City areas
Toulouse can be a bit confusing for the tourist who visits it for the first time. You should set your sightseeing priorities right from the beginning and decide which areas of the city are of real interest to you.
Interest Areas
- Toulouse Old Town Area
General info: You won’t be able to drive around most of the Saint-Sernin and Wilson districts, but these places are best felt out on foot anyway. Take your time to admire the charming old architecture and don’t hesitate to enter one of the museums or churches which might catch your eye.
Attractions include: the Saint-Sernin basilica, the Saint-Sernin flea market, the Notre-Dame-du-Taur church, the Saint-Raymond archaeological museum.
- Shopping, Entertainment and Nightlife Area
General info: Well, at least you have all you need in one place – a pretty large place, actually, three close-knit regions of Toulouse called Arnaud-Bernard, Amidonniers and Saint-Pierre.
Attractions include: the Canal du Midi, the Compans-Caffarelli park and a colorful assortment of boutiques and night-time hangout places.
- Green area
General info: Quite the perfect place for a stroll out of the concrete-made urban background, the Saint-Etienne district also has some cultural landmarks of more than passing interest.
Attractions include: the Saint-Etienne cathedral, the Jardin des Plantes, the Jardin Royal, the Palais Niel, the Haute-Garonne War Memorial.
- Cultural area
General info: Toulouse’s culture has fortresses and outposts in many of its districts, but the highest density of culture, so to speak, you will find in the Saint-Cyprien and Bourrasol districts.
Attractions include: the Espace Saint-Cyprien, the Espace d’Art moderne et contemporain, the Centre municipal de l’Affiche, de la Carte Postale et de l’Art Graphique.
Administrative Areas
- Northern Districts:
- Arnaud-Bernard, Amidonniers, Saint-Pierre
- Saint-Sernin and Wilson
- Chalets
- Matabiau (hosts the main railway station of Toulouse)
- Pont-Jumeaux and Sept-Deniers
- Minimes, Salade, Raisin, Bonnefoy
- Eastern Districts
- Saint-Georges
- Saint-Aubin
- Saint-Etienne
- Jolimont, Roseraie, Soupetard and Argoulets (hosting the Jolimont Observatory and the Science and Environment Centre)
- Guilhemery, Montplaisir, Pont des Demoiselles, Côte Pavée, Terrasse
- Southern Districts
- Les Carmes (featuring many antique shops)
- Saint-Michel and Busca, St Agne and Rangueil
- Ramier, Recollets, Empalot, Pech-David
- Western Districts
- Saint-Cyprien and Bourrasol
- Purpan, Casselardit, Croix-de-Pierre, Arènes, Mirail