For your summer holidays, are you torn between cultural discoveries, exploring local heritage and enjoying activities on the water? Choose Toulouse and make the most of every moment of the day to sail, explore and relax.
Along the waterways
Nautical activities
Hire an electric boat with no licence required and sail along the Garonne to explore Toulouse in a very unique way. With the “picnic aperitif” option, you can enjoy an original moment of conviviality.
For a more active day out, you can canoe or kayak right through the city centre! Accompanied by a guide, this tour will reveal the city’s natural and cultural heritage.
If you’d prefer someone else to take charge, guided barge tours are an ideal option.
Prairie des Filtres, Port Viguerie, Quai de la Daurade… all summer long the banks of the Garonne come alive with Toulouse Plages. Games, deckchairs and water sprinklers are freely available along the river.
Top tips
“Cool” ideas
À la cool : profitez d’une pause fraiche et calme allongé sur un transat au cloitre des Jacobins.
Avec des glaçons : attablez-vous en terrasse d’une guinguette en bord de Garonne.
Au vert : les grands jardins en plein centre-ville sont la bonne idée pour un pique-nique en pleine nature.
Pour visiter Toulouse en évitant les heures les plus chaudes de la journée, l’office de tourisme de Toulouse vous propose des visites thématiques en matinée, de 7h30 à 8h30, et la visite Toulouse by night de 21h45 à 23h10. Le train touristique propose des tours de ville jusqu’à 22 heures et les bateaux toulousains larguent les amarres pour une croisière nocturne sur la Garonne.
Cool down: make the most of a cooling and calming pause on a deckchair in the shaded cloister of the Jacobins Convent.
Served with ice: take your place on the terrace of a Guinguette café along the banks of the Garonne.
Back to nature: the grand gardens in the heart of the city centre are a perfect spot for a picnic in a leafy setting.
Cool visits: to avoid the hottest hours of the day, the Toulouse tourist office offers themed morning tours from 7.30am to 8.30am (tour in French), and the Toulouse by night tour from 9.45pm to 11.10pm (tour in French). The tourist train offers city tours until 10pm, and the Toulouse riverboats cast off for night cruises on the Garonne.
Sightseeing tours
TOULOUSE TOURISTIC TRAINS
Sightseeing tours
LES BATEAUX TOULOUSAINS
Where can you go for a swim? Where can you have fun in the water?
Swimming pools
The Nakache swimming pool is one of Toulouse’s summer hotspots. Designed in an art-deco style, its immense pool offers a spot of swimming in the heart of the Ile du Ramier.
In Blagnac, the Les Ramiers pool has a play area for young children aged 4 to 10.
Looking for a thrill? Head for Aqualudia in Muret, with its 6 multi-lane waterslides.
In the heart of nature
Toulouse is home to a number of lakes with leisure facilities. Lac de Sesquières with its Wam-Park and water-ski cableway, Lac de la Ramée and its water sports centre, and Lac de la Reynerie with its free summer sports programme.
Lakes for enjoying a dip close to Toulouse
For a swim in the great outdoors, the Lac de Saint-Ferréol near Revel is open to visitors throughout the summer. This is an opportunity to discover the history of this lake, which was created in the 17th century by Pierre-Paul Riquet to supply water to the Canal du Midi.
The Lac de l’Orme Blanc in Caraman is an unspoilt nature reserve in the heart of the Lauragais countryside.
Summer vibes
Big Wheels and floating Guinguettes
Located in Port Viguerie, the Big Wheel welcomes you all summer long for an exceptional view of Toulouse and the Garonne (from 14th of July). At aperitif time, hop aboard the Horizon barge for a gourmet cruise.
Audio tour in English
Welcome to Toulouse
Discover Toulouse’s must-see sights and enjoy magnificent panoramic views from the banks of the Garonne. Your guide? Rewind, the audio tour app.
The guide’s voice accompanies you on your 1h30/2h long tour, and the stories are automatically triggered as you go along, according to your geographical position. Start your tour when you like, stop it and start again when you like!