10 Activities to Enjoy Toulouse as a Family

The Natural History Museum of Toulouse is perfectly located in the centre of the city and is easily accessible by public transport or by car. Parking is available in the green zone in the Allées Jules Guesde where you can park for up to 4 hours. The entrance of the museum is through the Botanic Gardens. The exhibition rooms are real sources of knowledge containing a lot of information encouraging reflection on the relationship between man, nature and the environment. Before or after your visit, have lunch or a snack in the pleasant setting of the Moaï restaurant, located on the ground floor with a terrace overlooking the botanic gardens. It's easily accessible for people with disabilities.

The fine houses of Toulouse bike tour starts at the Saint-Etienne Cathedral and then goes through the district of Les Carmes, famous for its charming lanes. Elegant facades, narrow streets and interesting things to see follow one after the other to the rhythm of your pedal strokes. Don't forget to get off your bicycle to take a look at what goes on behind an open door, to appreciate pretty stone lacework, statuettes and elegant balconies adorned with wrought iron. It's a real awakening to architecture for little ones, who will also be delighted to let off steam on their bikes!

The artistic works of the Toulouse metro, on lines A and B, include some 40 works A and B of the Toulouse metro, some forty works by contemporary artists to brighten passengers' surroundings. Those in the know will recognise the styles of Sophie Calle, Bernar Venet, Michel Verjux, Jean-Pierre Bertrand and Roman Oplaka. A dozen works of art are also displayed on the T1 and T2 tram lines. It is a lovely way to awaken your children's artistic senses as they climb on board the train or tram. To make the most of it, and to get your teenagers involved, download the free ARTéo app, which lets you design a route to enjoy the works of art.

The Quai des Petits at the Quai des Savoirs features a multi-activity area spread over 3 rooms and aimed at children under the age of 7. With a magic mirror, a strange tunnel, curious liquids and an emotions photo booth, your children will discover the fascinating world of science through play, observation, listening and experimenting. This activity is free for children under 2 years old and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. Adults must accompany children and booking is necessary, via Festik, as the places for each session of 1 and a half hours are limited to 70 participants. Buggy parking is available at the entrance via Allée Matilda. Get there using public transport; bus, tram and metro stops are close by. Or park your car in the green zone in Allées Jules Guesde.

Puzzles and challenges across the pink city allow you to experience themed and unusual trips around Toulouse in a friendly, hands-on atmosphere. There are no guides here as such, but storytellers with a passion for culture, who, above all, want to offer you a pleasant time while enriching your knowledge of the pink city. The concept is constantly being reinvented, depending on the festivities that take place during the year: Toulouse's famous women are honoured on 8 March, and love takes centre stage for a Valentine's Day special. These are just a few examples, as this concept brings to you a perpetual rediscovery of the city of violets.

Experience Toulouse with Violette Mirgue and let this mouse guide you through the city. So open the book 'Mystère et Fromage à Toulouse' (Mystery and Cheese in Toulouse) and read this thrilling adventure to your children while discovering the Capitole, the Cité de l’Espace, the Bazacle, the Museum and so many other well-known places in the city. Spare their little feet by climbing on a tram or taking a welcome rest at an ice-cream parlour, for example. There's nothing like taking your time with the kids.

The ponies of the Botanical Gardens are available for rides in this oasis of calm that's just a stone's throw from the town centre and draws you in with charming waterfalls, fountains surrounded by flowers and ducks, swans and geese swimming in the stream that runs through it. It's easily accessible by public transport or by car, parking in the green area in the Allées Jules Guesde. Not only is it the ideal place for a picnic, but your children can also enjoy pony rides. At the end of their ride, your kids can climb on the merry-go-round, open daily from 2 pm, or the little train to discover the many attractions of this 7-hectare public garden with hundreds of plant varieties.

Experience Toulouse with the Géodysée application, and your children will have a good reason to stay connected to their smartphone or tablet. Following the Dys, imaginary characters, your young adventurers can crisscross the pink city on a mysterious quest. There are several themed routes, and a personalised version is even available. Whatever your choice, there are puzzles to solve, historical anecdotes to listen to about the places you visit and quizzes to answer. Young or old, everyone quickly gets into the game and no one notices the kilometres covered on the streets of Toulouse. All participants are included in a leader table of the fastest, which is additional motivation to discover the secrets of Toulouse!

The Musee de la Resistance et de la Deportation immerses you in the darkest hours of history and makes you more aware of how lucky we are to live in peace today. This free museum remembers the drama of the Second World War through documents, photographs, weapons and period objects and also aims to teach citizenship. It's easy to get there by tram or metro; get off at the Saint-Michel – Marcel-Langer station. As soon as they arrive, children over the age of 7 are given a visit and games booklet that allows them to discover the museum's permanent exhibitions in a fun way.

La Halle de la Machine and the Minotaur lead young and old alike into an absolutely fantastic world. Whether they weigh a few grams or several tons, machines such as a wine-serving machine, a tilting nightingale and a bread catapult each tell their own story and impress with their movement as well as having an impact that makes them absolutely unique. The impressive Minotaur can sometimes be seen wandering around the Montraudan neighbourhood with 50 people on board. Arachnophobes shudder when they meet the moving eyes of the giant spider; only the most reckless dare to climb onto its head to slip into the skin of its operators. As enchanting as you can imagine, the Manège Carré Sénart has the power to bring all generations together for a fabulous imaginary journey. Visit, travel or workshop with the family. Whatever the desired activity, booking is strongly recommended.