Where to Stay

In Toulouse the hotels are mainly grouped around the town center, in three lively neighborhoods. Right in the center, bordering the vast Place du Capitole, are the capacious luxury hotels. In the area surrounding Place Wilson, all along the Allees Jean-Jaurès and the large neighboring boulevards, the residential apartment buildings and luxury hotels are packed together almost like townhouses. Near Matabiau station, amongst the big hotels and the lesser-known names, you have every chance of finding lodgings to suit your price range. You can also find small private family accommodation almost anywhere, in the town's picturesque streets or beside the waterways. Finally, further away from the center, and practical for people who are just passing through, are the chains of hotels that offer you accommodation at low prices.

Capitole On the beautiful Place du Capitole, with a view overlooking the splendid façade of the Town Hall and right in the heart of Toulouse town life, the Grand Hôtel de l'Opera and the Crowne Plaza Hotel offer some of the most luxurious stays imaginable. These are dream hotels for visitors seeking direct access to the town's pretty pedestrian streets, to the historical monuments and, in the morning, to the market right on their doorstep! Not far away, in the Rue Romiguères, the Hotel du Grand Balcon is a virtual museum of history reputed to have housed members of the French airmail service at the beginning of the century. A few of the pilots particularly worth mentioning are the notable Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Place Wilson and the Allees Jean Jaurès Continuing with the luxury hotels, the Holiday Inn Toulouse Centre and the Grand Hôtel de Paris are located conveniently near the center of town, with the added advantage of being near the Canal du Midi and the subway, thus offering numerous possibilities for walks, outings and shopping trips. The Victor-Hugo and the Ours Blanc, are somewhat cheaper and still more centrally situated, in that they are close to the shops on the Place Wilson and the Victor Hugo Market.

Near the Station A large number of hotels are grouped around the Matabiau train station, on the neighboring boulevards or in the Rue Bayard, a street full of shops linking the station to the large boulevards in town. Full of life at all times of day, this street is full of travellers and merrymakers who will always manage to unearth the all-night restaurants, cabarets and grocery shops. There is a wide range of hotels here, from luxury hotels such as the Terminus to more practical selections (the Tivoli, the Saint-Severin, the Toulouse, or the Ambassadeurs). In this same area, the hotels Ibis Gare Matabiau and Orsay take advantage of the lush green banks of the Canal du Midi nearby.

Residential Hotels The residential accommodation is mainly concentrated around the same major thoroughfares: the Citadines Wilson Residence on the wide boulevards near the Place Wilson, the Concorde Residence near the train station and the Parthenon Residence on the Allees Jean Jaurès provide every modern comfort and offer a very pleasant compromise between renting an apartment and staying in a hotel.

In the picturesque streets In the vast Rue Raymond IV, in the pretty neighborhood of Matabiau, are some beautiful hotels that are well sheltered from the urban animation of the town. The Caravelle and the Raymond IV are ideal for a quiet and peaceful stay, without being too removed from the attractions of the town. On the banks of the Brienne Canal in the shade of the huge plane trees, a delightful picturesque setting is the charming Hôtel de Brienne. The Hôtel des Beaux Arts perches on the embankment of the River Daurade near the magnificent Pont Neuf, paradoxically the oldest bridge in Toulouse, provides an exceptional view over the River Garonne and on its ground floor offers an excellent bar specializing in seafood. Close by, the Père Leon on the Place Esquirol is an old Toulouse establishment particularly well situated on the medieval Grande Rue, at the junction of the pretty pedestrian streets of Toulouse, the Rue des Changes and the Rue des Filatiers. The Musee des Augustins and the Bemberg Foundation are just a stone's throw away; fine-art enthusiasts, take note! Over by the Place Saint-Georges with its pretty, colourful alleyways, stands the Mecure Toulouse Saint Georges, providing the security of an internationally renowned hotel name.

Chain Brand Hotels Hotels belonging to large chains are usually both comfortable and modern, and offer good services along with parking facilities at very reasonable prices. Many of these hotels are situated along the Canal du Midi, to the north of the town (Etap Hôtel Toulouse Centre, Nuit d'Hôtel), within easy reach of the high speed roads. Others are right outside of the town beside the main roadways (Campanile Purpan) and near Blagnac airport. These hotels provide the ideal solution for travelers hurrying through Toulouse.