Planning a Trip

Getting There

The Toulouse-Blagnac international airport lies in the city's northwestern suburbs, 11km (6 3/4 miles) from the center. For flight information, call tel. 08-25-38-00-00. Air France (tel. 08-20-80-28-02; www.airfrance.com) has about 25 flights a day from Paris and flies to Toulouse from London twice a day.

Some four high-speed TGV trains per day arrive from Paris (trip time: 6 hr.; one-way fare: 85€/$111), 14 from Bordeaux (trip time: 2-3 hr.; one-way fare: 32€/$42), and 8 from Marseille (trip time: 4 1/2 hr.; one-way fare: 55€/$72). For information, call tel. 36-35, or visit www.voyages-sncf.com.

The bus station is located at 68-70 bd. Pierre Sèmard. For information on bus routes, call tel. 05-61-61-67-67.

The drive from Paris takes 6 to 7 hours. Take A10 south to Bordeaux, connecting to A62 to Toulouse. The Canal du Midi links many of the region's cities with Toulouse by waterway.

Visitor Information

The Office de Tourisme is in the Donjon du Capitole in the Square de Gaulle (tel. 05-61-11-02-22; fax 05-61-23-74-97; www.ot-toulouse.fr).

Getting Around

Toulouse has the most efficient public transportation system of any city in southwestern France. The heart of the city, the historic core of most interest to visitors, is served by a modern and efficient Métro (subway) system administered by TISSEO Réseau urbain, 49 rue de Gironis (tel. 05-61-41-70-70; www.tisseo-urbain.fr). The service operates daily from 5am to midnight (until 1am Fri-Sat), and tickets and maps are available at ticket booths. The average Métro fare is 1.40€ ($1.80) per ticket. The most useful stops, which are within walking distance of all the main attractions, are Capitole, Jean Jaurès, and Esquirole.