Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you planning to visit South West France and wondering where to stay in Toulouse?
I lived in Toulouse for years and know this city like the back of my hand! For this reason, I can tell you everything you need to know about the best areas to stay in Toulouse as well as the neighbourhoods to avoid.
In this article, you will find out what are the best neighbourhoods, which hotels or holiday rentals you should consider and how to plan your stay in Toulouse around it.
Best places to stay in Toulouse: Neighbourhood guide
Toulouse has a fairly small city centre. It’s very easy to navigate.
Everything is pretty much within walking distance and you will find the metro everywhere.
If you want to make your trip to Toulouse as easy as possible, I highly recommend staying in the city centre. That way you will have access to everything without having to take public transport. It might be a tiny bit more expensive but it will save you time and money on transportation.
Here are the best areas to stay in Toulouse city centre.
1. Capitole
Capitole is the main square in Toulouse. It’s the most central point and where everything happens. As a visitor, it’s the best place to start exploring Toulouse.
No matter what you do you will always come back there at some point. Therefore, it’s also the best place to stay in Toulouse in terms of location.
However, because of its ideal location and popularity, it can get very expensive.
If it fits in your budget and you don’t want to waste a single second in transport, this is the place to be.
🏨 Recommended Hotels in Capitole
- Luxury: The Grand Hotel de l’Opera is one of the most luxurious hotels in Toulouse. If you want to treat yourself and stay in an amazing hotel, that’s the place for you.
- Mid-range: Ibis Styles Toulouse Capitole is also ideally located on the place du Capitole. It has a beautiful and lush inside court and is excellent value for money.
📸 Things to do at the Capitole
- Explore the city centre
- Visit the Capitole and its historic rooms
- Join the free walking tour of Toulouse
2. Carmes
If you like luxurious places, Carmes is the place for you!
Carmes is Toulouse’s fanciest and most beautiful neighbourhood.
Located in the centre, all the main attractions are within walking distance.
You will also have access to loads of buses and the metro line B.
Carmes is a quiet neighbourhood in the heart of a bustling city and that’s what makes it so appealing. It’s also where you will find luxury shops.
In the evening, make sure to grab dinner in one of the restaurants and go out for a drink. There are many cool places around!
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in Carmes
- Luxury: Spa des Carmes is a stunning flat near the metro station. It is beautifully decorated and features typical Toulousain bricks. It also has a hot tub, making it the perfect spot for a cosy stay in Toulouse.
- Mid-range: Au CĹ“ur de Toulouse – Carmes is a cute studio apartment perfect for a couple.
📸 Things to do in Carmes
- Discovering local products at the market in Carmes
- Eating at the terrace of one of the restaurants of Place des Carmes
- Visiting the museum Paul-Dupuy
3. Esquirol
Esquirol is a very lively neighbourhood and makes for a great base in Toulouse.
It’s ideally located between the Capitole and Carmes which means you can reach all the main attractions on foot.
There are many restaurants, bars and places where you can go dancing at night (La Tantina de Burgos and the Borriquito Loco are particularly popular).
Basically if you like going on a night out but don’t necessarily want to go clubbing, Esquirol is the perfect place.
It’s also home to La Daurade which is the river front of Toulouse and one of the best and most beautiful places in the city.
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in Esquirol
- Hotel: The HĂ´tel Le Père LĂ©on is ideally located in front of the metro station. You can access all the main attractions and the Capitole on foot. It’s a 3-star hotel with rooms with AC.
- Flat: The Baby Loft Centre Historique is also very well located and is a 1-bedroom flat, ideal for a couple.
📸 Things to do in Esquirol
- Visiting the Musée des Augustins
- Discovering the stunning Couvent des Jacobins
- Going for a walk (or picnic) at La Daurade
- Visiting the Georges Bemberg’s Foundation
4 – St Georges
Located near the Capitole, St Georges is known as quite a wealthy neighbourhood but it’s a lot quieter than Carmes.
It’s also a great place to go shopping. There is a commercial centre and plenty of small independent boutiques.
You will also find loads of cafes with big outdoor terraces on Place St Georges, perfect to grab a coffee in the afternoon.
Finally, if you are into history, you will find this neighbourhood to be particularly interesting since that’s where Jean Calas was executed.
The Calas case is one of the most famous justice case in France. He was wrongly executed for the murder of his son that he did not commit.
This case is particularly well known, not just because of the injustice of it, but because of the involvement of Voltaire who defended Jean Calas.
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in St Georges
- Luxury: Mercure Toulouse Centre Saint-Georges is a stunning 4-star hotel in St Georges. It has rooms with AC, a bar, laundry service and everything you may need. It’s also quite affordable for a hotel of that standing.
- Mid-range: HĂ´tel des Arts is ideally located next to St Georges square and is a beautiful 3-star hotel. It’s great value for money.
- Flat: Appartement T3, centre ville. St. Georges is a great 1-bedroom flat which can host up to 4 people.
📸 Things to do in St Georges
- Shopping at the St Georges Mall
- Buying souvenirs in one of the local shops
- Having a coffee in St Georges Square
5 – Francois Verdier
Francois Verdier is located about 10 min walk to Capitole. It’s mainly residential but there is an awesome atmosphere. It’s calm but you still have plenty to do.
