1. Basilique Saint-Sernin

This magnificent UNESCO-listed Romanesque church features remarkable acoustics and a soaring bell tower.
Insider Tip: Visit on Sunday mornings when traditional Occitan music sometimes accompanies mass, creating an experience that resonates through the 11th-century vaulted ceilings.

2. Place du Capitole

The grand central square showcases Toulouse’s emblematic city hall with its neoclassical façade and ornate theater.
Insider Tip: Look down at the zodiac pavement mosaic to find your star sign, then head through the archway on the square’s north side to discover a hidden courtyard café locals use as their meeting spot.

3. Couvent des Jacobins

This Gothic monastery features a spectacular palm-tree-shaped pillar supporting its vaulted ceiling.
Insider Tip: The acoustics in the church are so perfect that if you stand in the exact center beneath the palm pillar and whisper, your voice will resonate throughout the entire space.

4. Canal du Midi

The historic UNESCO waterway begins in Toulouse, offering tree-lined paths perfect for walking or cycling.
Insider Tip: Rent bikes at Maison du Vélo near Matabiau station, then cycle east to find the authentic canalside restaurant La Maison de la Violette housed in a permanently moored barge.

5. Musée des Augustins

This fine arts museum housed in a former monastery contains remarkable Gothic sculptures and Romanesque capitals.
Insider Tip: The museum’s garden cloister hosts free evening jazz concerts during summer months, with performances set among medieval stone sculptures under the stars.

6. Cité de l’Espace

The space-themed science park showcases Toulouse’s aerospace heritage with full-scale rocket replicas and interactive exhibits.
Insider Tip: Purchase tickets online for the “Night Under the Stars” special events when astronomers open the observatory dome for rare glimpses of planets through professional telescopes.

7. Jardin Japonais

This perfectly maintained Japanese garden offers a tranquil escape from the urban environment.
Insider Tip: The red wooden bridge crossing the koi pond marks the exact spot where local photographers capture cherry blossoms in spring, but the truly magical time is October when Japanese maples turn vibrant red.

8. Hôtel d’Assézat

This Renaissance mansion houses the prestigious Bemberg Foundation art collection.
Insider Tip: After viewing the paintings, ask staff to direct you to the small door leading to the rooftop terrace, where you’ll find a rarely-visited viewpoint overlooking the city’s terracotta skyline.

9. Marché Victor Hugo

The city’s premier covered market showcases the best of southwestern French gastronomy.
Insider Tip: Skip the ground-floor tourist-filled restaurants and head upstairs to Le Louchebem, where butchers from the market below have their own steaks prepared for lunch while chatting about the city’s rugby prospects.

10. Pont Neuf

Despite its name (“New Bridge”), this is Toulouse’s oldest bridge, featuring distinctive arched flood openings.
Insider Tip: The small stone platform beneath the bridge’s eastern end is where local fishermen gather at dawn, often willing to share stories of the massive catfish lurking in the Garonne’s depths.