Spotlight on the Ville Rose! The prestigious Lonely Planet travel guide has just crowned Toulouse as the best destination to visit in 2025. An accolade that propels the Occitan capital to the forefront of the international tourism scene and confirms its status as the jewel in the crown of south-western France. We tell you all about it.
A “Paris in miniature” with all the makings of a great city
With its picturesque alleyways, lively cafés and comforting cuisine, Toulouse has a warm, trendy atmosphere. In its rankings, the Australian travel guide praises the unique atmosphere along the sunny banks of the Garonne and the Canal du Midi. We won’t deny that Toulouse is a great place to live, eat and feel. Lonely Planet’s experts also highlight Toulouse’s rich architectural heritage, from the majestic Saint-Sernin basilica to the emblematic Place du Capitole.
A vibrant cultural scene
The jury was also won over by Toulouse’s cultural dynamism. The city is teeming with innovative art galleries housed in converted industrial sites. Music lovers are not to be outdone, with a wide range of musical offerings, from jazz at Le Taquin to opera at the Théâtre du Capitole. The highlight of this artistic effervescence is the long-awaited reopening of the Musée des Augustins in 2025, a veritable cultural institution in Toulouse since 1795. All of which makes Toulouse a must-see destination for art and culture lovers from all over the world!
Lonely Planet’s complete ranking of the world’s best cities to visit in 2025
- Toulouse – France
- Puducherry (Pondicherry) – India
- Bansko – Bulgaria
- Chiang Mai – Thailand
- Genoa – Italy
- Pittsburgh – United States
- Osaka – Japan
- Curitiba – Brazil
- Palma de Mallorca – Spain
- Edmonton – Canada