car hire toulouse
Pick up your hire car at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and head into a city with breathtaking mountain scenery and superb ski facilities on its doorstep. Book car hire toulouse now
the 60-second guide to toulouse
in its own head
"The gateway to the Pyrenees, we're the most stylish and cosmopolitan city, with the most beautiful historic centre. And did we mention our sausages?"
but more realistically
Toulouse is indeed a wonderful and beautiful city. Not only that, it's an aviation centre with a thriving hi-tech industry as well as a university town.
the vibe
Buzzing with students from all over Europe, Toulouse has a vibrant atmosphere. The Toulousans are friendly and open - be nice and you might even get invited to join them in the lively nightlife of the city.
the natives
Obviously, with all the aerospace stuff, you'll find a lot of eggheads. Seek out the friendly, accommodating locals watching rugby at the Stade Toluousain or shopping at the Vieille Ville.
the weather
While winters in the south of France tend to be pretty mild, the frosty conditions in the nearby Pyrenees are ideal for skiing, making Toulouse the perfect destination to enjoy an active winter break.
the local speciality
You simply can't go to Toulouse without sampling one of their famous sausages. They're great in a cassoulet, with a bottle of Gaillac.
the celebrity
Arsenal's left back, Gael Clichy, hails from Toulouse. As did Antione de Saint-Exupery, who wrote the bestselling novella The Little Prince.
did you know?
Toulouse is known as the Ville Rose, which translates as the Pink City, because of the distinctive pink brickwork of its old town.
they say
"Your stay in Toulouse will certainly be a time of great pleasure." - www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com
5 to see in town...
- 1. Place du Capitole
- 2. Basilica Saint Sernin
- 3. Cathedrale St Etienne
- 4. The Canal du midi
- 5. The Jardin des Plantes
Packed with chic cafes and restaurants, Place du Capitole is the heart of the city's social life. With enormous brick buildings that are illuminated with a pink glow at sunset, it's home to an opera company, a symphony orchestra, and the city hall.
where to park?
Park your hire car at the Capitole car park in Place du Capitole.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Place du Capitole
- 2. Basilica Saint Sernin
- 3. Cathedrale St Etienne
- 4. The Canal du midi
- 5. The Jardin des Plantes
Built in 1080, this beautiful brick building has a light and airy atmosphere that inspires peaceful reflection. It's also home to a very impressive pipe organ.
where to park?
Park your hire car at the Jeanne d'Arc underground car park.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Place du Capitole
- 2. Basilica Saint Sernin
- 3. Cathedrale St Etienne
- 4. The Canal du midi
- 5. The Jardin des Plantes
There's a nice square here where you can unwind with a cafe au lait. Or just stare open-mouthed at the gigantic window on the facade.
where to park?
You can park your hire car at the Carnot car park in Boulevard Carnot.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Place du Capitole
- 2. Basilica Saint Sernin
- 3. Cathedrale St Etienne
- 4. The Canal du midi
- 5. The Jardin des Plantes
When trawling around the big city has finally destroyed your feet, you could do a lot worse than sitting lazily, examining this massive 91-locks canal.
where to park?
Park at the Arnaud Bernard car park in Place Arnaud Bernaud.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Place du Capitole
- 2. Basilica Saint Sernin
- 3. Cathedrale St Etienne
- 4. The Canal du midi
- 5. The Jardin des Plantes
This botanical garden may not be the most imaginitively named, but its array of gorgeous little plants and posies is inspiring. A great place for a quiet stroll away from the heat of the sun.
where to park?
Park your hire car at the St-Michel car park in Allee Paul Feuga.
and 4 to drive to...
This ski resort was the setting for the pre-title sequence of the James Bond thriller Tomorrow Never Dies. You'll find 25 miles of downhill pistes catering for all levels at Peyragudes - and, thankfully, you're unlikely to be troubled by Russian spies.
how to get there?
It's a two-hour drive to the resort. Follow the A64/E80 and take exit 17 toward Montréjeau-centre. Merge onto the A645, and pick up the D825 heading towards Loures-Barousse/N125.
and 4 to drive to...
Just two hours from Toulouse, you'll find one of the largest ski resorts in the French Pyrenees, Saint-Lary-Soulan. Enjoy over 60 miles of award-winning downhill slopes and some superb après-ski venues.
how to get there?
Pick up the A64/E09/E8 and take exit 16 toward Lannemezan/Arreau/Auch. Exit onto the D939 and take the 2nd exit at the roundabout onto the D929/Route de Lannemezan. Continue to follow the D929 to Saint-Lary-Soulan.
and 4 to drive to...
This naturally sunny resort is part of one of the largest ski areas in the French Pyrenees and features countless acres of treeless runs and some spectacular scenery.
how to get there?
The drive will take approximately two hours, 15 minutes. Follow the A64/E09/E80 to exit 14. Continue onto the D20 and pick up the D938. Merge onto the D935 and exit for the D918, which will take you all the way to Barèges.
and 4 to drive to...
Take a break from the slopes and soak up some culture in Moissac. This town is famous for its artistic heritage - don't miss the Saint-Pierre abbey, complete with its Centre of Romanesque Art.
how to get there?
It takes under an hour to reach Moissac from Toulouse - just pick up the A62/E09/E72 towards Paris/Bordeaux and take exit 9-Castelsarrasin. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto D813/Route de Moissac heading to Moissac/N113/Agen.
ask a toulouse cabbie!
Local taxi driver Olivier Philibert on car hire in Toulouse: "Toulouse is one of the largest French cities so you are going to need a hire car to get around. If you fancy ditching the car and getting some exercise while you see the city, you can rent a bike for about €3 a day. The streets in the city centre are quite narrow so take care to drive a little slower there. The best and cheapest place to park in the centre is at the Capitole car park."