Toulouse – Neighborhoods to avoid, dangerous areas, red light districts

You are planning a trip or a stay in the pink city and you are wondering about the dangerous areas, the red light districts, in short all the districts of Toulouse to avoid.

Indeed, the first question that tourists ask themselves when choosing their accommodation in Toulouse is which district is best to choose?

So, being from Toulouse myself, I will help you find the right place to stay safely in Toulouse.

I will tell you which areas of Toulouse to avoid in the city center and which are the best areas to stay in when visiting Toulouse.

Is Toulouse a dangerous city in 2024?

Toulouse is in the average of French cities in terms of crime with an improvement in its crime level over the past 2 years.

Indeed, in 2023 Toulouse was one of the 20 most dangerous cities in France on the city-data.com ranking).

But in 2024, Toulouse will no longer appear in the top 20 of the least safe cities in France, unlike Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Cane, Avignon, Bordeaux ou Nantes.

If we compare on the world ranking 2024, with an average crime index (50.48), Toulouse is less dangerous Barcelona, Rome, London ou Dublin.

However, in this classification the crime index is an average for the city of Toulouse when in fact crime only concerns certain geographical areas of Toulouse.

Apart from a few neighborhoods to avoid, the city of Toulouse is not at all dangerous for either tourists or locals!

It is for this reason that it is better to know the few dangerous neighborhoods and sensitive areas in Toulouse. This way, you will avoid going there for a drink in the evening!

Is Toulouse safe for tourists?

YES ! As in all major cities in France,Europe or the United States, there are also neighborhoods in Toulouse that are more sensitive than others and where tourists are not safe. But by avoiding these neighborhoods, tourists can visit Toulouse without danger.

Map of Toulouse districts

This map will help you identify the neighborhoods to avoid in Toulouse that I will list for you: Google map

Areas of Toulouse to avoid in the city center

Before telling you which are the sensitive or dangerous areas on the outskirts of Toulouse, here are the few areas of the city center to avoid at night.

Indeed, even if the heart and historic center of the pink city is not dangerous, there are still some less safe places in the city center where there is more delinquency, theft, drugs and drug trafficking. all kinds. These neighborhoods are often “secure” during the day but less recommended for walking in the evening or at night.

Empalot

Being part of the center of Toulouse (7 minutes by metro from the Capitole), Empalot is a district located to the south of the city, next to Ramier Island. Long blocks of buildings, few green spaces, high unemployment rate, Empalot is a sensitive city in Toulouse.

The three Cuckolds and the Izards

North of Toulouse, The three Cuckolds and the Izards are HLM neighborhoods but also more traditional residential neighborhoods (residences and individual houses).

Classified by the City of Toulouse as priority neighborhoods, there is significant drug trafficking and many homicides. See this Article World which describes the drug war in the Izards district.

Arnaud-Bernard

Right next to the Matabiau district, the Arnaud-Bernard district is also a popular area where the nightlife is lively. So, it's not really a dangerous area but there is a lot of noise and undesirable crowds in the evening and at night.

The Fourguette and the Faourette

La Fourguette and the Faourette are two districts of Toulouse located on the left bank of the Garonne and right next to the city of Bagatelle. Because this city is known to be sensitive, the surrounding areas are also areas to avoid.

Red light district of Toulouse – Matabiau

Matabiau is a district which surrounds the Toulouse-Matabiau station. Benefiting from a beautiful location on the banks of the Canal du Midi, this popular district is quite central, very lively and has many small food shops. This district has always had the reputation of being a red-light district of Toulouse. However, it is changing and this reputation is no longer founded.

Indeed, apart from Rue Bayard and Boulevard de Strasbourg which are indeed very poorly frequented at night, this residential area is home to beautiful modern buildings and old beautiful Belle Epoque style houses.

Other areas to avoid

According to a comment from an Internet user, the Roseraie, Avenue de la Gloire and Soupetard districts are also experiencing security problems.

Dangerous neighborhoods of Toulouse on the outskirts

The Mirail most dangerous district in Toulouse

When we talk about Mirail we are actually talking about 3 districts that make up the city of Mirail:

• The Mirail-University district
• Reynerie district
• The Bellefontaine district

Le Mirail is the “hottest” place in Toulouse. Indeed, it is a neighborhood where there are numerous incidents of violence, delinquency, burned cars, chases, drug trafficking, etc.

Despite all the efforts of associations on the spot, neighborhood life is difficult for the inhabitants of this city.

Bagatelle dangerous neighborhood near the center of Toulouse

To the south-west of central Toulouse, surrounded by the Cépière racecourse and the Faourette district, Bagatelle is also known for being a sensitive city in Toulouse. With its neighboring districts like Papus or Tabar, Bagatelle is not a place where peace and security reign.

Where to choose your hotel in Toulouse?

To be as close as possible to the most beautiful sites in Toulouse, to be able to visit Toulouse on foot, I recommend that you choose a district in the center of Toulouse: Capitole, Place Dupuy, Saint Sernin, Ozenne, Les Carmes, Saint-Etienne.

Here is a hotel that I recommend for its geographical location (100 meters from the Capitol) but also for its decor and for the quality of its services:

And if you are looking for a cheap hotel in Toulouse but located in a safe and convenient area for tourism, then here it is: 3 best cheap hotels in Toulouse.

Please note that the information provided in this article does not reflect any judgment or discrimination but is simply factual.