Planning a trip to Toulouse

Getting There — The Toulouse-Blagnac international airport lies in the city’s northwestern suburbs, 10km (6 miles) from the center; for flight information, go to www.toulouse.aeroport.fr or call tel. 00-8-25-38-00-00 from abroad or 08-25-38-00-00 in France. Air France (www.airfrance.fr; tel. 09-69-39-02-15), has about 25 flights a day from Paris and flies to Toulouse from London twice a day in high season. easyJet flies from the UK to Toulouse. The regular shuttle bus from the airport to the bus station takes 20 min. and costs 9€ one way.

Seven TGV trains per day arrive from Paris Montparnasse (trip time: 5.5 hr.; from 25€ one-way), 14 trains (TGV and local) from Bordeaux (trip time from 2 hr., 4 min.; from 16€ one-way), and eight from Marseille (trip time: from 3 hr., 42 min.; from 20€ one-way). Train information and schedules are on www.sncf-connect.com or call tel. 36-35. The drive from Paris takes 6 to 7 hr. 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 (www.toulouse-tourisme.com; tel. 05-40-13-15-31).

City Layout — The old town contains the main sights, encircled by large boulevards which follow the city’s former defensive walls.

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, (tel. 05-61-41-70-70; www.tisseo.fr). The service operates daily from 5:15am to midnight (until 3am Fri-Sat), and tickets and maps are available at ticket booths. The average Métro fare is 1.60€ per ticket (tourist passes and multiple-trip tickets are also available). The most useful stops, which are within walking distance of all the main attractions, are Capitole, Jean Jaurès, and Esquirole.