Things to Do in Montpellier: Top Attractions, Beaches & Day Trips

Our Top 3 Hotel Picks for Montpellier

Before we dive into the best things to do in Montpellier, here are our top 3 hotel picks for your stay in Montpellier.

Montpellier Attractions on a Map

Let’s kick things off! To give you a clear picture of where everything is, we’ve marked all the highlights on a map.

The Most Beautiful Neighborhoods in Montpellier

These corners of Montpellier are not to be missed on your city trip.

Old Town of Montpellier

For us, Montpellier’s Old Town ranks alongside Lyon and Nice as one of the most beautiful historic districts in all of France. We could happily spend the entire day getting lost in the narrow lanes of the Old Town, also known as L’Écusson.

Among beautiful historic buildings, you can wander through the medieval alleyways and browse the small boutiques at your leisure.

What we love most are the many hip cafés and restaurants tucked into the old quarter. One charming spot follows another — it’s seriously hard to stop exploring.

Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne is technically part of Montpellier’s Old Town. Even so, the neighborhood deserves its own mention — it has a special charm all its own. Sainte-Anne is one of the world’s largest centers for violin making and is known locally as the violin makers’ quarter.

The standout of the neighborhood is the Carré Sainte-Anne church — an impressive structure that looks completely different on the inside from a typical church. Instead of pews, you’ll find an art exhibition. Admission to the Carré Sainte-Anne is free.

Sainte-Anne is also a great spot for dinner or drinks. The many bars and restaurants here have a wonderful atmosphere, especially in the evenings.

Antigone

The Antigone neighborhood is a great contrast to the historic center and Sainte-Anne. It’s defined by modern architecture and feels completely different from the rest of Montpellier.

Everything here feels somehow polished. The buildings are sleek, the plazas spotless, and one stylish restaurant follows another. With no cars and tree-lined paths, the atmosphere is super relaxed — more like a park than a city district.

To get to Antigone, just walk from the city center through the Polygone shopping mall, and once you come out the other side, you’ve arrived.

Port Marianne

Right next to Antigone is another neighborhood of remarkable architecture: Port Marianne. Even ordinary apartment buildings look totally cool here. A stroll along the Lez river lets you take in the unusual buildings at your own pace.

The real eye-catcher is the white tree — a truly extraordinary structure that contains apartments as well as a stylish rooftop bar.

Another modern building in Port Marianne is the new Montpellier city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. Honestly though, it looks more like a concrete block than anything particularly attractive.

Structures and Plazas in Montpellier

Now let’s look at the most beautiful buildings and squares in Montpellier.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral

The cathedral of Montpellier is one of the most important things to see here and one of the oldest buildings in the city.

What we find particularly cool about it is that it looks a little different from the standard cathedral you see elsewhere. At the entrance stand two pointed columns that give it a slightly fairy-tale quality.

The Saint-Pierre Cathedral is located between the Old Town and the Botanical Garden. Admission is free.

Place de la Comédie

The Place de la Comédie is the main square in Montpellier, and there’s almost always something going on here — except in the early morning. In summer, cafés and restaurants spill out onto the square and street performers keep things lively.

Around the square stand many magnificent buildings, including the national opera house. Montpellier’s tourist train Le Petit Train also departs from the Place de la Comédie.

Triumphal Arch Porte du Peyrou

Not only Paris has a triumphal arch — Montpellier does too. The Porte du Peyrou forms the eastern entrance to the city center.

You can go inside the triumphal arch, but you’ll need to book a tour online or in person at the tourist office.

Otherwise, the Porte du Peyrou is more of a Montpellier must-see for a great photo than a deep-dive attraction — but it’s still worth a stop.

Promenade du Peyrou and Aqueduc de Saint-Clément

Walk away from the city center through the triumphal arch and you’ll immediately find yourself at the next attraction in Montpellier: the Promenade du Peyrou.

It’s a mix between a plaza and a park. At the far end stands the beautiful Château d’eau du Peyrou with a small pond.

Climb the steps up to the structure and you’ll get a clear view of the impressive Aqueduc de Saint-Clément — a historic aqueduct that looks just like an ancient bridge.

Combined with the lovely vistas from up here, it makes for a wonderful photo stop.

Markets, Parks and Museums in Montpellier

Strolling through markets and parks is one of our favorite things to do on a city trip. And on rainy days, we head to a museum. Here are our picks for Montpellier.

Botanical Garden Montpellier

Montpellier is home to the oldest botanical garden in France, with an enormous variety of species. From trees to flowers to medicinal plants, you can discover almost everything the plant kingdom has to offer.

If nature and plants are your thing, you can book guided tours of the Botanical Garden to learn some fascinating facts about the plants. Tours can be booked online — though note that the website is only available in French.

Admission to the Jardin des Plantes is free. It is closed on Mondays.

