Paris has many qualities, including the fact that it occupies a prominent place in guidebooks about France. Other cities, however, have their own selling points. Some are by the sea. Others know just what to do with a bottle of wine, an old factory, or your sweet tooth. <\/p>\n
So, which French city is really worth a visit? The answer depends on what you like to do once you get there. Admiring monuments, of course. But also choosing a restaurant, stepping inside a shop, and walking around with no particular destination in mind. All those little things that ultimately determine whether you enjoyed your stay. <\/p>\n
Here are a few suggestions to help you choose based on your preferences. From Toulouse, where our hotel\u2014the H\u00f4tel d\u2019Orsay, which offers the best value for money<\/a>\u2014is located, we\u2019ve made an effort to remain impartial. You\u2019ll have to take this into account, because as lovers of our city, we naturally consider it the most beautiful place on Earth. <\/p>\n For cultural enrichment, choose the stories that appeal to you<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cA cultural city\u201d: the phrase is convenient, but it encompasses very different realities. You might love Romanesque churches but find an art exhibition boring; devour art museums but not find any pieces to your taste; admire the architecture and its history but not be able to find your way around the historic neighborhoods\u2014or get lost in them. <\/p>\n Lyon appeals to lovers of urban history, with its historic neighborhoods and traboules\u2014those passageways that run through the buildings. Strasbourg offers a window into Alsatian history and its French and German influences. Toulouse brings together, in a single destination, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Cit\u00e9 de l\u2019Espace. The contrast is quite pleasant. Above all, the historic center feels tiny to anyone accustomed to large cities. And yet, it\u2019s packed with cultural treasures, museums, and architectural wonders that are all within walking distance. <\/p>\n What matters is finding places to visit that you\u2019ll want to talk about. Explore the collections, the venues, and the themes. Two discoveries that excite you are a better start to your trip than twelve \u201cmust-see\u201d spots you\u2019ve checked off out of a sense of duty. No one will be collecting your \u201canswers\u201d when you leave. <\/p>\n Toulouse is especially well-suited for those who enjoy moving from one world to another. Its historic heritage, the historic center and its museums<\/a>, and scientific adventures like the Cit\u00e9 de l\u2019Espace<\/a> or the Halle de la Machine offer a wide variety of ways to spend a day. This is especially handy when your travel companions\u2019 tastes don\u2019t exactly match your own. <\/p>\n When it comes to fine dining, follow your appetite<\/b><\/p>\n In this regard, competition from France is frankly unfair.<\/p>\n Lyon is known for its bouchons, its quenelles, and a whole tradition of hearty cuisine. Bordeaux invites you to connect the contents of your glass to the surrounding vineyards. Nice offers a whole different repertoire with socca, farcis, and pan bagnat. It makes perfect sense to choose a destination based on what you want to eat there. <\/p>\n In Toulouse, the Victor-Hugo Market<\/a> is a great place to start. You browse the stalls, you hesitate, and you realize that lunch is going to require more thought than you expected. Cold cuts, cheeses, and regional specialties give the Southwest a pretty compelling presence. Then it\u2019s just a matter of deciding how much of that appeal you want to take home with you. <\/p>\n Imagine your ideal meal. A long table? A few specialties to nibble on? A wine tasting at a vineyard? Your answer will help decide between the cities. Think also about everyday meals\u2014those on the second night or the last day at lunchtime\u2014they count just as much as the special occasion. As for cassoulet, it\u2019s a valid answer\u2014even if the question was originally about museums. <\/p>\n When it comes to architecture, find a setting where you’ll want to walk around<\/b><\/p>\n There are cities where you take a picture of a single building. And then there are those where you end up photographing the entire street, because the whole scene works. <\/p>\n Bordeaux charms with its light-colored stone, grand facades, and sweeping views. Strasbourg offers half-timbered buildings and the reflections of Petite France. In Toulouse, brick gives the cityscape a distinctive color that changes as the light shifts throughout the day. <\/p>\n This factor is worth considering. A city\u2019s atmosphere is with you between all your sightseeing stops: on your way to lunch, while looking for a bookstore, and as you head home in the evening. You\u2019ll likely spend more time walking its streets than standing in front of its most famous landmark. <\/p>\n Why not browse through a few photos of neighborhoods, beyond the iconic views? Do the narrow streets draw you in? Do you like large squares, inner courtyards, and slightly irregular facades? In Toulouse, the pleasure often lies in looking up at just the right moment. To understand this color that everyone talks about, we\u2019ve dedicated an article to the history of the \u201cPink City<\/a>.