Walking
Toulouse prides itself on being a pedestrian city and with so much to see in the centre it's worth walking. The many small cobblestone streets that criss cross the city are pedestrianised and this allows for amblers and shoppers alike to access the heart of the city in a small amount of time. A walk along La Daurade beside the river offers beautiful views of the Garonne, particularly at night.
Cycling
If you only have a short time to visit Toulouse and would like a quicker way to see the city than renting a bike is the perfect way. Velo Toulouse is a system established by local government which allows anybody to rent a bike from the over 100 stations throughout the city. All you need is a credit card. The city is well serviced by bike trails and with the canal du midi and its world famous biking trails on the doorstep, seeing Toulouse by bike is a great way to pass an afternoon. This is also the best way to access areas in Toulouse such as Ile du Ramier where there is a large exhibition centre, the Rugby stadium and also throughout the summer months an outdoor public swimming pool.
Taking the Metro
Toulouse is well serviced by an underground metro system which crosses the entire city. The system has two principle lines and these will bring you close to almost all areas of the city and many parts of the suburbs.
The metro operates 7 days from 5.30 am to midnight, Monday to Thursday, and untill 00.45 Friday and Saturday nights. The metro is an excellent way to reach large shopping centers outside town, however if you are in the centre it is better to walk. The system is cheap (€2.50 return, bring change), clean and safe. Rugby supporters typically get the metro to the stadium stopping at Arenne station where a free shuttle will take you to the game.
Driving
If you arrive in Toulouse by car, or if you have access to a car during your stay, you should be aware that Toulouse is not the easiest of city's to drive in. Small streets, combined with a often-times complicated one way system makes this city particularly difficult for the newcomer. If you do intend on driving our advice is to plan your trip throuroughly in advance and if you are parking in town it is better to park in one of the many multi-storey carparks in the centre. Rush hour traffic typically occurs between 7.30am and 9am, again for lunchtime between 12pm and 2.30pm, and in the evening beginning at 5pm. The best time to drive in Toulouse is during August as the majority of locals are on holidays.
Copyright "Toulouse Weekend" 2009.
