Why choose Toulouse for a family holiday?
Toulouse, nicknamed the Pink City, is an ideal destination for a family holiday. Combining historical heritage, scientific discoveries and relaxing green spaces, it offers the perfect balance between exploration and fun. Its human-scale city center makes it easy to get around on foot, limiting tiring journeys for children. Add to this a convivial gastronomy and immersive activities, and you have a city where every street corner holds a surprise. Here’s an itinerary designed to help you enjoy Toulouse with your family, stress-free, with breaks for young and old alike.
We’ve designed a program optimized for a 2-day weekend. And if you’re lucky enough to extend your stay, a third day will allow you to round off your getaway in style with unforgettable experiences.
First evening : First steps in the Ville Rose
Your Toulouse adventure begins with a smooth arrival at the Hôtel Albert 1er, ideally located for exploring the city on foot. Once you’ve packed your bags, set off to discover Place du Capitole the vibrant heart of Toulouse. Its pink brick facades light up magnificently at the end of the day, and under the arcades, the zodiacal fresco always intrigues the curious.
🚶 Getting there: less than 5 minutes’ walk from Hôtel Albert 1er.
⏳ Duration: 1 hour to stroll around the square and explore the architectural details.
💰 Price: Free, it’s a stroll through a largely pedestrianized city center.
A convivial gourmet dinner: Prima Fabbrica & Parc du Dragon
Then head for Place Saint-Georges, a charming cobbled square surrounded by terraces where the atmosphere is both relaxed and lively. Children can play safely while you enjoy the warm atmosphere.
To round off your first evening in style, head to Prima Fabbrica, a pizzeria renowned for the quality of its Italian products. The establishment is strategically located next to the Parc du Dragon, an original playground where children can exercise after dinner.
The great thing about this place is that you can eat on the terrace in an absolutely charming square (which occasionally hosts entertainment), while allowing the kids to stretch their legs. A great way to enjoy a quiet moment before the hectic adventures of the next few days. You don’t need to make a reservation to eat outside on a pleasant terrace adjacent to the children’s park.
If you’re a discerning gourmet in search of authenticity, on the same square you can alternately skip the terrace and dine at Chez Emile the best cassoulet in Toulouse. The house, a Toulouse institution, also offers other specialties and gourmet local cuisine.
🚶 Getting there: 10 min walk from Place du Capitole.
💰 Prima Fabbrica rate: Pizzas between €12 and €20.
💰 Prices at Emile’s: Double the price – between €40 and €50 for a 2-course meal. Remember to book several days in advance.
Day 1: Between spectacular machines and interstellar travel
Morning: Mechanical exploration at the Halle de la Machine
Serious business begins! For your first day in Toulouse, leave the city center and plunge into the fascinating world of the Halle de la Machine a unique site where immense mechanical creatures come to life before your very eyes. The highlight of the show is undoubtedly the Giant Minotaur Asterion, an impressive machine that carries visitors on its back.
Machinists passionately explain the secrets of these animated creatures, offering a fascinating immersion experience. The experience is incredible for children, and the concept, unique in the world, is a marvellous spectacle, combining technology, imagination and poetry.
🚍 How to get there : Linéo 7 bus (20 min from downtown).
⏳ Duration: 2h30.
💰 Price: €9/adult, €5/child (3-12 years).
📅 Reservations recommended on the official website.
Lunch on site: Restaurant des Petites Mécaniques
To extend the experience, lunch at the Restaurant des Petites Mécaniques where playful installations, virtuosity and unusual objects transform the meal into a show.
💰 Prices: Children’s menu around €10, main courses between €15 and €25.
📅 Reservations recommended or compulsory
Afternoon: Space conquest at the Cité de l’Espace
Head for the Cité de l’Espace an interactive park where young and old alike can explore the mysteries of the universe. Climb aboard the life-size replica of the Ariane 5 rocket, test the weightlessness simulator and admire the meteorites on display. Educational activities enable children to handle models and better understand the challenges of space exploration.
Sessions at the planetarium and in the IMAX theater are a must-see experience for young and old alike. To get the most out of this original park, dedicated to science and space exploration, be sure to reserve your tickets for IMAX and planetarium shows. Conferences and events are frequently organized, including telescopic observations of the sky.
🚍 How to get there : Bus 37 from Montaudran (25 min).
⏳ Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
💰 Price: €26/adult, €19.50/child (5-18), free for under-5s. 📅
Reservations strongly recommended.
On-site dining: Brasserie L’Envol
To avoid extra trips, opt for on-site dining at Brasserie L’Envol, which offers a breathtaking view of the park’s facilities.
