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Do you think Paris is the most beautiful city in France?
We hate to break it to you, but… it’s time to reevaluate.
I loved visiting Paris for the first time, wandering the streets late at night and giving my best Owen Wilson ‘wow’ at every turn.
But Paris certainly also has a dark underbelly, which drives travelers away and pretends it doesn’t exist, while being mesmerized by the iconic Eiffel Tower and an endless array of classic landmarks.
That said, what if we told you? There is a city in France that may be more beautifulequally romantic, less crowded and much less touristy without sketchy vendors selling trinkets and ruining your perfect photo?
In that case, let us introduce it to you Toulouse – known as France’s “Pink City” – and just touted by National Geographic as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for a summer getaway.
A fraction of the price of Paris
The last time we posted about Toulouse, besides its sheer beauty, we revealed one of the best aspects of Toulouse: your wallet.
Not that I was shocked at how expensive Paris was; I was more shocked by the fact that it is one of the most visited destinations in the world while being expensive.
Since France is such a mega-popular country, there must be more to see and more affordable ways to see it, right?
Toulouse is about 40% cheaper across the board than Paris, where you can expect a nice meal for around $17, hotels almost half the price of Paris at around $100 a night, and museums costing just $10 or so.
Now we’re not saying we expect the Louvre (or what’s left of it) in Toulouse, but have European museums ever been disappointed?
Not that I’ve seen.
In fact, most museums in Toulouse push 5 stars on Google, and the Augustinian Museum just reopened.
But if you’re like me, the food budget is almost completely disconnected from the rest of your expenses.
Hey, I’m a glutton – and there’s no better place to loosen the belt than France, such renowned culinary playground.
According to MichelinMantesino is one of Toulouse’s best budget-friendly restaurants, where you can still enjoy a quality meal without having to settle for Mickey D’s while twirling your mustache.
France’s blushing city: is Toulouse really pink?
Full disclosure: my ex always thought I was color blind, while I insisted she was the crazy one (still does!).
We used to have a certain (playful) discussion about whether one of my shirts was purple or blue.
As I cycle through the countless photos of Toulouse, I wonder why it’s called the ‘Pink City’ when, if we’re being honest, there isn’t much pink going on.
For a moment I thought my ex was right for once, until I discovered how Toulouse got its striking name…
This city was largely built of pink terracotta brickbut even up close it’s not the bubblegum pink shade most of us imagine.
In other words, if there is a Barbie sequel, you probably won’t see Ryan Gosling skating around Toulouse in head-to-toe hot pink.
The magic really happens at sunset, when the glow hits the blushing cityscape and brings out the ‘pink city’ that continues to plague Toulouse all day long.
There is no denying that this city is breathtakingly beautiful with its riverside promenades and centuries-old brick facades, but you’ll want to make some time to witness both the sunset and sunrise when the pink side really comes to life.
It’s not just the postcard sunsets that are a draw; there are numerous UNESCO-protected monuments Worth a visit, and even without the pink hues, Toulouse’s Old Town is one of the most picturesque you’ll ever encounter, laden with cozy sidewalk cafes and towering, timeless cathedrals.
How safe is France this summer?
As one of the most visited countries in the world, travelers can feel confident exploring France from city to city, beach to beach and village to village.
While places like Marseille are notoriously tense and certain parts of Paris aren’t exactly a Woody Allen portrait, lesser-known cities like Toulouse often feel safer.
According to Travel Safe Abroad, travelers have largely done that low risks across the board, from robberies to scams and women traveling alone.
Especially our own real time The safety index shows that a majority of tourists feel safe visiting France as a whole, scoring 84/100 at the time of writing:
