Trains to Toulouse Matabiau

Toulouse Matabiau train station

Toulouse Matabiau train station, which dates back to 1856, is located northeast of Toulouse’s historic centre. The current passenger building, which was built in 1905, is even classified as a historic monument, and so it’s not one to miss! Over 350 trains travel through Toulouse Matabiau train station every day, using its 12 platforms, which allows visitors from both near and far to travel here easily. It takes 5h30mins to reach the city from Paris-Montparnasse, 4h00mins from Lyon-Part-Dieu using the high-speed TGV trains, and there are numerous other intercity trains from Nice, Marseille and Hendaye, as well as TER services throughout the Midi-Pyrénées region. This train station is also well connected with Toulouse itself, being ideally situated on the Marengo-SNCF metro line and close to the Tisséo bus station. It is therefore easy to travel between the station and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport — a handy link for any traveller!

Main attractions near Toulouse Matabiau train station

Seeing the city’s sites after arriving at Toulouse Matabiau train station couldn’t be easier. Visitors can walk alongside the scenic canal or head to the many nearby parks and gardens. Particular sites to look out for include the Grand Rond, which is 25 minutes from the station and packed full of trees, flowers and mosaics, as well as the picturesque Jardin Royal, or the Jardin des Plantes with its educational museum of natural history.

To really become immersed in the so-called Pink City, why not head to the Capitole? It’s just a 15-minute walk southeast from the station. From here, visitors can go to the Hôtel de Ville and the Théâtre National, which make for a beautiful spot to meet up. Next, visitors could head 8 minutes north on Rue de Compostelle, over to the Basilique Saint-Sernin, which is famed for its 11th-century Romanesque art. Heading west, another 5-minute walk leads to the unmissable Couvent des Jacobins, which is a prime example of French Gothic architecture. It underwent major restauration in the 20th century and now also houses a museum.

It is impossible to leave Toulouse without first sampling some of the region’s specialities. Just a 5-minute stroll from the station is a moored barge, where visitors can purchase foie gras, confit and violet sweets. Or, if travellers fancy a slightly longer walk, they could head to the covered Victor Hugo market, which provides the opportunity to sample and purchase the region’s most famous products!