This underrated French city is just as beautiful as Paris, only much cheaper to visit

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With its gleaming Eiffel Tower, grandiose Haussmann boulevards and an abundance of museums and… palaces, it’s really no wonder that Paris is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Unfortunately for most visitors, it’s far from the idyllic, romantic getaway they’ve been idealizing for years:

Imagine an overwhelming crowd covering every inch of the Champs de Mars, the famous park overlooking the Eiffel Tower, impatient waiters who will internally roll their eyes at your attempts to practice French, and long lines at virtually every baker in the historic center.

They know little about it there is a much more peaceful and affordable alternative to Paris, Also known for its beautiful architecture. Tourists may well head to the capital to get a taste of it La Vie en Rosebut this smaller town in the south of France is exactly named La Ville Rose.

‘Je vois La Vill-e (en) Rose…’

Dubbed by The opinion as one of France’s top destinations this year, Toulouse is a charming city on the banks of the fast-flowing Garonne River.

While the Seine riverbank in Paris is known for its row fin de siècle buildings, the Garonne is backed by terracotta brick buildings that typically glow rose-tinted gold during sunset hours. This phenomenon has given Toulouse the nickname ‘The Pink City’.

The river itself is spanned by a series of photogenic bridges, most notably the Pont Neuf, a 16th-century crossing built in stone, which connects the center, where most of the cultural attractions are, with the suburb of Saint-Cyprien.

Oh, and unlike in Paris, you don’t have to map landmarks several metro stops apart, or worry too much about logistics: most of Toulouse can be explored on foot.

A beautiful old town

Pont Neuf is usually a good starting point to explore Toulouse as it is located right in the city. From there it is just a 15 minute walk to Place du Capitolethe central square of the old town, and the perfect place to grab a croissant, sit on a terrace and people watch.

Directly on the central square you will also find the Capitole itself, the only large building around it that houses both the town hall and a theater. Much is said about the chandelier-lit rooms of the Palais Garnier in Paris, but in our book they are beautifully decorated with frescoes Hall of Illustres inside Toulouse Capitole is just as stunning.

Be sure to visit the area around the square Basilica Saint-Sernin, an imposing Romanesque church That preceded Gothic architecture, and it is considered the largest extant of its kind in Europe. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nearby, the Couvent des Jacobins is another must-see: a historic monastery dating back to the Middle Ages and built in the classical style Toulousain fashion. Yes, with the same red bricks that flank the cobbled alleys surrounding it.

UNESCO-protected monuments abound

On the north side of the river, in Saint-Cyprien, you will see the Church of Saint Nicholas, a small Gothic style church with a vaulted ceiling decorated with stars, and The slaughterhousesthe city’s museum of modern and contemporary art.

This part of the city is much cooler than the actual Old Town, complete with green parks, such as Prairie des FiltersAnd scenic walks along the river along the Garonne. Come spring the grass will be filled with locals picnicking in the sun.

For history buffs, this side of Toulouse has as many notable sights as the city center: Saint-Cyprien, for example, is host to Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacquesa medieval hospital that is also on the World Heritage List for its impressive size and state of preservation.

Regardless of left or right, no visit to Toulouse is complete without a bike ride downhill Canal du MidiA UNESCO protected canal considered an extraordinary feat of engineering from the 17th century, which connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea to facilitate trade, and ran straight through Toulouse.

Toulouse is 40% cheaper than Paris

Apart from its architecture and medieval heritage, Toulouse is a cheaper destination than Paris. That doesn’t mean it’s cheap in Albania either, but if you’re worried that a long weekend in the City of Light will empty your wallet, the Pink City is a much safer bet.

In general, restaurant outings cost about the same, but the big difference lies in hotels and secondary expenses:

An average of 3 nights stay in Paris it might cost you $870 (2 adults), while in Toulouse the average cost is $500. To summarize, Toulouse is about 40% cheaper than Parisaccording to data provided by Numbeo.

Looking for other incredible cities in France that have yet to be spoiled by mass tourism, and that won’t break the bank? Try these 3 lesser-known medieval gems.

Vinicius Costa

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Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.