Straddling the banks of the Garonne River, the ancient city of Toulouse is steeped in history. Lying on top of a Roman settlement, the city is the capital of the department of Haute-Garonne and of the region of Occitanie. Famed for its beauty, food and artistry, Toulouse’s distinctive architecture made of rose-coloured terracotta bricks has given it the nickname La Ville Rose (The Pink City). With more patisseries than you could dare to count, as well as some of the best French cuisine and local wine on offer, life in Toulouse is a sensory sensation.
Like most modern cities in Europe, Toulouse effortlessly blends it rich past with a progressive present, and this symbiotic relationship has drawn a host of new arrivals and expats to the city. In the past twenty years, Toulouse has become a centre for aviation and spaceflight; 35,000 of the inner city’s 400,000 residents work in the civil aviation or space industries. With a huge student population and burgeoning alternative scene to boot, it’s is also an incredibly youthful and vibrant place to be.
As with many cities, finding mid to long-term flats to rent in Toulouse can be difficult at short notice. However, there are a number of options for Toulouse apartments that span a range of tastes and budgets. It’s all about knowing where to look.
For the best selection of Toulouse apartments for rent, look no further than Nestpick. You’ll have nothing to lose.
Furnished Apartments Toulouse
If you are in town for a mid or long term business trip, furnished apartments in Toulouse will provide you with all the flexibility you need - offering enough time to get on with your work without having to worry about locating certain facilities or taking care of your apartment. Catering to a range of circumstances, serviced apartments similarly allow you to settle in the city with ease. Serviced accommodation in Toulouse is available in fantastic locations across the city.
Types of Accommodations in Toulouse
Toulouse Neighbourhoods by District
La Ville Rose is home to a number of chic neighbourhoods and districts to call your home. Each of these exude their owr distinctive character, offering a lifestyle fit for everyone from professionals with families to students on a budget.
However, the process of looking for an apartment can often be quite disparaging if you’re unfamiliar with Toulouse’s neighbourhoods and their prices. Not sure where to begin? Well we’ve decided to save you some time and hassle by providing an overview of the city's best/most popular areas for expats and new arrivals.
Once you’ve familiarised yourself with Toulouse, our easy-to-navigate search option will direct you straight to quality furnished accommodation in areas of your choice. Whether it’s a cute studio apartment in Carmes or a stylish modern complex in Compans, Nestpick has you covered.
More Attractive Areas for Toulouse Apartments
Toulouse City Centre Apartments
Also known as Centre Ville and Capitole de Toulouse, Toulouse city centre is the commercial and civic heart of the city. With an excellent array of vintage fashion boutiques, designer shops, restaurants, antique stores and trendy bars, this area is the most touristy part of the city.
It’s also the oldest part of the city, and the architecture clearly displays Toulouse’s fascinating evolution from the Roman garrison known as Tolosa to its current incarnation as a modern French city. Many of the distinctive red-brick palaces and mansions here have actually been reconverted into world-class museums, highlighting the city’s proud connection with its illustrious heritage. Must-see landmarks include the Place du Capitole, one of France’s most majestic public squares, the gothic Musée des Augustins and the 16-century palace-cum-gallery Hotel d’Assézat.
The city centre is also characterised by its incredible culinary culture. With 88 stalls that include sausage and foie gras specialist Maison Garcia, cheesemonger Chez Betty and artisan chocolatier Busquets, Marché Victor Hugo is the city’s main market and veritable foodie paradise. Pre-eminent dining destinations include the Michelin star Michel Sarran, eccentric L'aubrac, subterranean Les Caves de la Maréchale, and the vegetarian Les Faim des Haricots.
Due to the area’s high desirability and age of the buildings, Toulouse city centre apartments are among the most expensive in the city. In terms of price, an average 1-bedroom apartment here costs around €590 a month. A typical 3-bedroom unit costs around €1,120. However, accommodation is readily available and come in a range of options.
St-Cyprien Apartments
The Quartier St-Cyprien hugs the western bank on the bend of the Garonne, and is one of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods. Multicultural, boisterous and inherently Toulousain, St-Cyprien is positively brimming with activity. Walk down any of the many side streets in the area and you’ll find a host of local characters, shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, barbers and speciality shops, while its cafe culture is ideal for a spot of people watching in the mid-afternoon sun.
