AtaraxiaThe Christmas Market has made its grand return to Toulouse. It’s been a tradition for us for a long time, and we’re sharing our tips for a lovely festive day here in our hometown, Toulouse.
- Arriving in the City
For a good visit, you can choose between the metro, the bus, and the car. Personally, we recommend the metro or the car, depending on where you’re coming from.
The bus: it’s slow, often crowded, and costs at least 2 euros per ticket, which we’re not fans of.
The metro, which is available at key locations around the city, is a bit cheaper than the bus if you buy the ticket at the station.
The car is not the best option, I admit, but since we’re on the outskirts of Toulouse, we don’t really have another way to get closer to the city without using a car.
However, we never venture into the city center, where the streets are always clogged. We prefer to go through Jolimont and La Roseraie to park at the Jean Jaurès parking lot.
Either way, head to Jean Jaurès to begin a special festive day with the Christmas market in Toulouse.
- The Christmas Market
Once you’re there, you can enjoy the start of the Christmas Market on the Jean Jaurès Ramblas. The small stalls are open at any time, so it’s a good idea to start your visit with the first stalls on the Ramblas. Then head to Rue Alsace Lorraine, where you can buy your last-minute Christmas gifts in one of the largest streets in the city, beautifully decorated. Our favorites are “Ma Jolie Bougie,” “Bocage,” and “Happy Wool” for wool fans. After your shopping, head to “Ras la tasse” to treat yourself to a delicious hot chocolate, chai, or a mocha. You can also play free games with your family or read a book available on-site.
- An Optional Exhibition
If you arrived early, be patient; the best part of Toulouse comes at dusk. While waiting, you can walk about 30 minutes to reach Les Abattoirs and enjoy their charming exhibition in collaboration with the Château d’Eau. What interests us here, though, is the temporary exhibition of Toulouse rapper Oli. We’ll tell you more about it right here.
- The Christmas Market at the Capitol
Finally, as night falls, head to the Capitol, the center of Toulouse. You can enjoy the stalls, eat a tartiflette or a warm Christmas dish, and accompany it with a good mulled wine, red or white, depending on your preference, or if you’re like me, a hot chocolate. For dessert, you can choose from crepes, waffles, Christmas specialties, and more. The bravest among you can go ice skating on the rink, and for less than 3 euros, you can access the special Christmas photobooth at the market.
- A Stroll to Digest
Finally, the best Christmas lights are in the city center, passing through the main streets of Toulouse and showcasing the most beautiful illuminations in the city. Visit the Saint Sernin carousel, the events near the Capitol metro station, or stroll along the quays of Saint Pierre. My little guilty pleasure is grabbing some roasted chestnuts at the entrance of Saint-Rome and walking through Alsace Lorraine, looking up to admire the lights before finally sitting by the Garonne River to enjoy the reflections on the water.
We’ve written an article with everything we’ve written about Christmas. You can always check it out if you’re feeling a lack of Christmas spirit, and if needed, we’ve provided the Toulouse website to help you with the day’s program.
