Underrated French city ‘better than Paris’ with walkable streets | Travel News | Travel

If you asked me to name three popular holiday destinations in France, I’d probably say Paris, Paris and Paris.

Admittedly, I’m no expert when it comes to French holidays, but even if you’d given me another two minutes, Toulouse would never have crossed my mind.

That changed the moment I arrived. Known as the Pink City thanks to its distinctive terracotta buildings, Toulouse combines stunning architecture, excellent food and a laid-back atmosphere that rivals some of Europe’s most famous city-break destinations. By the time I left, I was already planning a return visit.

Better yet, it’s surprisingly affordable. Return flights can often be found for around £100, and once you’re there, the city rewards visitors with warm weather, walkable streets and plenty to see without the crowds or the price tag of France’s better-known destinations.

Food is undoubtedly one of the biggest selling points of any city break, and Toulouse overdelivers on it. To truly experience the breadth of what the city has to offer, I’d recommend the Toulouse Food & History Tour, where a charismatic trained chef takes you on a four-hour journey across six locations, sampling six regional dishes while sharing fascinating stories from the city’s past.

The food was impressive, but it was the stories that really made the experience for me. Hearing the history behind each dish made me realise just how deep France’s culture runs, turning what could have simply been a meal into a genuine insight into the city itself.

A food tour might not seem like the obvious option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly city break, but the atmosphere was instantly inviting. Sharing the experience with curious travellers from across the globe added another layer to the day, proving that sometimes the best memories come from the people you meet along the way.

A personal highlight was the ‘chocolatine’, which you may know better as a Pain Au Chocolat.

Hearing the story behind why Tolosans call this famous pastry something completely different was the moment that laid the foundations for my impression of the city: eccentric, charming, and fiercely proud of its own identity.

I love robots and big machinery. I know, it sounds simple, but my visit to Toulouse genuinely turned that into a proper interest.

During the trip, I visited La Machine, a French street theatre company that blends engineering, grassroots theatre and imagination to create some of the world’s most impressive mechanical creatures.

La Machine is renowned for creating enormous machines that blur the line between performance and art. Its best-known creations are the giant Minotaur and a colossal spider, both of which roam the streets under the careful guidance of operators.

In all honesty, seeing these creatures alone would have justified the visit. Hearing the story behind their creation, and how the company grew from such humble beginnings, was fascinating. In many ways, it felt like a reflection of Toulouse itself: creative, ambitious and unafraid to be different.

But actually riding the Minotaur was an unforgettable experience. Feeling every carefully choreographed movement as it strode along made me appreciate the engineering behind it. The intricate, lifelike motions created an almost surreal feeling, somehow making a huge lump of metal feel alive (I think it was).

The fact that you can jump from a gourmet food tour to riding a giant Minotaur just a short journey away proves that Toulouse is a truly unique city.

Still riding my adrenaline high from La Machine, I took a quieter change of pace and visited the Musée des Augustins, Toulouse’s renowned fine arts museum.

The building itself was something to marvel at, a running theme throughout my trip. Its peaceful cloisters and Gothic architecture provide a stunning backdrop for centuries of artwork inside.

I’ll admit, I arrived quite late and didn’t have enough time to experience the museum in all its glory. However, even with limited time, the collection left a lasting impression. The paintings filled me with a sense of reflection, and almost a slight jealousy at how much history I had missed (I want to be in a cool battle like Napoleon).

Inside, the galleries trace the evolution of European painting and sculpture from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, showcasing works from renowned French and Italian artists.

After the excitement of La Machine and the energy of the city streets, the museum allowed me to slow down while still being immersed in Toulouse’s rich cultural heritage. It was at this point that I realised I didn’t just enjoy visiting Toulouse, I wanted to come back and experience it all over again.

Good cities, in my humble opinion, always have something in common: stunning water. Toulouse is no different.

A leisurely cruise along the Canal du Midi revealed a quieter side of the city, one with a slower pace that I genuinely wanted to bottle up and take home. Passing beneath centuries-old stone bridges, alongside tree-lined stretches of canal and colourful houseboats, the journey offered a completely different perspective of Toulouse.

As the boat glided through the historic waterway, everything seemed to slow down. It gave me the chance to properly admire the architecture while learning about the canal’s remarkable history, a fittingly peaceful way to end my time in a city full of surprises.

When I think back on Toulouse, it isn’t one attraction that stands out, it’s the way everything fits together. One minute you’re discovering regional food and centuries of history, the next you’re riding a giant mechanical Minotaur or drifting peacefully along one of France’s most beautiful waterways.

I arrived expecting a pleasant city break and left wondering why Toulouse isn’t mentioned alongside France’s biggest tourist destinations. It might not have the worldwide recognition of Paris, but that could be exactly what makes it special.

So if you asked me now to name three popular holiday destinations in France, I’d probably say Paris, Toulouse… and Toulouse again.