Due to its affordable prices, youthful energy and picturesque location on the river, St-Cyprien has proven immensely popular with young families, expats and students. Despite a host of new arrivals, St-Cyprien maintains a defiantly bohemian swagger, and continues to be the focal congregating point for the city’s artists and poetic types.
The Musee les Abattoirs is the only contemporary museum in Toulouse, and as you might of guessed was once the city’s former slaughterhouse. Other places worth visiting include Matou, Europe’s biggest poster museum, and Atelier Deux Mille, a small collective contemporary art gallery that allows the creme de la creme of local artistes to showcase their talents.
St-Cyprien apartments come equipped with standard amenities such as air conditioning and heating. Most apartments are renovated and set within charming old buildings, though it is also possible to find a number of new-build apartment complexes. Rental costs have risen substantially in recent years, although prices can vary depending on location.
The Chalets Apartments
Les Chalets, or the Chalets, is predominantly a quiet residential neighbourhood. With green space, rows of trees, beautiful bourgeois homes, a picturesque canal and cute local patisseries, this quaint quarter is an alluring slice of French suburbia.
The area is somewhat limited in terms of shops and restaurants, but the few that exist are extremely popular with locals and very impressive. Particular culinary favourites include the gastronomically glorious L’Aterlier de Jean and the 150-year old Bar la Concorde, which attracts a wonderful mixture of cigar-smoking septuagenarians and jazz-playing hipsters - both of whom are inclined to don meticulously waxed moustaches.
Just a few minutes’ walk away is the charming neighbourhood of St. Aubin, which is home to a delightful Sunday market as well as petit rues filled with ethnic restaurants, cosy bars and independent shops. C’est magnifique!
The Chalets apartments are primarily old-fashioned buildings; the majority of which have a renovated modern interior. Most accommodation comes equipped with amenities such as air conditioning - especially helpful during the searing heat of the southern French summertime. For those with a higher budget, luxury accommodation is also available in the area.
Student Accommodation in Toulouse
With a 100,000-strong student population, Toulouse is one of the most popular places to study in France. In fact, the southwestern city is consistently ranked as the number one student destination in the country, between larger and more famous cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon.
Toulouse is known as a very safe city, making it easy for students to settle. Most of the major universities are located in the relatively small city centre, meaning that the transition from academic life to social life is a relatively simple one. Had a frustrating day of essay writing? Why not swing by the bustling bar down the road for a comforting glass of pinot noir?!
Student accommodation in Toulouse is located all across the city, but most students choose to combine convenience with character by living in and around the city centre. The majority of students either opt to stay in halls of residence or private housing. Sharing a private flat can cost anywhere between €320 and €500 per month. Prices can vary depending on a number of variables include location, size and number of amenities.
If you are looking for a student residence in Toulouse, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Nestpick we cut out unscrupulous landlords and dodgy estate agents; offering a comprehensive selection of certified student housing in Toulouse that combines safety, comfort and affordability.
Public Transport in Toulouse
Serving the fourth-largest metropolitan area in France, public transport in Toulouse is quick, efficient and affordable. Public transport is the most popular form of travel, and the city’s metro system has a daily ridership of 281,000.
The public transport system consists of two metro lines, a tram line, suburban rail lines and an extensive network of buses. The state-of-the-art metro system is driverless and provides comfortable, clean and speedy travel across the city and some of the surrounding area. Its two metro lines, A and B, are primarily underground and serve 38 stations. Lines C and D are suburban rail, running to Colomiers and Muret respectively.
The Toulouse tramway comprises of two lines, the T1 and T2. Between them, the two lines serve 27 stations from the city centre to the suburb of Beauzelle (passing through Blagnac).
Most buses run daily until at least 8pm, while night buses run from 10pm to midnight. The city’s 84 bus services run regularly and provide a great way to get to local places off the beaten track.
The metro and local bus services are operated by Tisséo. Ticket kiosks can be found at the airport, place Jeanne d'Arc and metro stops. A single ticket costs €1.60, a 10-ticket carnet (book of tickets) is €13.40 and a 1-/2-day pass is €5.50/8.50. Further ticket information can be found on the Tisséo website.