Travel Information

By Plane

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

Toulouse has an international airport (TLS) located approximately 7 km from the city center, with 82 destinations and 80 daily flights. The airport is well-connected to major European cities and offers both traditional and low-cost carrier options.

From the airport to city center:

  • Airport Shuttle Bus (Navette Aéroport): Operated by Tisséo, shuttles depart every 20 minutes from exit C2 on the arrivals level. Travel time is approximately 20-45 minutes depending on traffic. The shuttle stops at central locations:
    • Compans-Caffarelli (closest to Université Toulouse Capitole)
    • Jeanne d’Arc
    • Matabiau train station
  • Fare: €8.00 each way, valid for 1 hour on the entire Tisséo network
  • Schedule: 5:40 AM to 12:15 AM (towards city), 5:00 AM to 9:20 PM (towards airport)
  • More information: www.tisseo.fr
  • Tram: The T2 tram line connects the airport to the city center (Palais de Justice stop connects to Metro Line B)
  • Taxi: Available at the airport. Approximate cost to city center: €25-35
  • Private Transfer: Pre-booked transfers and shared shuttles are also available

By Train

Toulouse is well-connected to major French and European cities via its main railway station, Gare Matabiau (also known as Toulouse Matabiau):

Connections in France:

  • Paris: 4.5 hours (via Bordeaux)
  • Bordeaux: 2 hours
  • Montpellier: 2 hours
  • Lyon: 4 hours
  • Marseille: 4 hours

International connections:

  • Barcelona: 3-4 hours
  • Madrid: 9-10 hours (with connections)

More information:

From Gare Matabiau to Université Toulouse Capitole:

  • Take Metro Line A from Marengo-SNCF station to Capitole station (~10-minute walk to university)
  • Or walk from the Gare Matabiau to Jeanne d’Arc (~10 minutes) and take the Metro Line B to Compans-Caffarelli
  • Otherwise, UT Capitole is only a 20 minute walk from the Gare Matabiau

By Car

Toulouse has excellent motorway connections:

  • A61: from Carcassonne, Montpellier, Barcelona
  • A62: from Bordeaux, Paris, Agen
  • A64: from Tarbes, Lourdes, Bayonne
  • A68: from Lyon, Albi

When approaching Toulouse, follow signs for “Toulouse Centre.” The city center has numerous parking facilities, though street parking can be challenging. Several parkings are located near the university (Compans-Caffarelli and Arnaud Bernard).

Public Transportation in Toulouse

Toulouse has an efficient public transport network operated by Tisséo (www.tisseo.fr). Tickets of 1,80€ for single rides can be purchased at any metro station and credit cards can be used directly to enter buses and metro stations. The transportation system has:

  • 2 metro lines (A and B)
  • 2 tram lines (T1 and T2)
  • 84 bus routes
  • Services to over 80 communes in the metropolitan area

Useful for conference attendees:

  • Metro Line B: Compans-Caffarelli station is closest to Université Toulouse Capitole (7-minute walk)
  • Metro Line A: Capitole station is about 10 minutes walk from the university
  • Toulouse City Pass: Includes unlimited public transport plus free or reduced entry to museums and attractions
    • 1 day: €15
    • 2 days: €22
    • 3 days: €29
  • VélôToulouse: City bike service with stations located throughout the city, and the city has bike lanes  Subscriptions range from a single ride to yearly service:
    • 1 ride: €1
    • 24H: €2
    • 1 year: €2.12 / month