Back in early December, my boyfriend and I were desperate for a little festive break away before our trip to Dubai at Christmas. He scoured the internet and eventually came across Toulouse, also known as La Ville En Rose, or, The Pink City and we booked! I mean, a pink city is pretty much made for me!
We only ended up spending about a full day in Toulouse but two nights in the hotel, but I definitely think 24 hours was more than enough time to see what the city had to offer. Everything is within walking distance in the centre, meaning we could hop from spot to spot relatively quickly.
However, we did visit on a Sunday, which I would not recommend if you book! Nearly everything is shut on Sundays, including the high street stores, so we often found ourselves stuck for things to do as we wandered around. Luckily, there was a huge Christmas market in the main square (Place du Capitole), which we got to experience.
To Stay
We stayed in the Mercure Toulouse Centre Wilson Captiole, which was a lovely and modern hotel situated about five minutes from the Place du Capitole. It was absolutely perfect for our short city break; clean, very comfortable beds and central. It also was very affordable, with our flights and hotel for the two nights coming to a mere £180 per person.
To Visit
There were definitely a couple of favourite spots when it came to Toulouse, but there are so many museums that we didn't pop into, so if you're a culture junkie then those are for you!
(Place d'Assezat)
Even if you don't head inside, the Hotel D'Assézat is a must visit! With it's gorgeous, pale pink exterior, it looks like something out of a Wes Anderson movie! We didn't go inside the actual museum as on the internet it says it's free but you actually have to pay a fair bit. Either way, head there for a snap because it's very pretty.
Canal Du Midi (in Summer-Autumn)
We drove past the Canal Du Midi as we came from the airport, but it wasn't much to look at while the trees were totally bare. I've seen the photos, though, and during the Summer and Autumn months it's really something special. It's only about a 25 minute walk from the centre and is a popular jogging destination for the locals.
One of our unexpected favourites was the Capitole Building (you can't really miss it!). While the Christmas market bustled outside, we noticed people heading inside through the huge double doors and we decided to follow suit. I'm so glad we did because the inside is absolutely stunning! With walls and ceilings painted with beautiful facades and the most magnificent staircase, it felt like something from Rome rather than the South of France! It's totally free to access, too!
To Eat
Of course, I can't do a travel post without mentioning the food! As we were only there for a day, we didn't experience too many places, but here's my two favourites (minus McDonald's, because my boyfriend and I visit a Maccie's in every country!).
(2 Rue Ozenne)
Our breakfast spot for the day was a little spot called Maison Pillon which was located right near to our hotel. We headed there just as it opened and luckily we were spoilt for choice when it came to pastries. We both ended up having a pain au chocolat each and sat on the benches outside. It was very good and I would have loved to have tried some more of their delicious looking goodies!
(5 Place du Capitole)
As we were visiting during our Meetaversary (it's been a whole year already!) we really wanted to go somewhere special for a late lunch. We chose Le Bibent, mainly because the interior is absolutely stunning, but also because the food sounded extremely delicious. Luckily, it wasn't a matter of style over substance, as it was amazing.
We went for the set menu, and ended up with squid risotto, scallops with herby butter, the most creamy mash I've ever tasted and a rather large helping of rum baba and tarte tatin to finish up with. We were in a positive food coma by the end!
As a warning, this place isn't cheap! Our meal came to roughly £70 for the pair of us for two course and no drinks. But if you're looking for a special occasion, this one is amazing.
Getting Around
As I mentioned before, everything is within walking distance in Toulouse centre, and getting to and from the airport is also a doodle! As we landed late in the evening, we got a taxi as the shuttle had stopped running and it cost €30 to the town centre. But we got the shuttle back which was much more reasonable at €8 each and is only a short, 20 minute journey.
What I Wore
Coat - Ted Baker | Dress - C/O Chi Chi London | Boots - Primark (Similar here) | Bow - New Look (Similar here) | Bag - Ted Baker (Outlet)
I really hope you enjoyed this little guide to 24 hours in Toulouse! It truly is a wonderful city for a short weekend break and it was lovely to experience a city that I haven't seen many travel bloggers and Instagrammers write about that much! If you have ever visited Toulouse, or are planning on going in the future, let me know in the comments! I'd love to know your thoughts x
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