Things to Do in Toulouse in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Toulouse
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring awakening without the crowds - March sits right before Easter holidays when French families descend on the city. You'll actually get tables at market bistros without reservations and can photograph Place du Capitole without dodging tour groups. Hotel rates run 25-35% below April-May pricing.
- Violet season peaks mid-to-late March - this is THE month for Toulouse's signature flower. Local confectioners make fresh violet candies, you'll find violet-infused everything at markets, and the fields around the city bloom purple. It's genuinely special and completely ignored by guidebooks focused on summer visits.
- Perfect cycling weather along the Canal du Midi - temperatures in the 10-15°C (50-59°F) range mean you're not overheating on bike rides, but it's warm enough to spend full days outdoors. The plane trees are just starting to leaf out, and the towpath is mostly dry. March is actually better for cycling here than summer when it hits 35°C (95°F).
- Early spring produce floods Victor Hugo Market - you'll catch the last of winter truffles overlapping with first spring vegetables. Asparagus, artichokes, and fresh herbs appear in late March. The cassoulet you eat now uses preserved duck from autumn, which locals argue tastes better than versions made with fresh meat.
Considerations
- Weather genuinely swings day-to-day - you might get 18°C (64°F) and sunny one afternoon, then 8°C (46°F) with drizzle the next morning. That 10-day rainfall average means you'll likely hit 2-3 rainy days during a week-long visit. The rain itself isn't torrential, but it's the gray, persistent kind that makes outdoor plans frustrating.
- Shorter daylight than you'd expect - sunset happens around 7:00-7:30pm in early March, closer to 8:00pm by month's end. If you're used to tropical destinations where 6:00pm means golden hour, this catches people off guard. Evening strolls along the Garonne work better late in the month.
- Some countryside attractions run limited schedules - smaller châteaux and rural museums in the Gers and Tarn regions often don't open daily until April. If you're planning day trips beyond Toulouse proper, check specific opening days. Sundays and Mondays are particularly tricky.
Best Activities in March
Canal du Midi cycling routes
March offers ideal cycling conditions along this UNESCO World Heritage canal - cool enough that you won't overheat on 20-30 km (12-19 mile) rides, but warm enough to spend 4-5 hours outdoors comfortably. The towpath is mostly dry by March, and the plane trees create tunnel-like sections even before full leaf-out. Rent bikes in Toulouse and ride southwest toward Port Lauragais (30 km/19 miles one-way) or keep it shorter with the 12 km (7.5 mile) stretch to Ramonville. You'll pass working locks, stone bridges from the 1600s, and occasional barges. Pack layers - morning starts around 8°C (46°F) but afternoons hit 15°C (59°F). The lack of summer crowds means you actually hear birdsong and can stop at canalside spots without jockeying for space.
Toulouse markets and food hall tours
March brings the transition from winter to spring produce, which means you'll see both preserved goods from autumn and first fresh vegetables. Victor Hugo Market operates Tuesday-Sunday mornings (7am-1pm) with the best selection between 9-11am. Covered stalls sell everything from duck confit to violet candies to regional cheeses. The adjacent food hall upstairs has counter-service restaurants where locals eat oysters and white wine at 10am. Marché des Carmes (Saturday and Sunday mornings) skews more toward vegetables and flowers. March weather makes market browsing actually pleasant - you're not sweating through a July heatwave or freezing in January wind. Bring a tote bag and expect to spend 20-40 euros on samples, prepared foods, and picnic supplies.
Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel day trips
These medieval towns sit 75-85 km (47-53 miles) northeast of Toulouse and make excellent March destinations. Albi's massive brick cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec Museum are entirely indoors - perfect for those variable weather days. Cordes-sur-Ciel is a hilltop village with Gothic architecture and craft workshops. March means you'll explore without summer tour bus crowds, and the cooler temperatures make the uphill walks in Cordes manageable (the village sits 200m/656ft above the valley). Spring light is excellent for photography - that soft, diffused quality you don't get in harsh summer sun. Both towns have good lunch options, and you can combine them in a single day trip if you have a car.
Cité de l'Espace and aerospace museum visits
Toulouse is Europe's aerospace capital, and March weather makes indoor museum days genuinely appealing. Cité de l'Espace (Space City) has full-scale rocket replicas, planetarium shows, and interactive exhibits about satellite technology and Mars missions. It's 20-30% less crowded in March than summer holidays. Plan 3-4 hours minimum. The Aeroscopia museum near the airport showcases Concorde, Airbus A380, and historic aircraft - another solid indoor option when rain hits. Both museums have English signage and audio guides. The UV index of 8 matters here because outdoor rocket exhibits at Cité de l'Espace still require sun protection on clear days.
Pyrenees foothills hiking and village exploration
Late March offers the sweet spot for lower-elevation Pyrenees trails - snow has mostly cleared from foothill paths below 800m (2,625ft), but higher peaks still have dramatic white caps for photos. Towns like Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (90 km/56 miles south) combine Romanesque architecture with access to easy walking trails. The 10-15°C (50-59°F) temperatures are perfect for 2-3 hour hikes without overheating. You'll see early wildflowers and rushing streams from snowmelt. That said, higher mountain passes may still close after snowfall, so this is foothill territory, not alpine hiking. Bring layers - it's noticeably cooler than Toulouse proper.
Wine tours in Gaillac and Fronton regions
March is quieter at regional wineries before the summer tourist rush, and cooler weather makes vineyard walking comfortable. Gaillac (60 km/37 miles northeast) produces distinctive wines from ancient grape varieties - tours include cellar visits and tastings of 4-6 wines. Fronton (25 km/16 miles north) specializes in Négrette grape wines. March means you'll see dormant vines just before bud break, and winemakers have more time for conversations. Tours typically last 2-3 hours at individual wineries. The countryside is rolling hills with medieval villages - excellent for combining wine stops with lunch and village exploration.
March Events & Festivals
Violet Festival (Fête de la Violette)
Toulouse's signature flower gets celebrated with market stalls selling violet products - candied violets, violet liqueur, violet-scented soaps, and fresh bouquets. The festival centers around Place du Capitole and includes demonstrations of traditional violet candy-making. Local confectioners like Maison de la Violette participate. It's a modest neighborhood festival rather than a massive tourist event, which makes it feel authentic. You'll see why Toulouse is called La Ville Rose et Violette.
Spring Equinox at Basilique Saint-Sernin
The Romanesque basilica hosts special concerts and organ performances around the spring equinox. The acoustics in this 11th-century church are remarkable, and March concerts tend toward sacred music and early Renaissance pieces. Check the basilica's event calendar as performances vary year to year, but late March typically has 2-3 scheduled concerts. Tickets run 12-20 euros.