If you don’t own a car, or simply refuse to pay the indecent price of petrol, this article is for you. We’re taking you on an adventure to discover the most beautiful towns in Occitanie that are accessible by public transport… By bus or train, enjoy a day trip or a longer getaway to visit the region’s charming towns from Toulouse. We’re off!
Beautiful Narbonne, less than 2 hours from Toulouse by public transport
The pleasures of train travel are unequalled. And what can we say about the beauty of the journey from Toulouse to Narbonne! In just 1 hour 51 minutes, liO train also takes you past the beautiful towns of Castelnaudary (cuckoo for cassoulet) and medieval Carcassonne. By the way, if you don’t want to go all the way to Narbonne, you’re welcome to stop off in either of these towns.
Once you’ve arrived in Narbonne, you can stroll through the beautiful Abbayede Fontfroide, marvel at the beauty of the Cathédrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur or feast your eyes on the gourmet Halles de Narbonne. Season permitting, slip your swimsuits into your suitcase and go for a dip at Narbonne plage. An activity-rich destination close to Toulouse.
From the pink city to the red city, a getaway in Albi
As you probably know, Albi is very close to its cousin Toulouse. The SNCF provides a TER train that links the pink city to the red city in around 1 hour. With a dozen or so daily round trips, it’s easy to make a day trip to this Unesco-listed episcopal city. In terms of price, you can get from Toulouse station to Albi Ville station for less than €15. A real bargain when it comes to public transport in Occitanie.
And what to see once you’re there? Of course, we start with a visit to Albi’s Sainte-Cécile cathedral , voted France’s most beautiful cathedral in 2022. Other must-sees in Albi include the Toulouse Lautrec Museum and the Pont Vieux. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get your tickets for Albi, here it is.
Tarbes, cheap bus tickets from the pink city
We suggest you take the bus to Tarbes! With Flixbus, you can buy low-cost tickets for this 1h55 journey. The German long-distance coach company allows you to travel from Toulouse to Tarbes for just €11.99 (prices may vary according to period).
As one of the most popular forms of public transport for short distances, the bus will take you to a city not to be missed in the Occitanie region. During your visit to this commune in Gascony, you can discover the Massey garden and museum, the Notre-Dame de la Sède cathedral or take a stroll in the beautiful Paul Chastellain park. So, tempted by a trip to Tarbes?