Getting around Toulouse

Public transport

The buses and metro in Toulouse are very easy to use and are operated by Tisséo (tel: +33 5 6141 7070; www.tisseo.fr). You can buy one-, two- and three-day passes or books of 10 tickets.

Taxis

You can find taxis at the airport, the railway station and at the central place du Capitole, but it can be difficult to flag one down in the street. As with most things in Toulouse, tipping is not expected. Try Capitole Taxi (tel: +33 5 3425 0250) or Taxi Radio Toulousains (tel: +33 5 6142 3838).

Driving

Both driving and parking can be tricky in Toulouse. In fact, if you’re only visiting the city then it’s much easier to walk or use public transport. You'll find plenty of car parks in Toulouse – but at a price, unless you park out of town at the following metro stations: Jolimont, Basso-Cambo, Arènes, Argoulets and Balma Gramont.

Car hire

If you’re over 18, have a passport, a driving licence and an element of fearlessness, you can hire a car in Toulouse at either the station or the airport.

Main operators include Avis (tel: +33 820 611 677; www.avis.fr), Budget (tel: +33 6 6531 3394; www.budget.fr), Hertz (tel: +33 5 6273 3947; www.hertz.fr) and Sixt (tel: +33 8 2000 7498; www.sixt.fr).

Bicycle hire

Toulouse has plenty of cycle lanes, plus a bikeshare system across the city called VélôToulouse (tel: 0800 112 205, in France only; www.velo.toulouse.fr).

For longer bicycle rentals, visit Maison du Vélo Toulouse, 12 boulevard Bonrepos (tel: +33 5 3440 6472; www.maisonduvelotoulouse.com).

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Le Grand Balcon Hôtel

There's a sense of fun in this 1930s hotel just off Place du Capitole. Fittingly, for a city associated with aerospace, the elegant rooms have a playful aviation theme to its stylish décor. They've even named a suite after one of its best-known guests: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aviator and Little Prince author.

Hôtel de Brienne

Just a few minutes' walk from the tree-lined Canal de Brienne, this smart design hotel manages to mix sleek contemporary décor with a cosy ambience. The funky restaurant and bar lead on to an attractive garden terrace, and there's plenty of intriguing modern art dotted about the common areas.

Hôtel Héliot

Decorated in a style that perhaps your grandmother would choose, Hôtel Héliot is cosy and comfortable. It's close to the main train station and the Jean Jaurès metro, and even though it's not on the doorstep of Place du Capitole, it's perfectly straightforward to walk there from here.

Hôtel Royal Wilson

Clean and simple, Hôtel Royal Wilson is within walking distance of Toulouse's city centre. With wrought-iron balconies, a Moroccan-style interior courtyard and a whitewashed interior, the décor might come as a pleasant surprise given the price tag. There's also a private garage and a secure lockup for bicycles.

Grand Hôtel de l'Opéra

Right in front of the spectacular Théâtre du Capitole, this luxury hotel is where celebrities stay when in Toulouse. Formerly a 17th-century convent, there's nothing austere about the place now. Each room is individually decorated in hues of deep yellow or red, but all offer old-world charm combined with modern amenities.

Crowne Plaza Hotel

It's a few footsteps away from Place du Capitole, but when you step inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel you feel as though you've entered another world. With marble statues, lush greenery and an outdoor terrace with wrought-iron chairs, this feels more like Italy than France.

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