Experience in Toulouse, France by Astha

What is it like to live in Toulouse? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city of Toulouse is mostly known for being home to the headquarters of the world-famous airplane manufacturer Airbus and the multi-national organization of Infosys. It is home to many international citizens, living there for work in these two huge companies. Recently, the city has become well-known for its universities and has seen a greater surge in its student population, thus enhancing the student and youth culture in the city. Since the city consists mostly of families and international employees, and students, the culture is quite relaxed and laidback.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Toulouse?

It's really developing well! Good bars and cafes are present on the banks of the River Garonne, which are also near the universities, giving a very nice environment to the entire culture. It's all very calm, peaceful, and laid back. There are even some good clubs and lounges for the weekend clubbing goers.

How much does it cost to live in Toulouse?

I have a sister who lives there as a student, and she gives 450 euros monthly rent for a studio. Above that, there is a budget of about 100-150 euros for groceries and evening drinks, which usually happen almost every day after university. Maybe the budget goes up to around 20-30 euros to include clubbing once every two weeks. Shopping is not that expensive in local and vintage brands, and there are good discounts during sale time on international and well-known brands.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Toulouse? Is there any advice you can give?

There are a lot of housing options, though it is slightly difficult to find good accommodation within the city. It is very easy to find proper and affordable accommodation in suburbs like Colomiers, which are connected to the airport by buses and trams, and to the main city they are connected by buses that can then be changed to the metro for a faster route, whenever a stop coinciding with the metro station comes.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is great since I love French cuisine. But you do get easy availability of other cuisines, like Mediterranean, Asian Fusion, and other European regional cuisines. Major fast food and restaurant chains are present, to cater to the usual cravings. I really like the Nutella crepes and waffles at various corner stands though!

What places would you recommend visiting in Toulouse?

Capitole, as it is the center and has areas of interest for both cultural travelers as well as tourists trying to find good retail and gastronomical options.

There is Pont-Neuf and Saint-Pierre, out of which I recommend Saint-Pierre more even though they are both areas and cross-over bridges next to river Garonne. Saint-Pierre has really wide river banks right next to the river, where you can go by climbing down from the plaza on top, on the road level. In the evening when the lights switch on, you can see perfectly mirrored reflections of the buildings shadowing the river, in the water. Also, there are a lot of nice and chill bars on the Saint-Pierre plaza.

There is also the Blagnac Mall, the Jardin des Plantes, the area around Jean-Jaures, etcetera.

There are small places here and there, around Toulouse as well - there is Narbonne, L'isle Jourdain, even Bordeaux and Barcelona are not that far from here! The country Andorra is also nearby, settled in the neighboring hill range of the Midi-Pyrenees.

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Is it good to eat out in Toulouse? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yeah, the area around Saint-Pierre is really nice for bars and cafeterias. Restaurants can be found around the Place du Capitole and the Jean-Jaures area. There are also these very exclusive chef course meals available in a few places, that have to be booked in advance, and the entire menu is freshly made, decided by the head chef for that specific day. The one I experienced was heavenly, and was in a big house far from the city, out of the suburbs as well, and the place was full by the time I reached! There is also a really nice seafood place on the way to Cornebarrieu from Colomiers. And of course, you cannot miss the fresh croissants and baguettes from the local boulangeries.

Is the nightlife good in Toulouse? Where is good to go?

Yes, definitely. There are a lot of good bars in the Capitole area stretching towards Saint-Pierre, the Jean-Jaures area, and the area around Victor Hugo, like Fat Cat, Thirsty Monk, Melting Pot Pub, and Le Carbet d'Oc (for extremely good rum!). Clubs are fancier and more expensive, but the good ones are Le Royal's, Puerto Habana, and Zoom Club. Do not miss V&B though - it is a bar in Colomiers and near the airport, but it is always full and has a very very good collection of beer and wine.

What advice would you give future students heading to Toulouse?

I do think Toulouse is really beautiful! It is a small, peaceful town, and the locals are really sweet and helpful. Since my sister is studying there already, I know that it has a really nice student culture - very peaceful and friendly, something very comfortable and warm, which is very hard to find in big cities now with all the hustle-bustle.

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