EAIE Toulouse 2024

Toulouse by train

Participants can use various modes of transport to reach Toulouse. The city has an excellent rail connection, especially within France. Toulouse-Matabiau station is a hub for the French high-speed rail network, TGV. You can easily reach Toulouse from Paris, Bordeaux and Barcelona.  

Toulouse by plane

The Toulouse Blagnac airport has numerous daily flights connecting Toulouse to cities across Europe, and the airport is directly linked to the Matabiau station by frequent shuttle buses (every 20 minutes), with ticket purchase options available at the shuttle bus, Automatic Ticket Dispensers, Tisséo Agencies, and Pierre Sémard bus station. 

Toulouse by bus

There is a direct bus service to Toulouse from different European cities; these buses usually arrive at the central bus station, making it convenient to access the heart of Toulouse upon arrival. There are direct bus options from Paris to Toulouse Boulevard Piererre Semard, near Matabiau station, taking around 9 hours and 30 minutes with an average cost of 80 euro, operating from 06:00 to 23:00.

Toulouse is a charming city that can be easily explored on foot or by bike, especially the Old Town along the right side of the river. Please visit the Toulouse tourism website for more information about the city. Toulouse has an excellent public transport system – you can travel by bus, tram, metro and Teleo – France's longest urban aerial tramway. The best way to plan your trip within the city is using Tisseo for local public transport scheduled and timings.

The EAIE advises to use the public transport system as much as possible and asks for your support in limiting the use of taxis. There is a tram going from Toulouse city centre (tram stop Palais de Justice T1) directly to MEETT (final destination). The journey will take around 45 minutes. In addition to the existing public transport system, shuttle buses will be deployed to reinforce the capacity. The shuttle buses will leave from Gare Routière de Toulouse, which is a short walk from Toulouse Matabiau train station, and Marengo Metro station (line A, red). From Gare Routière de Toulouse de shuttle buses will go directly to MEETT conference centre without any stops. Depending on traffic, the journey will take between 25 and 45 minutes.

From the airport to the city centre

The most convenient option is to travel from the airport to the city centre by shuttle bus. The bus stops at the Pierre Baudis Conference Centre (Compans Caffarelli station), the centre of Toulouse, Jeanne d’Arc station (line B), Jean Jaurès station (lines A and B), Matabiau Station (train, metro, bus, coach). The journey takes approximately 30 minutes, with an average ticket cost of 9 euro. 

From city centre to MEETT (conference centre) 

Conference address: MEETT, Concorde Avenue, 31840 Aussonne, France

By tram:
MEETT is easily accessible by tram, with Line T1 connecting the city centre directly to the conference centre. The line encompasses 25 stations from Toulouse (Palais de Justice) to MEETT, with a journey time of approximately 45 minutes. The average price for a single ticket is 1.80 euro. 

By car: 
For those who drive, the conference centre is reachable by car in around 25 minutes from the city centre. MEETT offers parking facilities with a capacity for 5000 cars. Parking for an hour at the venue costs 2.54 euro including VAT.

By bike:
Toulouse is a bicycle-friendly city with dedicated bike lanes and a bike-sharing system called "VélôToulouse” and you can reach the conference centre via line 1 (Seilh) in approximately 50 minutes.  

Travelling and attending the EAIE Conference has an undeniable impact on the environment. On this page, you can find tips to measure your journey’s footprint and make more conscious and eco-friendly choices ‘en route’ to and during your stay in Toulouse. 

How to make your trip more sustainable

• If you are flying, choose an airline with the lowest carbon footprint, book economy class and pack lightly.  
• Go digital, choose paperless: If you are travelling by train or plane, go paperless and use digital tickets and boarding passes to reduce waste.  
• Avoid plastic: Bring your reusable coffee cup and water bottle to avoid buying plastic bottles and cups.  
• If you are taking the car, make sure you adjust your tire pressure for optimal gas mileage and consider carpooling with colleagues to Toulouse to share your footprint.  
• Pack your toiletries in reusable and refillable travel bottles, to avoid buying travel-sized toiletries that cause more waste. 

Reduce your footprint in Toulouse 

• Make sure you use your free public transport card that you will receive upon badge collection, to get around the city.  
• In the city, make sure you explore on foot or by bike. You can also rent bikes and bike to MEETT Convention Centre from the city centre.  
• Drink the tap water and use your refillable water bottle around the venue and the city. 
• Go digital and use the virtual platform to get your latest session schedule and plan meetings with other participants. 

EU citizens do not need a visa to visit Toulouse. Visitors from non-EU countries may require a visa and must possess a passport valid for at least three months.  

Visa applications 

Please check the entry requirements for France to review the visa rules for your own situation. The EAIE will issue visa invitation letters to participants from countries requiring a visa to enter France, but only upon full payment of the conference registration fee. To request an invitation letter, kindly contact the EAIE Office. Please allow up to five business days for the processing of an invitation letter. A digital copy in PDF format can be provided at no cost. However, charges may apply for a hard copy, and the requester is responsible for arranging its collection.

Deadlines and cancellations 

Participants requiring a visa invitation letter should register for the conference before the end of July to ensure that the letter arrives in time. The EAIE does not give any further support to the visa application process. Obtaining a visa remains the sole responsibility of the participant. Regular cancellation deadlines apply, regardless of whether your visa was granted or not.