Marché du Lez

The hip Marché du Lez is our favorite market in the city and a real local favorite in Montpellier. It’s located a little outside the center, south of the Port Marianne neighborhood.

You’ll find loads of great food trucks with international cuisine and plenty of seating. Everything has been designed in a super hip and stylish way. The Marché du Lez is simply a brilliant place to grab a beer or enjoy a great meal — really don’t skip it.

Musée Fabre

The Fabre Museum is the most important art museum in Montpellier and one of the largest in all of France. If you’re an art lover on a trip to France, this one is absolutely not to be missed.

The collection features works by famous artists from around the world — paintings spanning historical periods alongside modern art pieces and sculptures.

The standard ticket for the Musée Fabre costs 9 euros for adults. Additional ticket options are available, and you can buy in advance online — though the site is only in French. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle

The Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle is a city park right next to the Place de la Comédie. It’s not huge, but it’s a welcome green escape during a day of sightseeing.

The park has a small pond and a playground — making it a great option if you’re traveling with kids and the little ones have had enough of historic buildings.

The Most Beautiful Beaches near Montpellier

From Montpellier to the beach is only about 15 kilometers. The beaches in the region are characterized by dune landscapes and their seemingly endless stretches of sand. Here are our picks for the most beautiful beaches near Montpellier.

Plage de l'Espiguette

For us, the Plage de l’Espiguette is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of France and our top pick for a beach day near Montpellier. It’s a stunning, peaceful stretch of sand surrounded by dunes that doesn’t get completely overrun even at the height of summer.

The beach is a full 10 kilometers long and very wide. Ideal for families — the water is shallow and the fine sand is perfect for building sandcastles.

Because the beach sits in unspoiled nature, don’t expect toilets, showers, or restaurants. Dogs are not allowed here.

Getting to Plage de l’Espiguette

By car it’s about 45 minutes from Montpellier to the parking lot at Plage de l’Espiguette, from which you then walk about ten more minutes to the beach.

Without a car, it’s doable but takes some planning. You can take bus line 606 from the Place de France stop in Montpellier to Le Grau-du-Roi Ècole — about an hour’s ride. From the bus stop it’s still 5 kilometers to the beach, so you’ll want to grab a taxi for that last stretch.

Plage du Grand Travers

The Plage du Grand Travers is also tucked behind dunes, but is better equipped than the Plage de l’Espiguette. There are restrooms and a few beach restaurants — though don’t worry, it’s far from overdeveloped.

The beach has fine sand, is on the narrower side, and the water slopes gently into the sea. Great for a family vacation.

The Plage du Grand Travers sits between the Plage du Couchant and the Plage Le Petit Travers along a 6-kilometer stretch of coast. The sections are all quite similar, so it really doesn’t matter which one you end up at.

Getting to Plage du Grand Travers

By car it’s just under half an hour from Montpellier. Alternatively, take tram line 3 from Montpellier Saint-Roch station and ride 25 minutes to Étang de L’Or. From there, in summer, the shuttle bus line 633 runs to the Plage du Grand Travers.

Day Trips and Sights Around Montpellier

Don’t limit yourself to what to do in Montpellier itself — the surrounding area is seriously worth exploring too! The region around Montpellier is beautiful and packed with highlights. You can also continue on from Montpellier to Perpignan, for example.

Pont du Diable

The Pont du Diable is a bridge spanning the impressive Hérault Gorge just outside Montpellier. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fantastic photo subject.

After you’ve gotten your shots, you can go for a great swim in the water below or rent a canoe. There are also a few daredevils who jump off the bridge into the water — it’s pretty cool to watch, but please don’t try it yourself!

Getting to Pont du Diable

The drive from Montpellier takes just under 40 minutes by car. If you arrive in the morning, you can park for free along the roadside near the bridge. Otherwise there’s a paid parking lot very close to the gorge (Google Maps link).

You can take bus line 668 from the Mosson stop in Montpellier to Saint-Jean-de-Fos Argileum — about 50 minutes, then a 15-minute walk to the bridge. Just be aware that the bus runs very infrequently!

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

The village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is just a few kilometers from the Pont du Diable and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. It sits amid hilly landscapes that are perfect for hiking.

Beyond the charming narrow alleyways, the highlight here is the monastery of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. You can visit the abbey for free.

Getting to Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert

By car it’s about 50 minutes to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Without a car, you can take bus line 668 — just over an hour, but the bus runs very, very infrequently.

That’s why we recommend booking a guided day trip from Montpellier to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. You’ll also pass by the Pont du Diable along the way.

Book the day trip to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

Sète

The port city of Sète is often called the Venice of the French Languedoc region — and once you see it, you’ll understand why.

Sète is surrounded by water on all sides, with canals flowing through the city. Gondola-like boats glide across the water, which you can photograph beautifully alongside the charming waterfront houses.

