Last Updated on November 6, 2025 by myriamoblogger
France is not just Paris, and Paris isn’t the whole of France. Sometimes, it feels like other beautiful French cities are overlooked because of the love that people have for the capital. So, today, let me introduce you to Toulouse.
Toulouse, also known as the “pink city,” is a city in the South of France. The city’s nickname, “pink city,” stems from its abundance of pinkish buildings. It is a very cute and modern place, and in 2023 was appointed “City of Music” by UNESCO.
It is also where I was born. With that in mind, it was only natural for me to share with you the best streets to visit in Toulouse, in case you’re looking to hop on a trip to Southern France one day.
At the end, I share some tips so you can adjust perfectly as a tourist in France.
1. Place Wilson
Let’s begin with Place Wilson. Located near Jean Jaures, Place Wilson is a relaxing area with a cinema, a few restaurants and shops, and a fountain at the centre. Near the fountain, people can choose to sit on the benches and enjoy the company of small birds. It’s a place you would want to go if you just want to chill.
2. Place Du Capitole
Place Du Capitole is the “heart” of Toulouse. As its main square, Capitole serves as a hangout place for sports fans to celebrate wins, it’s a party stall for music lovers and a lucrative venue for market vendors on market days.
But as seen in the picture above, Capitole also has its quieter days, and on those quiet days, you would find tourists taking photos or locals admiring the views they can never get tired of.
If you visit Toulouse, do yourself a favour and visit this main square.
3. Rue De La République
Rue de La République is one of my favourite places in Toulouse. As someone with African descent, sometimes I need specific ingredients to make food that reminds me of my motherland. And right in this street I can find a multitude of African and West indies products. Two words: Plaisir garanti!
Additionally, at Rue de la republique, there are numerous hair shops that caters to afro textured hair. I hope in the future there would be more avenues like this in response to the city’s diversity.
4. Pont-Neuf
Earlier, I mentioned Capitole as Toulouse’s heart, well, Pont-Neuf is the blood that flows through it.
Built from the 15th to 16th century, Pont-Neuf is the city’s emblem that is still standing tall. Today, it is the oldest bridge in Toulouse and one of its most distinctive monuments. Full of history, it is a symbol of the Renaissance.
How to get to those places?
There are many other places in Toulouse worth visiting. What’s amazing though is that all the streets I’ve mentioned are in or near the centre, so it won’t be an issue getting from one street to another even by foot. To get to the city centre alone, the Metro, France’s underground railway system is very reliable.
What if I don’t speak French?
French people are renowned for being poor English communicators, and a lot of foreigners tend to feel nervous about that. In today’s technology era though, this shouldn’t worry you. If you have a phone, and Google translation or other translation apps, you will be fine. I used “Papago” when I was in Vietnam and it worked wonders.
Besides that, many locals know some basic English. But come closer, I will let you in on a little secret…
The secret is that as a tourist, knowing a few basic sentences such as “Bonjour”(Hello), “Oui/Non”(Yes, No), “Merci” (Thank you) can go a long way!
Greetings and polite exchanges are super important in France and my people also love to see foreigners make an effort with the language. No matter how basic. Enthusiasm is what matters, really.
Say “Bonjour”(Hello) when you enter a shop and “Au revoir”(Bye) when you leave the shop. Do this and you will fit right in.
If you have any questions about travelling to Toulouse or France in general, ask in the comments below.
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Au revoir… or Ciao (that’s an informal way to say Bye in France) !
