Toulouse, France
The Destination I Almost Didn’t Visit
Markets, chocolate, neighborhood restaurants, and why this southern French city deserves a place on your itinerary.
Paris will probably always be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of France. Don’t get me wrong, I love Paris. But I’ve made some of my favorite travel memories in France beyond the capital.
Toulouse was one of those places.
It wasn't originally on our itinerary. I added it after a colleague recommended the city and connected me with Taste of Toulouse, a local food tour company. That recommendation was enough to get me curious, and Toulouse ended up being a wonderful surprise.
Known as La Ville Rose (the Pink City) for the warm terracotta bricks that give the historic center its distinctive color, Toulouse felt immediately approachable. It was easy to explore on foot and filled with cafés, markets, chocolateries, and local shops.
Discovering Toulouse Through Food
Food is one of my favorite ways to explore a destination, so a Taste of Toulouse pastry and chocolate tour was an easy addition to our plans.
Rather than simply sampling French pastries and chocolates, the experience gave us a window into the city's food culture and the history behind it. We discovered local specialties, learned more about French chocolate and pastry traditions, and visited places I likely wouldn't have found on my own.
Two particularly memorable discoveries were Criollo, where unexpected savory influences shape some of the chocolate flavors, and L'ine Choc, where we were invited to savor the experience as well as the hot chocolate itself. Their chocolates shaped like tiny chocolate croissants (or chocolatines, as they're known in southwestern France) were almost too adorable to eat. Almost…
One of the reasons I often recommend a food tour early in a trip is because it’s a great way to get a taste for the city and identify what piques your interest. You leave with a full stomach and a list of places you may want to return to.
A Morning at Marché Victor Hugo
If there's a market in a city I'm visiting, I'll almost certainly find my way there at some point!
Toulouse's Marché Victor Hugo is exactly the kind of place I love to explore: stalls overflowing with produce, cheeses, meats, seafood, bread, and other ingredients that give you a glimpse into how people actually eat and shop.
My family and friends know my market routine: I always "do a loop" first, then return to the places that caught my eye.
Instead of treating the market as another sightseeing stop, we shopped as if this were our local market. We brought our discoveries back to our rental property and turned them into a home-cooked meal. It was simple, but it’s one of my favorite memories from Toulouse.
Make Room for the Neighborhood Restaurant
One of the pleasures of a city like Toulouse is that you don't need a long list of elaborate reservations to enjoy delicious meals.
Aux Pieds Sous La Table was one of our neighborhood finds, and meals like this are one of the reasons I enjoy building flexibility into an itinerary. Doing so allows you to experience the place you're visiting beyond a checklist of “must-see” spots.
There's certainly room for destination restaurants and special occasion meals. But I also want to discover the restaurant tucked into a quiet neighborhood, the charming café you wander past on a morning stroll, and the market lunch with fresh, local ingredients.
Combining iconic sights and hidden gems truly make me feel like I’m getting to know my destination.
Why Add Toulouse to Your Itinerary?
Toulouse isn't a substitute for Paris, nor does it need to be.
I'd think of it as an opportunity to experience another side of France.
The city works particularly well for travelers who enjoy food and markets, walkable historic centers, local culture, and destinations that leave room for a little spontaneity. It can also add welcome contrast to a France itinerary that includes larger or more heavily visited cities.
You don't need to arrive in Toulouse with a long checklist of must-see attractions. In fact, I think that's part of its appeal. Give yourself time to wander, explore a market, stop for chocolate, linger over a meal, and enjoy la vie en rose.
