France : Safety by City
- Bordeaux
- Le Havre
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Martinique
- Montpellier
- Nantes
- Nice
- Nimes
- Paris
- Reims
- Rennes
- Strasbourg
- Toulon
- Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in southwestern France, situated halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
It is also the fourth largest city in France, after Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
This city is also called “la Ville Rose” meaning – the pink city.
Most of the city’s population is comprised of youngsters coming to the city for studies.
Toulouse is a bustling vibrant city, where the majority of the population are students due to a large number of universities offering courses in Aerospace, Sciences, and Business.
Also, the weather is often quite nice, warm but not too much, and you are very close to the sea (Narbonne), the Pyrenees for skiing or hiking, and the Ocean.
Warnings & Dangers in Toulouse
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Generally speaking, Toulouse is safe as much as other cities in France. But keep in mind that it is always wise to keep a close eye on your belongings and your surroundings.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Transportation and taxis are generally safe and reliable in Toulouse, though many pickpockets are cramming in other forms of public transport. Taxis are usually your safest bet.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets are common in Toulouse, and there is also an increased number of beggars. Pay attention to your belongings, don’t leave them in plain sight and be especially careful in crowded places like stations or near tourist attractions.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Floods are the most common natural disaster that could hit Toulouse. It's not too worrisome, however, since these risks aren't common.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Muggings, kidnappings and other forms of violent crimes do not tend to happen in Toulouse but avoid the Northern parts of the city that tend to be rather sketchy, especially at night.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
Since this country has been targeted by terrorists numerous times, (as well as some countries near France, such as Denmark or Belgium) there is a reason to believe that this country can be targeted again. This is why it is important to remain aware of your surroundings at all times and report any suspicious activity.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There are no known scams in Toulouse but it is still wise to be cautious on the streets, and check everything twice, especially your change.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Toulouse is safe to travel to if you are a female traveling solo. Apply all the general precaution rules such as not walking alone in poorly lit and deserted areas, not finding yourself in the strange company at night.
So... How Safe Is Toulouse Really?
Like most of France, Toulouse is a very safe city, and you probably won’t have any problems, but it is still advised that you apply all precaution measures that you would in your own country and your city.
It is always a rule of thumb to keep a close eye on your belongings and your surroundings since the larger cities are filled with pickpockets and petty theft.
Generally, Toulouse is safe at night too, but you may try to avoid northern Toulouse.
Crimes, like muggings, are likely to occur in that area.
Also, avoid roaming around the areas and poorly lit streets where you might run into some street gangs.
Just common sense about security is applied as in any other city.
There are certain areas of Toulouse that you probably won’t feel comfortable walking around in at night, particularly near the bridge and airport.
It has less to do with the fact some dangerous people or events happen there and more to do with the fact that the area is so vacant at night, that you just wouldn’t want to be there if something did happen.
The majority of Toulouse is closed in the evenings, and the area near the bridge after dark is highly unpleasant.
The only people that can be seen after about 8:30 in Toulouse are sporadic hoodlums or teenagers running around and people too drunk to drive home.
How Does Toulouse Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Toulouse |
57 |
| Martinique |
78 |
| Rennes |
65 |
| Nantes |
56 |
| Le Havre |
63 |
| Marseille |
55 |
| Montpellier |
48 |
 Burbank | 86 |
| Niagara Falls | 63 |
 Split | 67 |
| Silver Spring | 82 |
 Madeira | 91 |
| Alexandria | 47 |
Useful Information
Visas
Most countries do not need a visa to enter France, for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you might need to acquire a visa. EU nationals can stay (and work) in France for as long as they like. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local French embassy.
Currency
Euro is the official currency for Toulouse. You can find ATMs at every airport, most train stations and on every other street corner in all towns and cities. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country.
Weather
The climate in Toulouse is mild and generally warm and temperate. The city has plenty of sunny weather, the summers are warm and mostly clear and the winters are very cold and partly cloudy.
Airports
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport is an international airport serving the city of Toulouse. It is located some 6.7 km west-northwest of Toulouse.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Toulouse, since it covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Toulouse Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 10 |
| Low °C |
2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| High °F |
48 | 52 | 57 | 61 | 68 | 75 | 81 | 81 | 75 | 66 | 55 | 50 |
| Low °F |
36 | 37 | 39 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 59 | 59 | 55 | 50 | 41 | 36 |
France - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 63 |
| Le Havre | 63 |
| Lille | 56 |
| Lyon | 72 |
| Marseille | 55 |
| Martinique | 78 |
| Montpellier | 48 |
| Nantes | 56 |
| Nice | 73 |
| Nimes | 65 |
| Paris | 70 |
| Reims | 68 |
| Rennes | 65 |
| Strasbourg | 74 |
| Toulon | 64 |
| Toulouse | 57 |
Neighbourhoods to avoid
Here are the neighbourhoods to avoid at all cost:
– Bagatelle
– le Mirail
– Bellefontaine
– Reynerie
– Basso Cambo
– les Izards
– Barrière de Paris
– Empalot
– Borderouge
Accurate list – those are dangerous places (and even more at night).
Also avoid “Place Arnaud Bernard” and surroundings in the city center, drugs and people who aren’t that nice.
Not what it once was
Great city ruined by a lot of bad apples and this goes for a lot of French cities. You will experience nagging from people asking for money or food, you might find yourself with no wallet or ID or if you’re terribly unlucky you might be mugged.
This is about accurate, really. I have the same impressions as you as far as this city goes. Before people blame solely the fault of immigration on this matter, a lot of these scammers and obnoxious pests I’ve met down here in Toulouse have been WHITE. That’s not to say they can’t be any other race (actually, Arab/Berber is still probably the most common overrepresented minority group overall) but this tells me there’s an issue of France that goes beyond letting immigrants pour in their country – def related to something spiritual and moral on a very elite scale in my opinion
It’s interesting how Toulouse feels like a student city everywhere you go, but sometimes it seems like that youthful energy might overshadow its rich history.
Toulouse has such a great vibe, especially with all the students around; it really brings a sense of energy to the city that’s hard to find elsewhere.