Toulouse is known as La Ville Rose, the pink city, because almost the entire centre is built from red brick that glows in the evening sun. It is France’s fourth-largest city and the home of Airbus, yet the centre is surprisingly compact, and you can walk from the Garonne to Place du Capitole in a quarter of an hour.
Deciding where to stay in Toulouse mostly comes down to whether you want to be right in the Old Town, by the railway station or close to the planes in Blagnac. Here are my five picks for areas, with three hotels in each, from luxury to budget.
Contents
Where to Stay in Toulouse: The Best Areas
- Capitole & the city centre - best area for first-time visitors
- Carmes & Saint-Étienne (Old Town) - best area for food lovers and couples
- Saint-Cyprien - best area for a local feel and good prices
- Matabiau & Canal du Midi - best area for trains and day trips
- Blagnac - best area for aviation fans and early flights
Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each. The prices come from a search for a weekend in November for two people. When Stade Toulousain play at home, or there are big trade fairs and concerts, prices rise across the whole city, so book well ahead.
1. Capitole & the city centre - best area for first-time visitors 🏛️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You are staying in the centre itself. From Place du Capitole it is about a 10-minute walk to the Garonne and 15 to 20 minutes to Matabiau station.
- 🚇 Transport: Capitole metro station on line A is right under the square, and Jean Jaurès, where lines A and B meet, is just one stop away.
- ✈️ Time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport: About 30 to 40 minutes on the Navette Aéroport to the Jeanne d’Arc stop and a 5 to 10-minute walk from there, or about 25 minutes by taxi without traffic.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost about 65 to 235 euros (around £55 to £195) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and busy until late in the evening. Watch out for pickpockets on the square and on the metro, and keep an eye on your bag on the café terraces.
Place du Capitole is Toulouse’s grand main square, and it is where most people begin their first day. The long, pink façade of the Capitole houses both the town hall and the Théâtre du Capitole opera house, and in the middle of the square is a large Occitan cross with the signs of the zodiac set into the paving. You can visit the historic rooms, including the Salle des Illustres and Henri Martin’s large murals, for free, but they close for weddings and council meetings, so check the opening hours with the city before you go.
From the square, Rue du Taur leads up to the Basilique Saint-Sernin, one of Europe’s largest Romanesque churches and part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela. The Couvent des Jacobins with its famous palm-tree column is five minutes to the west, and to the east you will find the covered market Marché Victor Hugo, where you can have lunch in the restaurants on the first floor.
See hotels near Capitole and in the city centre here.
I would stay here if it is your first trip to Toulouse, or if you only have a weekend and want to walk everywhere. If you would like a good overview with a guide, you can book a walking tour of Toulouse’s main sights for around 35 euros (about £30).
The downside is that you pay for the location, and many of the hotels are in old buildings with small rooms. In the evening the square and the streets around Rue Saint-Rome are lively, so ask for a room away from the street if you are a light sleeper. Parking is expensive, and if you have a hire car, it will need to go in one of the underground car parks.
Hotels near Capitole and in the city centre
Le Grand Balcon Hotel - four-star hotel with aviation history by Place du Capitole
Le Grand Balcon is on Rue Romiguières on the corner of Place du Capitole, and this is where the pilots of the airmail company Aéropostale stayed, among them Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. There is a lift, a bar and air conditioning, breakfast costs 18 euros (around £15) per person, and you can leave your car in the car park under the square at a discounted rate. It was the most expensive hotel near Capitole when I searched, and some guests feel it is a little pricey.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “This is one of the loveliest hotels I have ever stayed in.”
See photos and book Le Grand Balcon here.
Plaza Hotel Capitole Toulouse - large four-star hotel right on Place du Capitole
Plaza Hotel Capitole is at number 7 on the square itself and has over 8,000 reviews on Booking.com. There is a restaurant, a bar, a terrace, a gym and a lift, and the hotel’s parking service costs 26 euros (around £20) per night. Some guests say it is tricky to find your way to the car park through the one-way streets.
From one review: “All in all, we were very happy with the hotel, and I would warmly recommend it to my friends.”
See photos and book Plaza Hotel Capitole here.
Hotel Wilson Square - simple, cheap hotel between Capitole and Place Wilson
Hotel Wilson Square is on Rue d’Austerlitz, about 400 metres from Place du Capitole, and was the cheapest hotel in the centre when I searched. It is a simple two-star hotel with air conditioning and a 24-hour reception, but there is no lift and no breakfast, and several guests find the décor a little worn.
One guest highlights: “It was spotlessly clean, and the staff were so friendly.”
See photos and book Hotel Wilson Square here.
2. Carmes & Saint-Étienne (Old Town) - best area for foodies and couples 🍷
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be staying in the southern part of the Old Town. From Place des Carmes it’s about a 10-minute walk to Place du Capitole and 5 minutes to the Garonne.
- 🚇 Transport: Carmes metro station on line B is right in the middle of the neighbourhood, and Esquirol on line A is about a 5-minute walk to the north.
- ✈️ Time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport: About 45 minutes on the Navette Aéroport to Jean Jaurès and then two stops on metro line B to Carmes, or about 25 minutes by taxi without traffic.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€€. The three hotels below cost from about 70 to 285 euros (around £60 to £240) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe both during the day and in the evening. The bars around Place de la Trinité and Rue des Filatiers can be noisy at weekends, while Saint-Étienne is quiet once it gets dark.
Carmes is the part of the Old Town where I’d go hunting for food. Narrow streets such as Rue des Filatiers and Rue des Polinaires are packed with cheese shops, wine bars and small restaurants, and in the middle of the neighbourhood you’ll find the covered Marché des Carmes, with stalls selling cheese, meat and vegetables. Between the houses stand several of the grand mansions that merchants built in the 16th century on the trade in the dye plant pastel (woad), among them Hôtel d’Assézat near the river.
Head east and the streets grow quieter around Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, a cathedral built over several hundred years, so the nave and the choir don’t even line up. Around Place Saint-Étienne you’ll find antique dealers and galleries, and a little further north is the Musée des Augustins, the city’s art museum, housed in an old 14th-century Augustinian monastery with a large collection of Romanesque sculpture.
See hotels in Carmes and Saint-Étienne here.
I’d stay here if you’re a couple, or if food and wine are a big part of why you’re going to Toulouse. If you’d like a local to show you the best spots, you can join a food tour with tastings in Toulouse for around 64 euros (around £55).
The downside is that there are few larger hotels, and many are in old buildings without a lift. The streets are narrow, with pavements you can barely squeeze along with a suitcase, and if you have a car, it’ll need to go in the car park at Marché des Carmes or at Saint-Étienne. On Fridays and Saturdays the bars around Place de la Trinité can keep you awake, so ask for a room away from the street.
Hotels in Carmes and Saint-Étienne
La Cour des Consuls Hotel & Spa - five-star MGallery hotel with a spa in the heart of the Old Town
La Cour des Consuls is on Rue des Couteliers between Place des Carmes and the Garonne, and is a five-star hotel from the MGallery chain. There’s a spa with a hammam, a restaurant, a bar and a lift, and the hotel will park your car for you for 39 euros (around £35) a day. It was the most expensive hotel in this guide when I searched, and some guests find the breakfast mediocre.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful and elegant hotel.”
See photos and book La Cour des Consuls here.
Hôtel Croix Baragnon - small hotel with a terrace on the way to the cathedral
Hôtel Croix Baragnon is on Rue Croix-Baragnon, the old street of shops and galleries between Carmes and Saint-Étienne. It’s a two-star hotel with a terrace and air conditioning, breakfast costs 9.50 euros (around £8), and the hotel has a deal with the car parks at Carmes and Saint-Étienne for 20 euros (around £17) a day. There’s no lift, which several guests mention.
From a review: “A really good hotel in a fantastic location if you want to explore the Old Town. I can highly recommend it.”
See photos and book Hôtel Croix Baragnon here.
Residhotel Toulouse Centre - budget apartments with kitchens near the Garonne
Residhotel is on Avenue de la Garonnette on the south-western edge of Carmes, a few minutes from the river and Carmes metro station. All the studios and apartments have a kitchen, and there’s a lift, so it suits families and longer stays well. On the other hand, there’s no air conditioning, and the rooms can get hot in summer.
One guest highlights: “All in all, my stay was really good, and I’m very happy with the hotel.”
See photos and book Residhotel Toulouse Centre here.
3. Saint-Cyprien - best area for local atmosphere and good prices 🌅
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Saint-Cyprien sits on the left bank of the Garonne, directly opposite the Old Town. Crossing Pont Neuf, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Place du Capitole.
- 🚇 Transport: Saint-Cyprien-République metro station on line A gets you to Esquirol and Capitole in a few minutes, and on foot you simply cross the river via Pont Neuf or Pont Saint-Pierre.
- ✈️ Time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport: Around 20 minutes by taxi without traffic, as the area is on the airport side of the river. By bus 31, the T1 tram and metro line A from Arènes, it takes around 45 minutes.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€. The three hotels below were around 65 to 90 euros (around £55 to £75) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Generally safe and full of locals. Around Place Saint-Cyprien and the metro station it gets a bit scruffier in the evening, so keep an eye on your bag.
Saint-Cyprien is the neighbourhood on the other side of the Garonne, and it feels more like an ordinary part of town than a tourist area. Around the covered market on Place Roguet you’ll find bakeries, small cafés and cheap places to eat side by side, and prices are lower than in the Old Town. Facing the river is the great copper dome of the Chapelle Saint-Joseph de la Grave, one of Toulouse’s landmarks, and next to it lies the Prairie des Filtres park, where the city gathers in the sunshine in summer.
In a former slaughterhouse on Allées Charles de Fitte you’ll find Les Abattoirs, the city’s museum of modern and contemporary art, open from Wednesday to Sunday. By Pont Neuf stands the Château d’Eau water tower, which is now a photography gallery, and in the evening you can watch the sun set behind the dome of La Grave from the Quai de la Daurade on the other side of the river.
See hotels in Saint-Cyprien here.
I’d stay here if you want more for your money while still being a quarter of an hour’s walk from the Old Town, or if you’d rather stay among locals than other tourists. The aparthotels with kitchenettes also make it a good choice for families and longer stays, when it’s nice to be able to make your own breakfast.
The downside is that there aren’t many hotels, and the area is a little rough around the edges near Place Saint-Cyprien and Avenue Étienne Billières. There’s less going on in the evening than across the river, so if you fancy a nice dinner out, you’ll be heading over Pont Neuf. On the other hand, if you’re coming by car, parking is easier here than in the Old Town.
Hotels in Saint-Cyprien
Aparthotel Adagio Original Toulouse Centre La Grave - highly rated four-star aparthotel by Pont Saint-Pierre
Adagio La Grave is on Rue du Pont Saint-Pierre, right by the bridge and the dome of La Grave, so you can cross the river to the Old Town in a few minutes. The apartments have kitchenettes, there’s a lift and a 24-hour reception, and parking costs 20 euros (around £17) per night. It was the most expensive of the three, and some guests feel the breakfast could be better.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “An excellent place to stay.”
See photos and book Adagio La Grave here.
Hotel Gascogne - simple hotel with a bar and private parking near Les Abattoirs
Hotel Gascogne is on Allées Charles de Fitte near Les Abattoirs, about a 10-minute walk from Pont Neuf. It’s a two-star hotel with a bar, terrace and lift, and private parking costs 12 euros (around £10) per night. Breakfast isn’t included in the price, and some guests find it a bit pricey.
From a review: “Good quality for the price and a modern room.”
See photos and book Hotel Gascogne here.
Aparthotel Adagio Access Toulouse St Cyprien - budget studios with kitchenettes and private parking
Adagio Access is on Avenue Étienne Billières in the western part of Saint-Cyprien, about a 5-minute walk from Saint-Cyprien-République metro station. The studios and apartments have kitchenettes, and parking costs 10 euros (around £8) per night, though several guests say it fills up quickly.
One guest highlights: “We’ve stayed here several times. It’s comfortable, and the bedding is lovely.”
See photos and book Adagio Access St Cyprien here.
4. Matabiau & Canal du Midi - best area for trains and day trips 🚆
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The station is just over a kilometre north-east of Place du Capitole, and you can walk into the centre along Allées Jean Jaurès in 15 to 20 minutes.
- 🚆 Transport: Marengo-SNCF metro station on line A is right by the railway station, and from here it’s two stops to Capitole. Long-distance and regional trains run from Matabiau.
- ✈️ Time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport: Around 25 to 40 minutes on the Navette Aéroport, which goes all the way to the station, or around 25 minutes by taxi if there’s no traffic.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost around 85 to 150 euros (around £70 to £125) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: As at most big railway stations, people hang around outside, in the evening too. Keep an eye on your luggage and stick to the well-lit boulevards rather than the side streets.
Matabiau station sits right on the Canal du Midi, the canal running from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau lagoon on the Mediterranean, which Pierre-Paul Riquet built between 1667 and 1694 and which is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A path runs along the water beneath the plane trees, where you can walk or cycle towards Port de l’Embouchure, where the Canal du Midi meets the Canal de Brienne and the Canal latéral à la Garonne.
From the station, Allées Jean Jaurès, a wide boulevard with trees and walkways down the middle, leads straight towards the centre. East of the canal is the quieter Saint-Aubin district with a big Sunday market, and if you want to see more of the canal, you can take an e-bike tour along the Garonne and the Canal du Midi with a cable car ride for around 55 euros (around £45).
See hotels near Matabiau and the Canal du Midi here.
I’d stay here if you’re arriving or moving on by train, or if you want to do day trips. Regional trains reach the medieval city of Carcassonne in about an hour, and the TGV to Paris takes just over four hours, so if you’re staying in the capital before or after, you can read about where to stay in Paris. Trains also run to Bordeaux in around two hours, and here’s my guide to where to stay in Bordeaux.
The downside is that the streets right around the station are busy and a bit run-down, and you’re not staying among the old buildings. On the other hand, you’re in the Old Town in a few minutes by metro, and the hotels here often give you more space for your money than those near Capitole.
Hotels near Matabiau and the Canal du Midi
FirstName Toulouse, part of JdV by Hyatt - modern four-star hotel on Allées Jean Jaurès
FirstName Toulouse belongs to Hyatt’s JdV brand and is on Allées Jean Jaurès, around 400 metres from the station and close to the Canal du Midi. There’s a restaurant, bar, terrace and lift, and the hotel’s own car park costs 28 euros (around £23) per night. It was the most expensive of the three, and some guests mention that parking can be hard to find around the hotel.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A fantastic stay close to the centre of Toulouse.”
See photos and book FirstName Toulouse here.
Matabi Hotel Toulouse Gare by HappyCulture - popular three-star hotel right opposite the station
Matabi Hotel is on Boulevard Bonrepos, around 150 metres from the station, and has almost 5,000 reviews on Booking.com. There’s a lift, air conditioning and a 24-hour reception, but no parking, so you’ll need to leave the car in the multi-storey car park at the station. Some guests find the atmosphere a little basic.
From one review: “Good location and helpful staff.”
See photos and book Matabi Hotel here.
Hôtel d’Orsay Grand Matabiau - budget hotel with a garden close to the station
Hôtel d’Orsay is also on Boulevard Bonrepos, around 200 metres from the station, and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. There’s a garden, terrace and lift, breakfast costs 10 euros (around £8), and you can park at the hotel if you book in advance. Several guests mention that there can be street noise at night.
One guest highlights: “An excellent hotel at a very reasonable price in the middle of Toulouse.”
See photos and book Hôtel d’Orsay here.
5. Blagnac - best area for aviation enthusiasts and early flights ✈️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Blagnac is about 7 kilometres north-west of Place du Capitole, right next to the airport and the Airbus factories.
- 🚋 Transport: Tram T1 links Blagnac and Aeroscopia with Arènes, where you change to metro line A, and the journey into Capitole takes around 40 minutes.
- ✈️ Time from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport: About 5 to 10 minutes. Several of the hotels run a shuttle bus to the terminal, and bus 31 runs from the airport to the tram in Blagnac.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€. The three hotels below cost around 60 to 100 euros (around £50 to £85) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and safe. In the evening it’s peaceful around the airport hotels, and restaurants are few and far between.
