One day in Toulouse – my itinerary

Visit Toulouse in one day is a real challenge ! But as I love my city, I want to make it loved ! So I know how to use imagination and tips !

In this post, I will give you my way to visit Toulouse as I visit it with my family and friends. With the two photo maps here below and my “one day in Toulouse itinerary”, I am sure you will enjoy my city with maximum pleasure !

How to visit Toulouse in one day ?

Usually, I propose to my guests a day trip in Toulouse to visit only the essentials of the city. What is perfect is to go everywhere on foot, to pass in the small streets and not miss some beautiful places.

It’s not possible to make guided tours of the various sites because, even if they are interesting, they would take too much time and would not allow to finish all the visits of my circuit…

Thus, for the great monuments : You go there, you visit quickly, you take some pictures and you continue to follow my circuit !

Toulouse in one day – the program of the day

Here are my two detailed itineraries one day to visit Toulouse on foot.

These two circuits each make a loop that starts from Capitole Square and returns to Capitol Square. Thus, we can provide a visit circuit in the morning and another circuit in the afternoon by taking a lunch break around Capitole Square.

Visit Toulouse in 1 day – My morning tour

Start with The Capitol and its beautiful square

From your hotel, take Metro Line A (Capitole stop).

This square is the emblem of Toulouse. This is where the people of Toulouse meet to celebrate their big events. On the floor of the square, you can admire the symbol of our region : the Occitan cross. Raymond Moretti, a contemporary artist, has designed it just like the 29 frescoes of the Arcades all around Capitole Square. Each painting tells about great event in the history of Toulouse and its region.

The Capitole Square is full of charm as it is surrounded by buildings with pink brick facades.

Why is this square so beautiful ? Because there is The Capitole : a splendid building of neoclassical architecture. You can quickly visit, inside the Capitol, the court Henri-IV and the superb paintings of the rooms Gervais, Henri-Martin and Illustres (on the 1st floor).

Continue with Basilica Saint-Sernin

Follow the tour taking the rue du Taur to go to the Basilica Saint-Sernin. While walking in the street, you will be able to see the church Notre-Dame-du-Taur.

You must turn on the right in the street of Périgord if you want to contemplate the chapel of the Carmelites.

Then, back in the Taur street to join and visit the Basilica Saint Sernin. This basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Romanesque building in France. It is dedicated to Sernin (or Saturnin) who was the first bishop of Toulouse.

Walking in the old streets of Toulouse

To continue the itinerary on foot, you must take rue du Taur, rue de l’Esquile, then rue des Pénitents-Gris. On the right, in the College-de-Foix street then turn left on Deville Street. Continue along Lakanal Street, which leads directly to the Jacobins (the jewel of southern Gothic art).

Go visit the Jacobins

Composed of several buildings (church, cloister and convent), the Jacobins were built between the 13th and 14th century for members of the Dominican Order, the Dominicans. The relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas are preserved there.

And finish the morning tour at the hotel de Bernuy

Go back to Lakanal street, on your right, and admire the big « hôtel particulier » in Gambetta street : the Bernuy Hotel. It has been built in the early 16th century at the time of Pastel glory which made the wealth and fame of Toulouse !

It is now time to take a lunch break… So we must return to the Capitol Square !

Visit Toulouse in 1 day – My afternoon tour

Assezat Hotel and the Bemberg Foundation

From Place du Capitole, take Gambetta street, follow Peyrolieres street, then Sainte Ursule street, rue de la Bourse and Jean Suau street.

Thus, you will pass by charming little, old streets of Toulouse to join the Hotel of Assezat. This beautiful 16th century monument is at the end of de l’Echarpe street. The Bemberg Foundation is a museum housed in Assezat Hotel and offers a small but beautiful collection of Impressionist paintings.

Place de la Trinité

This is one of my favorite places in Toulouse. To get there, you will have to continue on Merchant Street and go to Trinity Square. Look at the Cariatides house and its 19th century fountain.

Continue the tour by going to Des Tourneurs street, Rouaix square and Croix Baragnon street which leads to Saint Etienne Square.

If you are hungry, take a break to enjoy a pastry at Conté (in Croix Baragnon street)…

And to finish with a walk and nice beverage on the Quai de la Daurade

A promenade has been set up on this quai de la Garonne, bordered by the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, around the "Pont-Neuf": viewpoint on the Hôtel-Dieu and the dome of the hospice de la Grave (Saint -Cyprien, beyond the river) and on the ancient bridge connecting the two banks of the Garonne.

So future traveler, are you ready to experience the best city break for 2021?

If you already discovered the pink city and you want to hit us with some tips, please be my guest and tell us in the comments which is your favourite place in Toulouse! :)

READ ON AND HAVE FUN! :)