\u201d We think the result turned out pretty well. So does the city. <\/p>\n For a taste of the good life, take a look at what happens between visits<\/b><\/p>\n At nine o’clock, some people want to be in front of a museum. Others look for a sidewalk caf\u00e9 and think the day is off to a great start. <\/p>\n Before choosing your destination, imagine the times when you won\u2019t have anything planned. Do you prefer strolling along the seafront, watching the boats in a harbor, exploring the shops, or spending a long time at a restaurant? Nice and Marseille naturally attract lovers of the Mediterranean. Annecy combines an old town with walks along the lake. <\/p>\n Toulouse offers a lifestyle centered around squares, neighborhoods, and riverbanks. Its historic center is best explored on foot; it\u2019s easy to find spots to take a break along the way. Depending on the time of day, you can seek out the hustle and bustle or simply settle in to watch the city go by. <\/p>\n Perhaps the real test is this: Would you enjoy coming back to the same place tomorrow? A caf\u00e9 you revisit, a neighborhood whose streets you\u2019re beginning to recognize, a walk taken at a different time\u2014these things lend your stay a pleasant sense of familiarity. At the Orsay, we love this idea of travel. It also leaves time to go home and rest. <\/p>\n When it comes to climate, specify what you expect from the South<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cGoing to the South\u201d can mean quite different kinds of vacations. In Nice, the sea is part of everyday life during your stay. In Toulouse, you\u2019re in the Southwest, inland. The Garonne River is picturesque, but we\u2019d rather avoid any misunderstandings when it comes time to pack our beach towels. <\/p>\n Also, choose based on the season and your activities. If you\u2019re going to be walking for several hours, the temperature matters. When it comes to outdoor seating, the weather has the final say. For museums, a rainy day can be a great excuse. <\/p>\n Toulouse gets hot in the summer, so it\u2019s best to adjust your schedule and plan for breaks. Our guide to visiting Toulouse when it\u2019s hot<\/a> offers some practical tips. The sun is a major draw for tourists\u2014until you start looking for shade. <\/p>\n For originality, leave room for a surprise<\/b><\/p>\n A destination can also be appealing because you don’t quite know what to expect yet. It’s nice to discover a city that you haven’t already seen in countless photos. <\/p>\n Toulouse brings together elements that are rarely associated with one another: medieval heritage, the aerospace industry, the markets of southwestern France, and mechanical creatures at the Halle de La Machine. That provides plenty to talk about even before rugby comes up. <\/p>\n This variety is important when traveling in a group. It allows you to share choices and lets everyone lead the others to a new discovery. Sometimes, the outing that was suggested with the least enthusiasm ends up being the one everyone talks about afterward. <\/p>\n So look for a city that can surprise you in the areas that interest you. In Toulouse, our page dedicated to off-the-beaten-path discoveries<\/a> can give you some ideas. We\u2019ll save the details for when you start planning your trip. <\/p>\n So, which French city is worth visiting on your next trip?<\/b><\/p>\n When it comes to the sea, Nice and Marseille have obvious appeal. If you\u2019re looking to combine city life with Alpine scenery, Annecy is worth considering. For wine, Bordeaux; for a trip where dining takes center stage, Lyon has a strong reputation. Strasbourg will particularly appeal to those seeking the architectural and cultural character of Alsace. <\/p>\n Toulouse is worth adding to your list if you enjoy combining history, fine dining, points of interest, and neighborhood life. It\u2019s the perfect place to plan a varied trip, with a few major attractions and some more spontaneous moments. We\u2019ll readily admit that we have a soft spot for this kind of trip. <\/p>\n Now you\u2019re wondering what to do in Toulouse? Our article on planning a weekend in the city<\/a> takes it from here, with ideas to help you go from choosing your destination to enjoying your time there. <\/p>\n