Toulouse is Europe’s aviation city, and Blagnac is where it all happens. This is home to the airport, Airbus headquarters and the huge hangars where the planes are assembled, and all day long you can watch aircraft taking off and landing over the town. Blagnac itself has a small centre by the Garonne with a church, a square and the Odyssud arts centre, but most of the hotels are in the business parks around the airport.
The big draw is the Aeroscopia aviation museum, where Concorde, the Super Guppy transport plane and an A380 you can walk through stand side by side. Admission is 16 euros (around £13) for adults, and the tourist office’s page on Aeroscopia has opening hours and prices. The Let’s Visit Airbus tour also starts from the museum, taking you to viewpoints overlooking the A321 or A350 assembly line. It lasts an hour and a half and costs 18 euros (around £15), but you need to book with Manatour at least two working days in advance and bring your passport or ID card.
I’d stay here if you’re an aviation enthusiast who wants to spend a whole day at Aeroscopia and Airbus, or if you have an early flight home. If you’re heading out into the region to Carcassonne, Albi or the Pyrenees, it’s also easy to pick up a car at the airport, and you can compare prices on car hire at Booking.com.
The downside is that you’re a long way from the Old Town and the city’s restaurants, and the evenings are quiet. If you want to go into town for dinner, it’s the tram and metro there and back or a taxi, so for more than a night or two I’d rather stay in the centre and take the tram out here on a day trip.
Hotels in Blagnac
OSKO Hôtel Toulouse Aéroport - four-star airport hotel with a restaurant and free parking
OSKO is on Rue Bordebasse in Blagnac, close to the airport, and has a restaurant, bar, gym and free parking. The hotel runs a shuttle bus to the airport from morning to evening, but some guests say that neither the shuttle nor dinner was available at the weekend. It was the most expensive of the three when I searched.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A good airport hotel, clean, friendly and comfortable.”
See photos and book OSKO Hôtel here.
Holiday Inn Express Toulouse Airport - highly rated three-star hotel with a free shuttle bus
Holiday Inn Express is on Avenue du Général de Gaulle in Blagnac and runs a free shuttle bus to the airport from early morning until late evening. There’s a bar, garden, lift and a seasonal outdoor saltwater pool, and parking costs 8 euros (around £7) per night, which some guests feel ought to be free.
From one review: “Really good breakfast. A comfortable, quiet room that suited my limited mobility.”
See photos and book Holiday Inn Express here.
Campanile Toulouse Blagnac Aéroport - budget chain hotel with free parking
Campanile is on Avenue Didier Daurat, about a 10 to 15-minute walk from the terminal, and was the cheapest hotel in the whole guide when I searched. There’s free parking, a bar, garden and restaurant, but no shuttle bus, and some guests mention that the restaurant was closed during their stay.
One guest highlights: “Good value for money. The staff are friendly and helpful.”
See photos and book Campanile Blagnac Aéroport here.
Where not to stay in Toulouse?
I’d avoid the hotels in the business parks far from the centre, such as Basso Cambo, Labège and along the ring road. They look cheap, but you’ll spend a lot of time travelling, and there’s nothing to do in the evening. The residential districts of Le Mirail, Bagatelle and Empalot in the south-west and south of the city aren’t places you’ll get much out of as a tourist either.
Also be wary of the cheapest hotels in the side streets just behind the railway station, where it can be rowdy at night, and check the calendar before you book. When Stade Toulousain play at home, or there are big trade fairs at the MEETT exhibition centre, prices rise and the best hotels in the centre sell out quickly.
If it’s your first trip to Toulouse, I’d stay around Capitole, where you can walk to everything. If you’re after food, wine and atmosphere in narrow streets, Carmes and Saint-Étienne are the best choice, and if you want more for your money and to stay among locals, take a look at Saint-Cyprien. If you’re arriving by train or planning day trips, Matabiau is the practical choice, and if it’s the planes you’ve come for, spend a night or two in Blagnac.
The nearest airport is Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, north-west of the city, and the Navette Aéroport shuttle runs into the centre for about 9 euros (around £8). Airport connections are being expanded with new tram and metro lines, so check the current route in the Tisséo app before you travel. Toulouse also makes a great stop on a longer trip around the south of France, and if you’re carrying on east, you can read where to stay in Marseille, or my guide to where to stay in Provence.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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