Where to do outdoor sports in Toulouse?

Where to do outdoor sports in Toulouse ? You need to get some fresh air and exercise, but you don't have to be cooped up. Whether you're looking for a green space or you're more of a street workout type, the Toulouse Pyrenees Guide has rounded up all the outdoor sports activities and the best places to practice them. Because while Toulouse is certainly the " pink city," it's also a " green city." With its parks and " remarkable gardens," there's no shortage of sports and landscaping opportunities. Come on, get motivated, put on your sneakers, and put a little pep in your day!

Opening photo: Running or cycling along the Canal du Midi @ Julien BASTIDE / Adobe Stock

The best places to run in Toulouse

If you want to run in Toulouse, we recommend parks and gardens. They are well maintained, the trails are suitable and you will often find additional activities to extend your workout, relax or eat. We have listed all the green spaces in Toulouse for you and to find the park that best suits your sporting activity, here is our selection with their strong points:

The Argoulets green zone is part of a large municipal sports complex. It features cycling and jogging paths, football and rugby pitches, a skate park, a tennis court, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a playground, and more.
The Parc de la Grande Plaine is a leisure center that offers all kinds of sports and games: jogging trails, bike park, skate park, soccer field, children's playground, etc.
The Jardin de Barry is renowned for its beautiful shaded paths, ideal for joggers. You can also walk around its lake.
If you're looking for a more exotic setting, the small garden of the Georges Labit Museum allows you to take a landscaped tour of the world.
The Pierre-Baudis Japanese Garden transports you to a Zen world where you can travel through time on the airmail trail, in the Jardin de la Ligne.
For a more rustic atmosphere, the Raymond VI Garden is a very “ wild ” garden.
The Jardin des Plantes' main asset is that it offers numerous activities for children: playground, rides, little train, pony rides, etc. It is therefore the ideal place to practice sports as a family, while also pleasing the youngest.

@Bruno Nascimento

Click Images / Unsplash

Running in the city, think about your equipment!

Around the city, there are natural areas to take a good breath of fresh air, in the heart of nature; but also the lakes and the banks of the river to enjoy a bucolic setting:

The “ green corridors ” such as Touch or Amidonniers
The Côteaux de Pech David leisure center
The nautical base on the shores of Lake Sesquières
The tour of Lake Ramée
Greenways along the banks of the Garonne and its canal

Jogging, running, jogging—it's all running. So, what's the difference between these different sports ? It's the intensity ! Jogging is somewhere between walking and running. To be precise, you jog. In fact, it's considered a physical activity rather than a sport. With jogging, you actually start running, at a moderate pace. Running is a real race, with periods of sprinting.

The Placr app geolocates you to find the running routes closest to you.

Find a bike and cycle in the pink city

Toulouse is a green city that promotes cycling as a mode of transport. The municipality has therefore created numerous cycle paths, in the city, in parks, along the Garonne… It also provides self-service bicycles : VélôToulouse.

If you want to visit the city by bike, get advice on finding a bike suited to your needs or find ideas for tours, go to the Agence VélOtrement.

Once you have your ride, we have selected 5 fun routes to do with the family. In this article, we also give you good tips, addresses and sites to organize your outings or trips.

Our favorite : Toulouse is crossed by the Garonne River. Heading southeast, you will follow the Canal du Midi. Heading northwest, you will cycle along the greenway of the Canal de Garonne. We suggest crossing Toulouse by bike, along the Canal des Deux-Mers for a bucolic and sporty ride.

The Canal des Deux-Mers is a waterway that crosses southwest France, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Divided into two parts, they meet in Toulouse. From Sète to Toulouse, it is called the "Canal du Midi." From Toulouse to Bordeaux, it is called the "Canal de la Garonne."

Take a bike ride along the Canal du Midi. Photo: @Jenny Diab JDroadtrip

Take part in a large group rollerblading trip

Whether you're alone, with a group of friends, or in a group, rollerblading is a fun and friendly activity. But taking part in a rollerblading tour is even more fun. It's a great opportunity to see the city differently, meet like-minded people, and motivate yourself to exercise regularly.

The Roulez Rose association organizes these large rollerblading excursions throughout Toulouse. They take place every Friday evening and the first Sunday of each month, but it's best to check their website to make sure the event hasn't been canceled. You can also find classes, workshops, and even tutorials there.

Come and discover the joys of rollerblading with others in Toulouse. Photo @ Dimitar Kazakov / Unsplash

Photo: @Guide Toulouse Pyrenees

Free sports courses or street workout

After the walk, bike ride or roller skate, we offer you a complete and free activity : sports trails or fitness trails. Between gymnastics and bodybuilding, it is the ideal sport for getting back into shape, building muscle harmoniously and you adapt it to your level as you see fit.

You're more of a city person, have you tried street workout ? These are free fitness courses, but in the middle of the city. In this case, they are called "city stadiums." They are fitness modules with support elements, since the goal is to use your body weight and complex positions to work your muscles. It's trendy, free, and very physical.

The banks of the Garonne are great for sports and relaxation! Photo @Guide Toulouse Pyrénées

Other outdoor sports activities

If you haven't found what you're looking for yet, there are plenty of other outdoor sports to enjoy in the city:

Tennis, particularly at the Stade Toulousain Tennis Club.
Pétanque on the bowling alleys, well distributed throughout the city. The most famous is that of the Jardin du Grand Rond, which was formerly called "Square Boulingrin", in reference to the English game of bowls: "Bowling-green", which was held there.
Skateboarding, BMX, or BMX at the Argoulets Skatepark…