Is Toulouse safe?
Safe with normal city care. Petty theft is the main issue; violence against visitors is rare.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-27.
- Homicide rate in France: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in France: 5.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Toulouse at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and phone snatching around Capitole, Matabiau station and crowded bars; bike theft is common. |
| At night | The center is lively and fine until late. Metro closes around midnight (later Fri–Sat); use Uber or walk in groups after bars close. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Occasional street comments and drink care in student bars near Saint-Pierre; use apps or taxis late. |
| Other risks | Summer heat waves above 35°C; Autumn storms and Garonne flood alerts; Cyclists and scooters in pedestrian streets |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition or clipboard approaches on Place du Capitole covering pickpockets
- Unlicensed taxis offering rides at the station or airport
- Gold-ring and bracelet tricks near the Garonne quays
Take care
- Matabiau station area late at night: drunks and occasional theft
- Quartier Arnaud-Bernard and some northern suburbs late at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Police can demand ID; without it you can be held up to four hours, so carry your passport.
- Smoking is banned on beaches, in parks, at bus shelters and near schools; fines apply.
- Covering your face in public (balaclava, niqab, mask) is illegal, with fines up to €150.
How Toulouse compares in France
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Annecy | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Colmar | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Carcassonne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Brittany | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Dordogne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Paris | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nice | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| French Riviera | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lyon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cannes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chamonix | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Corsica | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Toulouse | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Normandy | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montpellier | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Avignon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Biarritz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Saint-Tropez | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Antibes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nantes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lille | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marseille | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Toulouse safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Occasional street comments and drink care in student bars near Saint-Pierre; use apps or taxis late.
Is Toulouse safe at night?
The center is lively and fine until late. Metro closes around midnight (later Fri–Sat); use Uber or walk in groups after bars close.
What is the crime rate in Toulouse?
Pickpocketing and phone snatching around Capitole, Matabiau station and crowded bars; bike theft is common. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Toulouse?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Toulouse
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Tisséo (Toulouse transit)
- Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
- CHU de Toulouse
- Toulouse Tourist Office
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.