Visiting Toulouse in 1 day is a real challenge! But when you love your city and want to make people love it, you know how to be imaginative and clever!
I will share with you my way of showing people around the pink city as I show it to my family and friends. And to help you, you will find the Google Maps route to follow on foot to do my tourist circuit of Toulouse.
Tourist circuits Toulouse
Here are my two circuits which allow you to visit Toulouse on foot (one for the morning, the other for the afternoon).
These two circuits each make a loop which leaves from Place du Capitole and returns to Place du Capitole.
To start your visit to Toulouse, here is the walk to take in the morning:
To continue your visit to Toulouse in the afternoon, here is the walking circuit that you can take:
My itinerary to visit Toulouse in one day
Start with the Capitol and its beautiful square
Leaving your hotel, take Metro Line A (Capitol stop).
This square is the emblem of Toulouse. This is where Toulouse residents gather to celebrate their major events. On the ground of the square, you can admire the symbol of our region: the Occitan cross. Raymond Moretti contemporary artist designed it just like the 29 frescoes of the Arcades around the Place du Capitole. Each painting evokes a major event in the history of Toulouse and its region.
Place du Capitole is full of charm because it is surrounded by buildings with pink brick facades.
The Capitol, a splendid building of neoclassical architecture, takes pride of place. You can quickly visit, inside the Capitol, the Henri-IV courtyard and the superb paintings in the Gervais, Henri-Martin and Illustres rooms (on the 1st floor).
Join the Saint-Sernin Basilica
Continue my tour by taking rue du Taur to go to the Saint-Sernin Basilica. Walking down the street, you can see the Notre-Dame-du-Taur church.
You will have to turn right into rue de Périgord if you want to admire the Carmelite chapel.
Then, return to rue du Taur to reach and visit the Saint Sernin Basilica. This basilica, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Romanesque building in France. It is dedicated to Sernin (or Saturnin) who was the first bishop of Toulouse.
Walk the streets of old Toulouse
To continue my route on foot, you have to take rue du Taur, rue de l'Esquile, then rue des Pénitents-Gris. On the right, into rue du Collège-de-Foix then turn left into rue Deville. Continue along rue Lakanal which leads directly to Les Jacobins (the jewel of southern Gothic art).
Go see the Jacobins
Made up of several buildings (church, cloister and convent), the Jacobins were built between the 13th and 14th centuries to house members of the order of Saint-Dominique, the Dominicans. The relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas are kept there.
And end the morning at the Hôtel de Bernuy
Leave again via rue Lakanal, on the right and admire, in rue Gambetta, the large private mansion: the Hôtel de Bernuy. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century during the glory days of Pastel which brought wealth and fame to Toulouse!
Now is the time to take a lunch break… Back to the Place du Capitole!
My good restaurant plan in Toulouse
The Bibent café-restaurant is located on the famous Place du Capitole.
I advise you to go there not only for its chef Christian CONSTANT but above all for its colorful neo-baroque interior decoration (listed as a historic monument). This restaurant is a place to eat but above all a place to visit!
Hôtel d'Assézat and the Bemberg Foundation
From Place du Capitole, take rue Gambetta, follow rue Peyrolières, rue Sainte Ursule, rue de la Bourse and rue Jean Suau.
Thus, you will pass through charming little streets of Toulouse to reach the Hôtel d'Assézat. This beautiful 16th century mansion is located at the end of rue de l'Echarpe. The Bemberg Foundation is housed within its walls and offers a small collection of impressionist paintings.
Trinity Square
It's one of my favorite places in Toulouse. To get there, you will have to continue on rue des Marchands and go to Place de la Trinité. Admire the House of the Caryatids and its 19th century fountain.
Continue the circuit by taking rue des Tourneurs, place Rouaix and rue Croix Baragnon which leads to Place Saint Etienne. If you're feeling a little hungry, take a break to enjoy a pastry at Conté...
Saint Etienne cathedral
Discover and tour Saint-Etienne Cathedral. With a mixture of architectural styles, this incredible cathedral mainly brings together two Gothic styles: the massive and powerful Southern Gothic and the slender and luminous Northern Gothic.
End of the Augustins circuit
Take Rue de Metz again to reach Les Augustins.
Here is the last must-see site on my tour: the Augustinian Museum and its cloister. Originally, it was a convent, that of the Augustinians, built between the 14th and 15th centuries. Today it is the Toulouse Museum of Fine Arts.
Return to Place du Capitole
From the rue de Metz, passing through the rue des arts and on the left the rue de la pomme, you will follow the rue du cœur de l'huile to return to the Place du Capitole. As you pass by, you will see the Capitol from behind with its beautiful Keep. And there you have it, the circle is complete!
Recommended restaurant in Toulouse
For a successful evening in a cozy and warm atmosphere in the very heart of old Toulouse, I recommend number 5 Wine Bars. Indeed, this bar has been voted the best wine bar in the world but it is also an excellent restaurant. See my article: The best wine bar in the world is in Toulouse
After this beautiful, busy day and a surely unforgettable evening, return to your hotel. And if you don't know where to stay, here is my selection of nice hotels in the center of Toulouse.
Where to stay to visit Toulouse on foot?
- Le Grand Balcon: Very well located in the historic center of Toulouse (100 m from the Capitol), this 4-star hotel is superbly decorated in a 30s style with a mix of tradition and modernity. Its location allows you to visit the city center of Toulouse but also all the other tourist sites of Toulouse because it is barely 3 minutes walk from the metro.
- Mercure Toulouse Saint-Georges Hotel: Its location is also very interesting! It is ideal for visiting Toulouse and its historic center. Indeed, it is only 50 m from Place Wilson, 300 m from Place du Capitole and 100 meters from the Jean-Jaurès metro station. The hotel has recently been completely renovated and offers a small swimming pool which is very welcome in summer!
The circuit that I have just presented to you is perfect for discovering theessential of Toulouse but it is far from complete. A single day is not enough to discover all the riches and curiosities of my city and even less to feel its “Iberian” atmosphere and its warm and festive atmosphere. This is why I suggest you discover my circuit: Visit Toulouse in 2 days.
Hello,
I plan to go there at the end of June. Do you have a recommendation for parking for the day to complete your tour?
I would also like to take a boat trip on the Garonne, perhaps in the evening. Are there also parking lots nearby?
Is it also feasible to visit the main points by hopping from metro to metro? My mother and I are walking a little with difficulty. Thanking you.
Hello Emmanuelle,
The most central car park is located underground under the Capitol Square: Capitole car park
For your cruise on the Garonne, I think it is possible in July and August. But not sure for the month of June. See the tourist office: Tourist office
For your last question, the route I suggest goes through small streets. It's difficult to adapt it with metro transportation.
I wish you a good stay in my pink city!
Hello,
Having to stay for a veek-end in Toulouse at the end of July, I appreciated the magnificent explanation of the highlights of the city.
Everything is precise. I can see myself already!
Your recommendations are very valuable. A big thank-you.
Oh I wish you a very good stay in Toulouse this summer! I hope that Toulouse will "hope" for you and that you will not have too big a "dodger" as we say at home!
Thanks for your advices. Very good route to discover the essentials of Toulouse in one day.
A +++ for the Bemberg collection: Exceptional collection of paintings in a magnificent place with not too many people!
This trip through the small streets of Toulouse was very pleasant, the opportunity to meet very nice Toulouse residents and very good stops for lunch. Want to come back!
Thank you for this positive feedback! Want to come back? Do not hesitate because there are plenty of little treasures and good restaurants to discover around Toulouse. I will soon prepare an article to propose a circuit in Occitania. Hope to see you again on my site and in my beautiful region.