Last Updated on October 16, 2023
If you are flying in or out of Toulouse Airport for your trip to Cap d’Agde, I would strongly recommend to try and spend 2 or 3 nights or so in this beautiful region.
As the capital of the mid-Pyrenees area, this is a lovely and yet so often ignored city in southern France, with so much to do and see.
Introduction to Toulouse
Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France and is a popular university town and is known for its aerospace industry as home to Airbus.
This is a lovely city though also for just exploring or for sitting in an outdoor cafe and enjoying the great summer weather.
The city sits at the crossroads of two major rivers and hence a walk along the Garonne river can be a very pleasant way to also enjoy this city, or another option is to take a boat ride along the Garonne.
In one of the bars make sure, by the way, to try one of the most popular cocktails in France and easy to find here in Toulouse – the ‘kir,’ cocktail with crème de cassis (which is a blackcurrant liqueur).
Getting from Toulouse to Le Cap d’Agde
From Toulouse, you have a few options and they are as follows:
Driving
The drive is quite a simple one and, if you are planning to hire a car anyway, then you basically just need to follow the A61.
Agde is roughly 100 Km from Toulouse and a relatively easy and relaxing drive on the A61.
Make sure though to avoid the weekend closest to the 2nd of August!
Tip: This is when thousands of French people head south for their summer vacation and then the weekend around the 23rd August when they head back again north. The roads are hectic at this time.
Once you are in Agde, you will begin to see the signs for Le Cap d’Agde.
Airport Transfers
You can get an affordable airport transfer direct to the resort and this option works out as a very viable option if you are 3 or more people.
If you are travelling as a group of say 4 people with bags, then this can be a good choice (More info here).
Train
Depending on the train you get, it usually takes between 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes to get from Toulouse to Agde by train.
Prices tend to be around 45 Euros one way and you will usually have to change in Narbonne.
Do not forget that you must search for ‘Agde’ as the train station and not ‘Cap d’Agde’. (More on trains to Agde here).
Location of Toulouse v Agde
Things Must See in Toulouse
Airbus Museum
The first thing I would highly recommend to see and which is a newly opened museum and attraction is the AirBus museum and tour.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see how aeroplanes are made and to experience something really quite different from your average tourist attraction.
You can visit the official site for full booking information and the site is in English. Make sure to book at least 2 days in advance and note that you need to take your passport or ID card (if you are European).
Fronton Wine Region
Just north of Toulouse, you can do a private tour which takes just over 6 hours and which leaves from Toulouse city centre.
You will be taken by mini-van driver to the vineyard, prices include entrance and wine tastings.
Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
This museum is a great opportunity to experience what for me is one of the best museums in the region.
Expect to see some beautiful collections inside the museum and the architecture of the building itself is stunning.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a world-famous painter who was considered one of the best post-impressionist period painters. A large number of his works can be seen in this museum.
Where to Stay in Toulouse
Toulouse does attract its fair share of tourists, particularly in the summer months.
There is though a good supply of affordable high-quality hotels and a good range of choices. Below are three I have stayed in and which I can personally recommend.
Pullman Toulouse
(84, Allées Jean Jaurès) – A high-end 5-star hotel in the very centre of Toulouse, the Pullman Toulouse for an average of EUR175 a night, is worth the cost.
Newly renovated, and very clean (at least it was when I stayed both times), this is a stylish and very welcoming place to stay.
Very friendly staff each time I stayed and walkable from the train station. Roughly 20 minutes drive from the airport.
Worth staying if only for the amazing breakfast they provide!
>> BOOK HERE!
Hôtel Le Père Léon
(2 Place Esquirol) – For a cheaper option, the 3 Star Le Père Léon is a great choice and, in terms of value, this is one hotel which you cannot go too far wrong with.
Another fantastically situated hotel, right in the centre. Very close to a metro station, another very good hotel if a good breakfast is important to you and close to all main attractions.
Decent sized and clean rooms.
>> BOOK HERE!
