How to Spend 2 Days in TOULOUSE France | Travel Itinerary

How to Spend 2 Days in TOULOUSE France | Travel Itinerary

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Picture this: a stunning terracotta basilica glowing pink in the golden sunset light, reflecting off the Garonne River while locals sip pastis at sidewalk cafés. Planning 2 days in Toulouse but feeling overwhelmed by all the options? This video shows exactly how to experience the best of France's Pink City without missing the hidden gems locals don't want tourists to know about. We're covering the most iconic monuments, secret viewpoints along the canal, where to find the world's best cassoulet, and the one mistake that'll cost you hours of precious vacation time. This is how to spend 2 days in Toulouse. Let's dive in!

Day 1: "Get Your Bearings"
Start your Toulouse adventure at Place du Capitole, the beating heart of the city. This neoclassical masterpiece serves as Toulouse's city hall and features a stunning 128-meter-long façade that stretches impressively across the eastern side of the square. The square comes alive during market days, but arrive early around 9 AM to capture photos without crowds and witness locals grabbing their daily chocolatine and coffee at terrace cafés.
The interior murals depicting Toulouse's history are free to view when the building is open. These Henri Martin murals in the Salle des Illustres tell the story of Toulouse through breathtaking paintings that cover the walls and ceiling. The historic rooms are open until 7:00 PM (6:00 PM on Sunday). The craftsmanship rivals anything you'll find in Parisian palaces, yet tourists often walk right past without knowing they can enter.
From Capitole, take a five-minute walk through rue du Taur to reach the magnificent Basilica of Saint-Sernin, the largest remaining Romanesque building in Europe. This UNESCO World Heritage site features serene morning ambiance, historic architecture, and majestic organ sound where visitors can explore ancient relics, crypts, and tranquil gardens. Entry to the main basilica is free, but visiting the ambulatory and crypt costs around €3. Opening hours for the crypt and ambulatory are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 11:30am to 6pm on Sundays from June to September (reduced hours October to May: 10am to noon and 2pm to 5:30pm). The morning light filtering through ancient windows creates photography magic that disappears by afternoon. Don't miss the crypt containing relics of Saint Saturnin or the opportunity to climb the bell tower for panoramic views over pink terracotta rooftops.
For lunch, head to Restaurant Émile on Place Saint-Georges, consistently rated as serving the city's finest cassoulet. Located on charming Place Saint-Georges with its plane trees providing natural shade, Restaurant Émile is often cited as a reference regarding cassoulet. Expect to pay around €28-35 for a complete menu including the cassoulet, or about €20 for the dish alone. The cassoulet here follows traditional Toulouse preparation with Lauragais white beans, duck confit, Toulouse sausage, and pork, all slowly cooked in an earthenware cassole.
After lunch, explore the Couvent des Jacobins, one of Toulouse's oldest and most recognizable buildings with its extraordinary palm tree vaulted ceiling. Entry costs approximately €4, but the architectural marvel of the soaring gothic vaults is worth every euro. The star attraction is the "Palmier" - a spectacular stone palm tree vault that supports the choir ceiling with seven ribs spreading like palm fronds. This 14th-century Dominican monastery represents southern French Gothic architecture at its finest. The cloister garden provides peaceful respite with geometric garden design and surrounding galleries displaying religious art.
Note that the nearby Musée des Augustins is currently closed for extensive renovation and will not reopen until late 2025. The museum is undergoing major restoration work including a new entrance pavilion designed by Aires Mateus architects. Instead, spend additional time exploring the beautiful streets around the historic center, such as rue Peyrolières and rue Saint Rome, admiring the distinctive pink brick architecture that gives Toulouse its nickname.
End your first day with a sunset stroll along the Garonne River, starting from Pont Neuf toward Pont Saint-Pierre. The Pont Neuf offers spectacular views as ochre rooftops and blushing brick churches earned Toulouse the nickname 'La Ville Rose' (The Pink City). The golden hour light transforms pink buildings into a warm coral glow that photographers dream about. For dinner, try the terrace at La Daurade overlooking the river, where a typical meal runs €25-40 per person with unobstructed river views while dining on regional specialties like magret de canard.