Right next to Sète is the Mont Saint-Clair summit, which has a great panorama over the city. To reach the top, you can either climb the nearly 400 steps, drive up, or take bus line 5 from the Passage le Dauphin stop to Le Croix Saint-Clair.
Getting to Sète

Sète is located between the large lake Ètang de l’Or and the Mediterranean coast, about 30 kilometers from Montpellier. From Montpellier’s Saint-Roch train station, a train will get you to Sète in just under 20 minutes. Tickets are available on the SNCF website starting from 3 euros.

Pic Saint-Loup

The Pic Saint-Loup is a 658-meter-high mountain with a fantastic panoramic view, located just under 30 kilometers from Montpellier. You can reach the summit with an approximately one-hour hike from the village of Cazevieille.

Even if hiking isn’t your thing, a trip to the Pic Saint-Loup region is really worth it — not only for the scenery, but because you’ll find some truly excellent wine here.

We highly recommend doing a guided wine and food tour from Montpellier into the region. You’ll stop at two wineries, taste great regional wines, and on top of that get treated to an amazing home-cooked meal at a local family’s house — it honestly doesn’t get more authentic than that!

Book the wine and food tour to Pic Saint-Loup

General Tips for Montpellier

Finally, here are a few practical pointers to make sure you’re well prepared for your Montpellier city trip.

Montpellier City Card

With the Montpellier City Card, you get free or discounted admission at a number of Montpellier attractions.

The card comes in three versions: 24, 48, or 72 hours. That means you can visit all the included highlights within your chosen time window.

These are the prices for the Montpellier City Card:

Children under 18 pay half price.

Admission to these Montpellier attractions is included in the City Card:

Musée Fabre

MO.CO Museum

Musée d’Art Brut/Montpellier

Public transportation in Montpellier

Jardins du château de Flaugergues

One guided tour offered by the Tourist Office

A 10 euro voucher for the Odysseum Shopping Center when purchasing two City Cards

You can find all included attractions and discounts here.

Is the Montpellier City Card worth it? It depends on what you want to see. Since the pass mainly covers museums, the 24-hour card makes sense if you’re planning to visit at least two museums during your stay.

Get the Montpellier City Card for 24, 48, or 72 hours

You can pick up the City Card at the Montpellier Tourist Office at the Place de la Comédie.

Restaurant Tips for Montpellier

When we think of Montpellier, the first thing that comes to mind is the Old Town with its many great cafés and restaurants. We happily worked our way through the local food scene — here are our top picks:

La Bistrote: Small, typically French restaurant in the Sainte-Anne neighborhood.

Chez Alex: Great spot for lunch and takeout. Excellent value for money.

Restaurant l’Angelus: Lovely restaurant with a courtyard and very tasty food. Vegan dishes are also available.

Café BUN: Outstanding coffee and a great spot for breakfast.

AMAZONE Coffee: Our top pick for brunch in Montpellier. Hip spot with a great variety of breakfast options.

These are just a few of the many great places to eat in Montpellier. Beyond our recommendations, we’d suggest simply strolling through Sainte-Anne and the Old Town and letting yourself be drawn in — you’ll have no shortage of great options.

Getting to Montpellier

You have several options for reaching Montpellier. Here’s what they are.

Getting to Montpellier by Plane

The fastest option is to fly. There are direct flights to Montpellier from various European cities, and you can also fly into Marseille. From Marseille Airport it’s about two hours by bus and train or one hour 45 minutes by car to Montpellier.

We always search for flights using Skyscanner.

Search for flights on Skyscanner

Getting to Montpellier by Car

Driving to Montpellier is also an option. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to pay toll fees on French highways, which can add up.

Getting to Montpellier by Train

Traveling by train is a great option, with connections available from many European cities — often with just one change, typically in Paris or Brussels. The total journey from northern Europe takes about eight hours.

You can find connections and tickets on the SNCF website. Book well in advance — last-minute tickets can get very expensive.

Getting Around Montpellier

The attractions in the center of Montpellier can all easily be explored on foot. For highlights a bit further out — like the Marché du Lez — the tram is super convenient.

The tram network in Montpellier is well developed and covers most of the city. If the tram doesn’t reach where you’re going, buses fill in the gaps.

A single ticket costs 1.90 euros and is valid for 1.5 hours, including transfers between trams and buses. The 24-hour ticket costs 6 euros.

For more information about public transportation in Montpellier, visit the TaM website.

Best Time to Visit Montpellier

The best time to visit Montpellier is spring and fall. The weather is already very warm and rainfall is low. May, June, September, and October are our favorite months for a city trip here.

July and August are also perfectly enjoyable — just be ready for serious heat while you’re out sightseeing. The upside? The beach is only 15 kilometers away when you need to cool off.

Visiting from November through April is also possible. The climate here is quite mild in winter — even in January it stays reasonably comfortable. Just expect more rain during these months.