Toulouse Transport

Toulouse unquestionably has the most efficient public transportation network of any city in the southwest of France. The city centre, where most of the popular tourist attractions are, is well serviced by the Metro system. Once inside this compact historic area, it is best to use your feet to get around or hire a bicycle for mobility.

The city’s bus system is also very effective and easy to use. During the summer months from June through September, you can putter along the little streets of Toulouse on a cyclo-pousse, an electric tricycle. The boats that ply the waters of the Garonne River and various canals are another excellent way to get around Toulouse and see the city from a different angle.

By Metro

The Metro subway system in Toulouse is one the best in France, providing fast and efficient service to many parts of the city. Line A crosses the city from east to west, from Jolimont to Basso-Cambo, and a new north to south line is expected to open in 2007. For tourists, the Metro is particularly useful as it has stations right in the historic centre of the city, which give easy access to the Capitole and all its surrounding attractions.

The Metro operates daily from 05:00 until midnight and the fares are reasonable. Two of the main subway stations are also Metro/bus interchanges, so you are able to incorporate bus travel with subway travel quite easily. SEMVAT administers the system (tel: +33 5 6141 7070).

By train

The city’s central train station, Gare Matabiau, is located about one kilometre northeast of the city centre, next to the main terminals for buses and boats arriving at Toulouse. All of the trains here run out of the city, with main regional stops in Bordeaux, Lourdes and Montauban. All local train travel within the city is handled by the modern Metro system.

By bus

The bus system in Toulouse is well organised and easy to use. There are 55 bus lines, seven of which operate late at night from 22:00 until 01:00. Most of the other lines run every day until at least 20:00. The city’s modern central bus station is located on boulevard Pierre Semard next to the central train station. Several buses also service areas outside of the city such as Agen, Andorra, Castres and Millau. Another eco-friendly bonus is that SEMVAT, which runs the bus and Metro systems, rents bicycles. The Espace Transports at Place Esquirol can provide all the information and assistance you will need for the city’s public transportation systems.

Taxis

Taxis are one of the easiest ways to get around Toulouse. Three main taxi stands operate around the clock at the railway station, Place Wilson and Place Esquirol. Taxi service is good and the rates are metered, but always check that your driver has turned on the meter, otherwise you may be faced with a debate over the fare when you reach your destination.

Tourist services

Toulouse has a nice network of special tourist taxis, which offer one and two-hour tours of the attractions around Toulouse with English commentary. There is also a cute little tourist train which operates during the summer months from June to September. The train departs from Place Charles de Gaulle and does a short circuit around some of the major attractions.

From the airport

The easiest way to get from the airport to the city centre is to take the Navette Aeroport shuttle bus, which runs a shuttle into the city every 20 minutes. The shuttles depart from Door C outside the Arrivals Hall for the 20-minute journey into town. The shuttle’s main stops are at the central bus station, Jean Jaures, Jeanne d’Arc and Compans Caffarelli. The last bus leaves the airport at 23:30 every day. Taxis are also ready and waiting outside the Arrivals Hall and there are several car hire companies located in the terminal.