💰 Price: Dishes from €18 to €30. 📅 Reservations recommended.
Or Dinner in the city center near the hotel at one of the many of the pink city’s many fine restaurants
💡 More original option: La Friche Gourmande, a kid-friendly venue with play areas and a relaxed atmosphere, for the most motivated. Accessible by public transport, the venue offers several kid-friendly food courts: https://www.lafrichegourmandetoulouse.com/restaurant-familial-toulouse
Day 2: Historical strolls and scientific discoveries
Morning: Stroll through the city center and visit to the Basilica of Saint-Sernin
Start your day at the Basilica of Saint-Sernin a masterpiece of Romanesque art and the largest preserved Romanesque church in Europe. Its octagonal bell tower, a visual landmark for onlookers exploring the city center, and its majestic vaults bear witness to the city’s rich religious past.
A visit to the district, just a stone’s throw from the hotel, is a must when visiting Toulouse. The basilica, a place steeped in history, will appeal to children who can admire the marvels of its stained glass windows and rose window.
🚶 Getting there: 5 min walk from the hotel.
⏳ Duration: 1 hour.
💰 Price: Free admission to church, crypt and treasure: €2.50/adult.
📅 Free access during the day.
After a visit to the Basilica, head for the Carmes district, stroll through the antique dealers’ district. Its picturesque lanes, dotted with little squares, will take your children back in time. The upscale Antiquaires district lies between Saint Etienne Cathedral and Les Carmes. Join the Jardin Royal and then the Jardin des Plantes.
Lunch: there’s no shortage of good places to eat along the way, especially around Place des Carmes. In anticipation of your scientific afternoon, you can eat at the restaurant salon de thé Le Moaï in the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, or why not try the kid-friendly bobuns at the Kiosque à Nems du Grand-Rond.
💰 Le Moaï prices: expect to pay around €20 for an adult lunch and €11 for a child’s lunch, with a boxed set-up that children love.
Afternoon: scientific exploration at the Quai des Savoirs and/or the Natural History Museum
If you’ve had your lunch break in the Carmes district, a favorite spot for Toulousans with its shady squares and charming restaurants, explore the Quai des Savoirs an interactive space dedicated to science and innovation.
You’ll normally have plenty of time to embark on a grand tour of the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, where kids can get up close and personal with dinosaur skeletons and discover immersive exhibits on biodiversity.
The Muséum D’Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse is one of the best-designed in Europe, thanks to a perfect didactic trail that allows visitors to discover the history of Life on Earth, spectacular skeletons and impressive naturalized animals.
Dinner in the city center near the hotel at one of the many of the city’s many fine restaurants in a typical setting: L’Air de Famille, Le May, Les P’tits Fayots, Le Bibent, le Genty Magre, Les Caves de la Maréchale… There’s no shortage of places to eat and drink. You’re in Toulouse!
Day 3: Toulouse between Garonne and nature
Morning: Boat trip on the Garonne River
Embark on a guided cruise on the Garonne River, offering breathtaking views of the quays, the La Grave dome and the Pont Neuf. Boat trips can be taken on electric boats without a license with Les Caboteurs. A real adventure for the kids!
🚶 Getting there: 10 min walk from the hotel.
⏳ Duration: 1 hour.
💰 Price: from €58
📅 Reservations recommended.
Afternoon: Merville Labyrinth, a life-size adventure
Conclude your stay with an immersion in nature at the Merville Labyrinth and its castle, a gigantic maze of vegetation where treasure hunts and riddles await visitors of all ages.
🚗 Travel time: 30 min by car.
⏳ Duration: 2 hours.
💰 Price: €11/adult, €9/child.
📅 Reservations recommended and closed during low season
Toulouse, a must-see family destination
In three days, Toulouse reveals itself as an ideal playground for families, with its living heritage, scientific discoveries and gourmet delights. Its warm atmosphere and human-scale city center make for a smooth, stress-free exploration, where every stroll turns into an adventure.
To make the most of your stay, the Hôtel Albert 1er is the perfect base. Nestled in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw from the Place du Capitole, it offers both the comfort of a refined establishment and the convenience of a strategic location. After a busy day, you’ll appreciate all the more the attentive welcome of our staff, the calm of our spacious rooms and our delicious breakfast featuring local produce.
Whether it’s your first visit or a return to the Ville Rose, Toulouse promises an escapade rich in wonder and unforgettable memories. So, are you ready to embark on a family adventure that will stimulate both your intellectual and gustatory curiosity? 🚀✨
