24 hours may seem a short time to discover all the wonders of Toulouse, but it’s nonetheless enough to get a good overview of its splendor. Strolls, museum visits, gastronomy, Toulouse Secret guides you to the best things to do in the pink city to discover in one day. Get ready to rediscover Toulouse through the eyes of a tourist and fall in love with the pink city all over again.
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Breakfast in front of the Capitole and a tour of the site
To get your day off to a good start, before all the sightseeing that awaits you, we recommend a leisurely breakfast at the Grand Café Albert. Some might say it’s a tourist trap. Above all, it’s the ideal place to sip a good coffee while admiring the Capitol.
You take your time. Then stroll around the Place du Capitole. A must-see is the sign of the zodiac that adorns the imposing Occitan cross facing the Capitole (a quick photo is in order). Composed of 12 branches, it’s also known as the Languedoc Cross.
It would be a shame to pass by this emblematic building of Toulouse without entering. From Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 7pm, and on Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 7pm, you can visit the historic rooms of this seat of municipal power, free of charge. Discover painted walls recounting great moments in Toulouse’s history and the sublime Salle des Illustres.
📍Grand café Albert – 15 Pl. du Capitole, 31000 Toulouse
📍Capitole – Place du Capitole, 31000 Toulouse
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A stroll around the Capitole and a tour of the grounds
After this instructive tour, we take a moment to ourselves and stroll the surrounding streets. We take this opportunity to stop by the Donjon, a sublime building that today houses the tourist office and is located just behind the Capitole.
There are numerous shopping streets to choose from, brimming with shops, boutiques and other curiosities. These include Iris Galerie, which turns your eyes into a work of art (the perfect gift).
📍 IrisGalerie – 18 rue Saint-Rome, 31000 Toulouse
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For lunch, eat a delicious Cassoulet at Restaurant Émile
What would a visit to Toulouse be without a good cassoulet? Normally originating in Castelnaudary, this warm and convivial dish has now become inseparable from Toulouse. So let’s discover the best place to enjoy a delicious cassoulet.
Head for Restaurant Émile, where everyone agrees. Indeed, the comments are unanimous: “definitely the best cassoulet I’ve ever eaten”, “top welcome, service and gastronomy”, “a cassoulet worthy of the name”. If you haven’t already, stop everything and go taste it!
The little plus of this address? It has a terrace on the pretty Place Saint-Georges, which we think is one of the prettiest in Toulouse!
📍Restaurant Émile – 13 Place Saint Georges – 31000 Toulouse
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Visit the Saint-Sernin basilica and stroll through the Japanese garden
We’re taking advantage of the fact that we’re just around the corner, and that we’ve built up our strength for the day, to take a stroll to the Saint-Sernin basilica. You’ll see, a digestive stroll won’t go amiss. But first we’ll stop off in front of the beautiful Musée des Augustins – which is closed until the end of 2025 due to renovation work, but which, even from the outside, is still very beautiful.
If you’re a museum junkie, here’s our list of must-visit cultural institutions when you’re in the pink city. From Modern Art at the Musée des Abattoirs, to discovering the secrets of nature at the Muséum de Toulouse, to getting your head in the stars at the Cité de l’Espace…. There’s something for everyone!
Like a lighthouse in the pink city, the bell tower of the Saint-Sernin basilica is an integral part of the city’s landscape. To get there, we suggest you choose an itinerary that takes in Saint-Etienne Cathedral (another architectural masterpiece).
We hope you have good shoes. The walk continues 15 minutes from the basilica. Head for the beautiful and secretive Japanese garden. Nestled inside the Compans-Caffarelli gardens, north of the city center, we’re in awe of its magnificent lake and sublime tea pavilion, which have earned it a place among France’s remarkable gardens (and one of Toulouse’s most beautiful).
📍Basilique Saint-Sernin – Pl. Saint-Sernin, 31000 Toulouse
📍Musée des Augustins – 21 Rue de Metz, 31000 Toulouse
📍Cathédrale Saint-Étienne – Pl. Saint-Étienne, 31000 Toulouse
📍Japanese Garden – Jardin Compans Caffarelli, Boulevard Lascrosses, 31000 Toulouse
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Until the end of the night. Aperitifs on the banks of the Garonne and evenings in some of Toulouse’s nightlife institutions.
To round off the day in style, we suggest you do a little shopping for food and drink. Armed with your victuals, head for the quays of the Garonne. Find the place that inspires you most and take your picnic with you.
From there, you’ll be able to admire the best of Toulouse. Pont-neuf, Pont-de-pierre and the majestic Dôme de la Grave. A unique moment to enjoy a beautiful sunset in a timeless setting. And above all, to relax before the evening that awaits you.
And yes, if you’ve still got some strength left, we suggest you round off the day in style with a visit to two of Toulouse’s nightlife institutions. Located close to the Garonne River, you’ll have the choice of enjoying a pastis at Chez Tonton or partying at the legendary Couleur de la Culotte (or both, since they’re right next to each other).
📍Chez Tonton – 16 Pl. Saint-Pierre, 31000 Toulouse
📍Couleur de la Culotte – 14, Place St-Pierre 31000 Toulouse