A Travel Price Comparison for France Toulouse vs. Marseille for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Toulouse or Marseille?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Toulouse and Marseille can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Toulouse

Toulouse is a dynamic, historic, and vibrant city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Toulouse offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Toulouse travel costs.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. With stunning beauty, Marseille attracts visitors from all around. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Marseille travel costs.

Toulouse and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toulouse or Marseille?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Toulouse than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Toulouse, Toulouse has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Toulouse is very popular for its museums and attractions and big city activities, while Marseille attracts visitors for its nightlife, beaches, historical sights, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Marseille is more touristy than Toulouse and is known for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. Toulouse is famous for its impressive old town, many museums, and delicious local cuisine. It is also well known for Basilique Saint-Sernin.

How is Toulouse different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Marseille and Toulouse. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Toulouse or Marseille?

Toulouse is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Toulouse can be an interesting and educational experience. There is a long running history with countless landmarks and museums. Highlights include Basilique Saint-Sernin, Place du Capitole, Muséum de Toulouse, and Fondation Bemberg.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Toulouse or Marseille? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Toulouse and Marseille offer a number of first-rate restaurants to choose from.

Many restaurants in Toulouse have been singled out for their culinary prowess. There are many unique regional recipes that make use of poultry, cold meats, and foie gras. Toulouse sausage, cassoulet, Poulet à la Toulousaine, and Foie gras d’oie are all popular local dishes.

Eat your way through Marseille, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

Marseille is a world class party destination. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Toulouse has plenty to do after the sun goes down. You'll find a large number of students in town so the nightlife scene is active and fun. For the most lively atmosphere head to Carmes, Saint-Cyprien, or Place Saint-Pierre.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a city with good options for the beach. However, Toulouse is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Marseille. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Toulouse is not a beach destination.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town.

The rich history of Marseille can be explored in its historical center. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Toulouse. The old town is filled with terra-cota buildings and pedestrian walkways. The area flows out around the Capitole and is crossed by the Garonne.

Is the Shopping Better in Toulouse or Marseille?

If you're looking to go shopping, Toulouse and Marseille both offer plenty of high quality spots.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Toulouse. There are many great shopping districts around town including Place du Capitole, The Saint Georges district, and Rue Alsace Lorraine.

Marseille is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a city with good options for visiting Christmas markets. However, Toulouse does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille is a nice place to see Christmas markets. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Toulouse does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Toulouse or Marseille More Beautiful?

Marseille is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Marseille attracts visitors from all around. It's beauty comes from its historic architecture and beautiful neighborhoods.

Toulouse is a gorgeous place to visit. The city is full of beautiful architecture and it is divided by the Garonne River.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Families?

Toulouse is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Toulouse. The city's known for its space industry so the La Cite de l’Espace (Space Museum) is a favorite attraction for kids and adults alike. You can also visit Aeroscopia, the airplane museum. La Halle de la machine is a truly unique and impressive playground. The city also has many other museums and outdoor spaces to explore.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Couples?

Both Toulouse and Marseille are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

Toulouse is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. There are many beautiful parks, gardens, and walking paths. Make sure you take a stroll along the Canal du Midi and visit Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis. This is also a great city for visiting a spa.

Marseille is a very popular place to visit for couples. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marseille is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Toulouse is not a good destination for backpackers.

Marseille is a good city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Toulouse is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a major stop off for many backpackers in Europe so you won't find as many hostels as you do in other cities.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Students?

Marseille is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Toulouse is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Toulouse is a good city to visit for students. You'll find a diverse student population with many international students.

Is Toulouse or Marseille Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Toulouse and Marseille both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Toulouse offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are a large number of bus routes that travel both locally and regionally.

Marseille has a few public transit options. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Toulouse or Marseille a more walkable city?

Toulouse and Marseille are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Toulouse is a very walkable destination. Within the city center it is very walkable and easy to explore on foot.

Marseille is very walkable. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Toulouse Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Toulouse?

How long in Toulouse or Marseille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Toulouse and Marseille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toulouse than in Marseille. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Toulouse, and 2-3 days is enough time in Marseille.

Families should spend more time in Toulouse than Marseille. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Toulouse, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Marseille than Toulouse. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Marseille that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marseille than Toulouse if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Marseille.

One day in Toulouse or Marseille?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Toulouse. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The beautiful city of Marseille offers nightlife and food. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Toulouse or Marseille?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the dynamic destination of Toulouse. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Marseille is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Marseille, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Toulouse or Marseille?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Toulouse. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Marseille is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Toulouse or Marseille?

Toulouse is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Marseille is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Toulouse and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Toulouse much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Toulouse would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Toulouse and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Toulouse.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Toulouse Expensive? and Is Marseille Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Toulouse or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Toulouse. When comparing the sizes of Toulouse and Marseille, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Toulouse or Marseille?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Toulouse or Marseille in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Toulouse and Marseille. Most visitors come to Toulouse for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Toulouse is around the same temperature as Marseille in the summer. The daily temperature in Toulouse averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Toulouse, it's very sunny this time of the year. Toulouse usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during summer. Toulouse gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Toulouse usually receives more rain than Marseille. Toulouse gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Toulouse or Marseille in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Toulouse as well as Marseille. The autumn months attract visitors to Toulouse because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

In the autumn, Toulouse is around the same temperature as Marseille. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Toulouse in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Marseille averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. In the autumn, Toulouse often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Toulouse gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun.

Toulouse usually gets less rain in October than Marseille. Toulouse gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulouse or Marseille in the Winter?

Both Marseille and Toulouse are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toulouse this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Toulouse is generally around the same temperature as Marseille. Daily temperatures in Toulouse average around 6°C (44°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Toulouse usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during winter. Toulouse gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Toulouse usually receives more rain than Marseille. Toulouse gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Toulouse or Marseille in the Spring?

Both Marseille and Toulouse during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Toulouse for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Toulouse is around the same temperature as Marseille in the spring. The daily temperature in Toulouse averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Toulouse often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Toulouse gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun.

Toulouse usually gets more rain in April than Marseille. Toulouse gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Toulouse