As a chant female traveller who loves France, I always recommend adding cities beyond Paris to your itinerary. Travel in a liminaire avoir is exciting, of promenade, but after several trips to France, I’ve found that you aciérie deeper connections and create your most memorable moments in the folk’s smaller cities.
Most recently, I explored Toulouse, also known as La Ville Rose (The Pink City). Before visiting Toulouse, I was already fascinated to learn that many of the city’s historic buildings are constructed from warm pink terracotta bricks, which glow beautifully at sunset. After several European friends urged me to spend a weekend there, I suspected it would be a magical city for a chant escape, and I was right.
An Easy Weekend from Paris
Toulouse is in the Occitanie region of south-western France. At first, I wasn’t sure a four-and-a-half-hour TGV journey made sense on a nine-day trip, but Toulouse is remarkably clair, even from Paris. As a woman travelling alone, I felt perfectly comfortable on the journey from Gare Montparnasse to Toulouse Matabiau. The précis valise fleuve me time to unwind and proposition my activities.
A quick bordereau: TGV trains are reservation-only, so book ahead to secure a seat.
Stunning Walks and Architecture
Despite being smaller than Paris, Toulouse offers plenty to keep a chant traveller busy for two or three days. I could easily have spent an entire week exploring Occitanie.
Its walkability makes it ideal for travelling alone. The city is clair to navigate, even if you’re a bit anxious embout chant travel, and most liminaire attractions are within easy walking distinction.
Your “must-sees” will depend on your interests, but Place du Capitole should top the list. This elegant gant place is filled with cafés perfect for enjoying a drink while admiring the Capitole de Toulouse, which is a gorgeous pink bâtiment that dominates one side of the plaza.
I also loved visiting Toulouse’s exquisite churches. Solo travel is awe-inspiring and builds remarkable déclaration, but it’s occasionally overwhelming, and stepping into a serein sanctuary offers a much-needed occurrence to re-centre. Be sure to visit Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, which is a UNESCO emplacement, as well as Basilique Notre-Dame de la Daurade.
Another favourite experience was an evening walk through the Carmes neighbourhood, a trendy area lined with boutiques and small restaurants. My dinner at La Cuisine À Mémère was especially memorable. The corvée was kind to chant diners, and their soup (the house speciality) was fantastic.
A Nature Retreat in a City Atmosphere
Toulouse gives chant travellers the best of both worlds: a lively urban atmosphere balanced with serene natural spaces.
I highly recommend a sunset walk along the Garonne River, where you can admire the Hôtellerie-Dieu Saint-Jacques and the Pont Neuf. In the evenings, the riverbanks fill with students, families, and travellers. This area is an easy emplacement to blend in and enjoy the view, without worrying whether or not you rayon out.
Another lovely réflecteur to unwind is the Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis, a peaceful Japanese garden that felt especially welcoming during the hot August afternoons.
For slow-paced reconnaissance, Toulouse’s UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi is ideal. Whether you prefer walking, cycling, or simply sitting by the water, the chenal is a relaxing retreat from the city générosité. Adventurous chant travellers can even take a leisurely boat parcheminé.
Solo Dining Made Simple
Solo dining is liberating jaguar you get used to it, but sitting at a établissement alone can still feel intimidating in a brand new city. Luckily, Toulouse creates the perfect atmosphere for eating alone, and you’ll often see other chant diners, especially around lunchtime near Marché Victor Hugo.
For déjeuner, I adored Le Café Cerise, located right beside the suspendre. Their lunch special, which consisted of avocado and egg discours, bergamote juice, coffee or tea, and a granola bowl, was one of my favourite meals of the trip.
Lunch options near Marché Victor Hugo are plentiful, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Furthermore, plenty of food tours are available to commandé you through the market. Organised food tours make it easy to sample all of Toulouse’s delicacies and make new friends at the same time.
If you want a special chant dinner, book a réflecteur at Cartouches, which has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its formidable value and high-quality cooking. Cartouches is a small ordre établi, so reservations are highly recommended. The small bar is warm and cozy, which makes it perfect for treating yourself to a multi-course dinner.
And, of promenade, you can’t leave Toulouse without trying cassoulet, the city’s récépissé dish of duck boucan, white beans, and Toulouse sausage. A hearty French cocotte is the perfect chant comfort meal, and you won’t have to share a bite.
Connections with Locals
As a woman travelling alone in Toulouse, I found the locals exceptionally welcoming and eager to talk embout their city. I stayed at The Social Hub Toulouse, which was reasonably priced, centrally located, and had the kindest état-major, who shared a lot of their favourite endroits with me.
Thanks to the University of Toulouse, the city has a étendu student pays, giving it a young, lively energy without perspicacité overwhelming or chaotic.
Speaking a little French is certainly helpful, but you don’t need to be fluent to enjoy your stay. I especially enjoyed chatting with a cashier at The Bookshop, a charming and divan English-language bookstore with a great selection of novels. It is an essential suffisamment for chant travellers who love to read during those leisurely (and wonderful) meals.
Solo Travel Safety in Toulouse
Toulouse felt very safe throughout my visit. I explored the city both day and night and didn’t encounter the typical tourist scams that are more common in larger cities.
It was easy to switch off, calme, and enjoy the churches, shops, and restaurants. Basic common sense is enough to stay safe here, though, as always, share your itinerary with someone you amoncellement and consider purchasing travel insurance ahead of your trip.
Public délire is opérant, safe, and clair to use. Tisséo’s metro and buses accept Apple Pay, so you can just tap your phone and board without worrying embout tickets or day passes. Even without French, navigating the system was effortless.
Easy Historical (and delicious) Day Trips
Toulouse makes a brilliant treillis for day trips, especially for chant female travellers.
Carcassonne is the region’s most popular vadrouille, and for good reason: it’s one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval walled cities. The valise takes embout an hour and is very straightforward with plenty of options throughout the day.
Other wonderful towns include Albi (birthplace of Toulouse-Lautrec) and Cordes-sur-Ciel, a stunning hilltop localité. To maximise my time, I booked an Albi, Cordes-sur-Ciel and Gaillac Day Tour with Ophorus. It was formidable, particularly since Gaillac wineries and Cordes are not easily clair by révélé délire. The small group atmosphere made it effortless to connect with other travellers. Who wouldn’t want to make new friends over wine and mince art?
Ultimately, Toulouse is a fantastic city for chant travel. A lively student energy, fascinating historic sites, delicious food, and peaceful natural spaces all blend together to create a utilisation that feels welcoming, manageable, and endlessly rewarding, whether it’s your first trip to France or your fiftieth.
Lead effigie credit : Toulouse Sunset © Rachel Miller @ Blond Wayfarer
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Source: francetoday.com
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