour begins a few days later in Barcelona). Three adults, three suitcases, three backpacks.

Does anyone have a referral for a dependable service?

There are some "meet and greet" services in Toulouse which are intended for VIPs or celebrities who are traveling on a private flight and who are accompanied to/from their hotel. Not being a VIP or a celebrity myself (until now), I cannot advise you on the quality of these services.

Why not simply take a taxi to your hotel and ask the Toulouse tourist office which offers guided daytrips to Carcassonne?

There are also local tour providers offering daytrips. (to be preferred to the usual "Get Your Guide" or "Viator" which are only third parties not based in the region)

https://toulouse-welcome.com/en/south-west-excursions/excursion-cite-de-carcassonne-and-castel-comtal/

The Toulouse tourist office:

https://www.toulouse-visit.com/

Any recommendations for an interesting and comfortable hotel in the city center? We will be there 2025, May or June as the beginning of a trip through western France.

mariagiraldi83,
Just to add...be sure to have a cassoulet while in Toulouse. I try to recreate cassoulet here in Calif., but finding the real saucisse toulousienne is impossible, so I make do with other types of sausage with garlic. I remember so well my first taste of cassoulet in Carcassone in 2001. So delicious!

anyone have any recommendations for this area for small group wine tours? there is one company (Ophorus) but for Toulouse they only seem to offer "private tours" which are pretty high. But I'm guessing there are probably some other more local tour companies that focus on wine/history in the area, and was just trying to find some to start with

anyone have any recommendations for this area for small group wine
tours?

The main vineyards near Toulouse are those of Gaillac, Fronton, and Cahors. All are between 45 minutes and 2 hours from Toulouse.

I don't know what Ophorus is worth, they organize tours all over France. I think it's mainly for foreign tourists and indeed they are very expensive. I almost choked when I saw that they have a half-day wine tour in Gaillac at €460!!! .

The Gaillac tourist office offers a “Winegrower Pass” for... €22

Gaillac:

https://www.la-toscane-occitane.com/en/experiences/entry-pass-for-exclusive-events

Fronton:

https://www.vins-de-fronton.com/en/la-maison-des-vins-de-fronton/

Or

https://www.hautegaronnetourism.com/agence/tourist-office-of-vignoble-de-fronton/

Cahors:

https://www.cahorsvalleedulot.com/en/explorer/savourez-la-vallee-du-lot/