You will find quite a few pubs and bars where you can go for drinks in the evening.
One of the best places to check out though is the Dupuy Square. It’s one of the most beautiful in the city. It’s very peaceful and home to a beautiful fountain as well as one of the best theatres in the city, La Halle aux grains.
It’s also very close to some of the best parks in the city, the Grand Rond and the Jardins des Plantes.
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in Francois Verdier
- Flat: L’Idrac is a beautifully decorated flat with 2 bedrooms. It can host up to 4 people and is very well located near the Metro of Francois Verdier, St Georges and Wilson.
📸 Things to do in Francois Verdier
- Going to see a show at the Halle aux grains
- Walking down the Francois Verdier esplanade to the Grand Rond garden
- Trying local produce at the St Aubin market on Sundays
- Exploring the neighbourhood of St Etienne
6 – St Cyprien
Saint Cyprien is located on the other side of the river Garonne which is a bit further compared to the ones mentioned before.
However, you only need to cross one of the bridges to get to Esquirol or St Pierre and then Capitol.
If you are walking, this would only take you 20 minutes but you also have many buses and the metro (line A) which will get you to the centre in less than 10 minutes.
The reason why St Cyprien is one of the best areas to stay in Toulouse is that it’s an amazing neighbourhood!
It’s very lively and the best representation of what a typical Toulousain life is like.
It’s quite cosmopolitan which is why you will find all sorts of bars and restaurants (english pubs, spanish tapas…).
You will also find the original city gates there as it used to be the main entrance to the city. If you like museums, the contemporary art museum (les abattoirs) is also in St Cyprien.
It’s a great place to discover the cultural aspect of the city and if you want more or going out, you just need to cross the bridge. Easy peasy!
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in St Cyprien
- Hotel: The Hotel Gascogne is a modern 2-star hotel very close to the metro station. They have nice rooms and offer a continental breakfast.
- Aparthotel: Aparthotel Adagio Original Toulouse Centre La Grave is perfect if you’d rather have an entire flat for yourself (and therefore a kitchen where you can cook) while getting the comfort level of a hotel.
📸 Things to do in St Cyprien
- Walking around the park Raymond IV
- Discovering the beautiful dome of the hospital La Grave
- Visiting Les Abattoirs Museum
- Going for a picnic at La Prairie des Filtres
7 – Chalets & Jeanne d’Arc
Jeanne d’arc is ideally located between the Capitole (3 mins walk) and Matabiau train station (10 mins walk).
To be quite honest with you, Jeanne d’Arc is not a particularly exciting place in the way that you won’t find much things to do but it has perks that can’t be beaten.
Firstly, it’s really well located in terms of transport. You’ve got the main bus terminal, metro line B, airport shuttle, train station, coach station and metro line A 2 mins walk away.
Secondly, it’s important to mention that the Jeanne d’Arc neighbourhood is split into two parts. While the first one (by the metro station) is not necessarily that exciting, the second part, called Chalets, is one of the best residential areas in Toulouse.
It’s not only the best place to stay in Toulouse if you like quiet neighbourhoods, it’s also one of the locals’ favourite places to live.
It’s very pretty. You can find stunning houses including some with swimming pools. It’s also a very safe area in Toulouse.
🏨 Recommended Places to Stay in Jeanne d’Arc – Chalets
- Hotel: HĂ´tel Une Chambre en Ville is a stunning 3-star hotel in the Chalets. Their rooms are absolutely gorgeous.
- Flat: Sur un nuage is a cute 1-bedroom flat near the Concorde Street which is one of the cutest streets in the Chalets. It’s perfect for a couple.
📸 Things to do in Jeanne d’Arc – Chalets
- Going for lunch at the cafe Concorde (one of the best brasseries in Toulouse)
- Visiting the Saint-Sernin basilica (make sure to go inside as well. It’s free and stunning)
- Watching a show at the La Comédie de Toulouse theatre
8 – St Pierre
Calling all party people here! If you like fun nights out, St Pierre is the place for you!
Located on the edge of the river Garonne, St Pierre is a very pretty neighbourhood. It’s also a student area, hence the nightlife being so active.
You will find plenty of bars in St Pierre. Some of the most famous are Chez Tonton and La Couleur de la Culotte (fun fact: that means the colour of your panties).
Recommended Places to Stay in St Pierre
- Hotel: Boutique Hotel SOCLO is one of the cutest boutique hotels in Toulouse. It has an outdoor swimming pool and the rooms are simply stunning.
- Flat: Mille et une nuits is a small studio with a sofa bed, perfect for travellers on a budget.
📸 Things to do in St Pierre
- Going for drinks at the Couleur de la culotte or Chez Tonton
- Walking along the river to La Daurade
- Admiring the views of Notre Dame de La Garde
9 – Jean Jaures
Jean Jaures is located just next to the Capitole. It’s very central in terms of public transport as it’s the only station where you can find the two metro lines.
This means that you can go anywhere in Toulouse from here, whether it’s via public transport or on foot.
You can also find Wilson square, which is a cute little park, and the famous Victor Hugo market.
The other brilliant thing about Jean Jaures is the nightlife. That’s where most of the nightclubs are, making it a great place for a night out.
You will also find a lot of bars and restaurants. So if you like to party and dance all night, that’s the place for you.
Recommended Places to Stay in Jean Jaures
- Luxury: Novotel Toulouse Centre Wilson is ideally located in Wilson square. It’s a 4-star hotel and the rooms have very comfortable beds.
- Mid-range: Hotel Ours Blanc is also a stunning 4-star hotel. It’s situated right in front of the Victor Hugo market and is great value for money.
- Budget: Hotel Wilson Square is an excellent option if you are on a budget and want a very well located hotel with good services.
📸 Things to do in Jean Jaures
- Taste some amazing food at the Victor Hugo market (or join a food tour)
- Discover the Pierre Goudouli garden and its fountain
- Enjoy the nightlife
Cheaper areas to stay in Toulouse within walking distance from the city centre
If you want to get something a bit cheaper but still within walking distance to the city centre, these places are for you!
They are less charming and picturesque than the one previously mentioned however they are still very well located.
1 – Compans Caffarelli
Compans Caffarelli is Toulouse’s business district. It’s quite busy during the day but gets very quiet and residential in the evening.
It might not be where you will find the most things to do at night but it’s a very pleasant neighbourhood. I used to work and live there, so you can take my word for it.
It’s only a 10 minutes walk to Capitole. It’s also on the metro line B (2 stops to Jean Jaures)
As the area is not as touristy, you will be able to find cheaper accommodation in Compans while still being able to enjoy the commodity of the city centre.
Everywhere in Compans is safe and lovely, except for Place Arnaud Bernard that can get more agitated.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice place to go for a drink but if you want more peace and quiet, it’s preferable to look near the park or on the main boulevard (boulevard Lascrosses)
2 – Matabiau
Matabiau is mainly known to be home to Toulouse’s main train station. It’s a bit of a special place. It has massive advantages but you have to choose wisely.
The good things about Matabiau are:
- Easy access to the train station and coach station
- Metro line A, one stop away from Jean Jaures
- Big library
- Cheaper than the city centre
The bad things are:
- There aren’t many things to do or see
- The side with Rue Bayard and Bonnefoy is not always the safest
- Besides the station itself, it’s not particularly pretty
If you choose to book a hotel in Matabiau, make sure to look at the Jolimont side (avenue Charles de Gaulle). This is the good side with the library, easy access to the city centre and is very residential.
Mid-budget areas to stay in Toulouse
If none of the locations above fit in your budget, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered! You only need to go a little further. You can find below some nice places to stay in Toulouse on a budget. These neighbourhoods are both safe areas and well connected with public transport. You will get access to the metro or bus that will bring you to Toulouse city centre in less than 20 mins.
1 – Roseraie
Located a bit more north of Toulouse, Roseraie is a cute neighbourhood. You have the metro line A (15 mins to Jean Jaures). Here is the list of hotels in Roseraie.
2 – Minimes
Minimes is one of the Toulousains’ favourite locations. It’s a nice and lively neighbourhood. It has everything you need and is on the metro line B. (20 mins to Jean Jaures).
Here is the list of hotels in Minimes.
3 – Patte d’oie
Patte d’oie is also a nice and safe neighbourhood located just after St Cyprien. There is the metro line A (15mins to Capitole).
Click here to see the list of hotels in Patte d’Oie.
4 – Pont des demoiselles
Pont des demoiselles is a tiny bit further. This South east neighbourhood is very cute as it lays on the side of the canal du midi. There isn’t any metro station but plenty of buses are running and will bring you to the city centre in 20 or 25 mins.
To check out hotels in Pont des demoiselles, click here.
Nice places to stay near Toulouse
1 – Blagnac
Located North West of Toulouse, Blagnac is home to Toulouse airport and Airbus headquarters. It’s perfect if you are going to Toulouse on a business trip!
Check out the list of hotels in Blagnac.
2 – Balma
Balma is located at the end of the metro line A, North East of Toulouse. Balma town centre is quite a cute place. More importantly, you will get easy access to the metro and there is a massive commercial centre.
Check out the list of hotels in Balma.
3 – Cugnaux
Cugnaux is located South West of Toulouse. It is a nice town and very residential. You can access it by bus from the city centre or from Basso Cambo.
Check out the list of hotels in Cugnaux.
4 – Labege
Labege is the tech and startup hub of Toulouse. This south east town is easily accessible by train or bus.
Check out the list of hotels in Labege.
Places to avoid in Toulouse
Toulouse is a very nice city and pretty safe as a general thing. However, as everywhere in the world, there are some places that you might want to avoid.
Whether that’s in terms of accommodation or places to visit, you will want to stay away from:
1 – Basso Cambo
2 – Mirail
3 – Bagatelle
4 – Bellefontaine
5 – 3 cocus
I hope that this article will help you identify where to stay in Toulouse so you can book your accommodation with ease.
