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Guide

The home of the French aviation and space industry, Toulouse is a university town full of historical architecture, acclaimed museums and marvelous edutainment attractions, making it a popular destination for the whole family. Car hire in Toulouse is considered the best way of getting around its beautiful French countryside surroundings. Toulouse can easily be explored on foot but with a rental car you will gain the freedom to explore in your own time and to more rural areas where public services do not operate. Fill in the form above and let us find you cheap deals on car hire in Toulouse today.

Explore Toulouse

The historic town centre of Ville Rose contains much of Toulouse’s heritage. The Capitole, located on the square of the same name, has been the seat of Toulouse's city government since the 12th century. The original walls were covered by an ornate pink and white 18th century facade of columns and pilasters, and inside you can see the Salle des Illustres and other interesting rooms covered in somewhat gaudy late 19th century murals. West of Place du Capitole, is the massive fortress-like 13th century Church of the Jacobins. Opposite you will see an art exhibition hall, and close to this is the Renaissance mansion, the Hôtel de Bernuy. North of Place du Capitole, is Notre-Dame-du-Taur, and the largest Romanesque church in France, the Basilica of St-Sernin. Noteworthy museums in the area include the Musée St-Raymond and the Musée des Augustins.

Elsewhere in the town lie other attractions such as the Rue Croix-Baragon, Place St-Étienne, the Griffoul, the Cathedral of St-Étienne, the Musée Paul-Dupuy, the Pont-Neuf, and the St-Cyprien quarter.

Fun for the whole family, the high-tech amusement park of the Cité de l'Espace enthralls with its space theme, and includes the opportunity to walk inside a mock-up of the Mir space station. Many of the exhibits are interactive and offer many insights into the world of space exploration. With planning, a tour of the Aerospatiale complex can also be arranged.

Toulouse is a perfect base for exploring any destination in the southwest of France. Of the immediately surrounding places, Albi is spectacular, with its highly original cathedral and comprehensive collection of Toulouse-Lautrec paintings. Further afield is the authentic medieval town of Cordes.

Toulouse International Airport serves direct flights from many cities, and shuttle services into the town are both frequent and reliable.

Transport

By air
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is situated 11kms northwest of the city centre. It receives both international and domestic flights. Shuttle buses provide transport into town, leaving every 20 minutes. Although pricier, taxis are also available.

By car
If you are driving to Toulouse from the UK, it will be necessary to load your vehicle on to either the Channel Tunnel train or the ferry, to cross the Channel. From Paris, the drive to Toulouse is approximately six or seven hours. You will need to follow the A10 south to Bordeaux and then change to the A62 to reach Toulouse.

By train
Toulouse can be easily reached by train from most points in France. Fourteen trains run from Bordeaux to Toulouse each day, and they make the journey in approximately two hours. Nine high-speed TGV trains head out from Paris daily, reaching Toulouse in five hours. From Marseilles, the trip takes about 4 hours, 30 minutes. Toulouse-Matabiau station acts as a train, bus and metro station.

By bus
The French bus and coach system is extensive and well-priced. Buses connect Toulouse to a wide range of French and other European destinations, sometimes via Paris or other stops.

By boat
Ferries from British ports to France traverse the Channel regularly all year round, and are one of the most cost-effective ways to make the cross-Channel journey.