Montpellier Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Montpellier is a vibrant cosmopolitan city and is the second largest city in the Occitanie region of southern France. We loved its blend of historic buildings and modern infrastructure. It has the added bonus of being a short drive from the beach. This hip university town is home to the oldest continuously operating medical school in the world. It is also a popular destination for learning French as a foreign language. In this Montpellier destination guide we tell you everything you need to know about visiting Montpellier France.

What is Montpellier famous for?

Montpellier is famous for being a lively university city. The University of Montpellier’s Faculty of Medicine is the oldest practising medical school in the world, dating back to the 12^th century. Additionally, Montpellier is known for its gorgeous esplanade Promenade du Peyrou, which has panoramic views of the city and nearby mountains.

Why you should visit Montpellier France

Montpellier is one of the fastest growing cities in France, and with good reason. If you are wondering ‘is Montpellier worth visiting?’, the answer is definitely yes! Montpellier is one of our favourite cities in France. This thriving city has it all – it’s close to beautiful Mediterranean beaches, its excellent public transport infrastructure makes it so easy to get around, it has loads of history and a young and dynamic population.

The old town of Montpellier is filled with beautiful buildings and impressive squares. In particular the Promenade du Peyrou is expansive public space. It has panoramic views of the city as well as the surrounding countryside. It’s the perfect place to come to enjoy the sunshine and to people watch.

A notable feature of the city is its medical university. Not only is it one of the oldest universities in the world, but its the oldest continuously running medical school in the world. To this day, almost a quarter of Montpellier’s residents are students, which gives the city a lively atmosphere. And with a young crowd, you’ll find plenty of nightlife!

Montpellier Destination Guide: Know before you go

Basic info about Montpellier France

• Language – French, although the regional language Occitan is still spoken by a small portion of the population. English is spoken to some extent, particularly in hotels and tourism businesses. However not everyone you meet will be able to speak English. We find that if you at least attempt to speak a bit of French, you will get a warmer reception than if you just assume everyone speaks English. In our experience, most people we’ve spoken to start speaking English as soon as they hear our feeble attempts at speaking French.
• Currency – euro (EUR). This has been the official currency of France since 2002. Currency exchanges can be found in Montpellier and ATMs are widely available.
• Population – 278,000 (2015)
• Area – 57 km²
• Department – Hérault. Montpellier is the capital of this department.
• Region – Occitanie (in the former Languedoc-Roussillon region).

Utilities in Montpellier France

• Electricity – France uses Types C and E power plugs. The country operates on a 230v supply voltage at 50Hz. Power outages are not common in France.
• Water – the tap water in Montpellier is safe to drink. In cafes and restaurants, you can ask for a “caraffe d’eau”, and the waiter will bring you a pitcher of water that is free and safe to drink.
• Toilets – sit-down flushing toilets are the most common type of toilet in France. You can flush your toilet paper directly into the bin. Public toilets are common in France. Many public toilets are free to use, but some charge anywhere from 50 cents to 2 euros to use.
• Telephone country code: +33

Where is Montpellier France?

Montpellier is the capital of the Hérault department in the Occitanie region of southern France. The Occitanie region was formed in 2016 as an amalgamation of 2 former regions. The region that Montpellier lies in used to be known as the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

The closest major French cities to Montpellier are Nîmes, Narbonne, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence as well as Marseille. Montpellier is less than one hour by train from Nîmes, around 1 hour by train to Narbonne and less than 2 hours by train from Avignon and Marseille. Many international trains stop at Montpellier due to its convenient location on the train lines between Paris and Spain.

How to get to Montpellier France

Montpellier destination guide: Arriving by land

Montpellier France intercity land transport

The main transport options for travelling overland to Montpellier France are:

• Private vehicle
• Private transport operator
• Navette (Shuttle Bus) – the Navette Aéroport runs from Montpellier Airport to the Montpellier Sud de France train station (Gare de Montpellier Sud de France) as well as Place de l’Europe in Montpellier. The cost is 1.60 euro per person or 2.60 euro with city bus/tramway included (prices as at 2023). The journey time is approximately 15 minutes to Gare de Montpellier Sud de France and 25 minutes to Place de l’Europe.
• Train
• Bus
• Bike

Driving to Montpellier from within France

If you are driving to Montpellier from within France, here are the travel times and distances:

• Nîmes – 46 minutes (55km) with tolls or 1 hour 7 minutes (57km) without tolls
• Narbonne – 1 hour 9 minutes (96km) with tolls or 1 hour 32 minutes (119km) without tolls
• Avignon – 1 hour 8 minutes (95km) with tolls or 1 hour 39 minutes (101km) without tolls
• Marseille – 1 hour 51 minutes (168km) with tolls or 2 hours 4 minutes (164km) without tolls
• Paris – 6 hours 50 minutes (749km) with tolls or 8 hours 40 minutes (738km) without tolls

Intercity trains to Montpellier France

Trains are a cheap and efficient way to get to Montpellier France. The main train station in Montpellier is Montpellier Saint-Roch. This is located in the heart of Montpellier. There is also a secondary train station, Montpellier Sud de France, which is on the outskirts of Montpellier. Montpellier Sud de France solely services TGV high speed trains.

The following train brands service Montpellier:

• TGV train – this is France’s intercity high speed rail service.
• TGV Ouigo – this is France’s low-cost high speed rail service.
• AVE train – this is Spain’s intercity high speed rail service. The AVE line which services Montpellier runs from Marseille France to Madrid Spain.
• Intercités – this is a non-high speed rail service which operates on the ‘classic’ rail network in France
• TER (Transport Express Régional) – the TER rail service is run by the regional councils of France

The French national railway company that operates these services is called SNCF.

We recommend using the app and website TrainLine to book intercity train tickets in France. This is the app we used. We found it very easy to use with great functionality. Another great feature is that you can see days ahead to see what times of the day were the cheapest rates. The TrainLine app was much easier to use than the SNCF website and app, which we found really cumbersome and difficult to use.

Intercity buses to Montpellier France

A common way to get around France is by using intercity buses. These are a budget friendly alternative to trains, but are generally a slower option. Intercity bus companies operating in Montpellier France include FlixBus as well as Blablacar Bus. Popular bus destinations from Montpellier include:

• Marseille France – travel time 2.5 hours. Tickets start from 3 euro one way.
• Paris France – travel time 10-11 hours. Tickets start from 14 euro one way.
• Lyon France – travel time 3-4 hours. Tickets start from 6 euro per way.
• Barcelona Spain – travel time 4.5 hours. Tickets start from 9 euro one way.
• Toulouse France – travel time 2.5-3.5 hours. Tickets start from 8 euro one way.

Montpellier destination guide: Arriving by air

The nearest airport to Montpellier France is Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport or Aéroport de Montpellier–Méditerranée (Airport code MPL). This international airport is also known as Fréjorgues Airport Airport. It is 7 km east-southeast of the city.

Other nearby airports include:

• Nîmes Airport (Airport code FNI). This airport is 60km away.
• Beziers (Airport code BZR). This airport is 64km away.
• Avignon Airport (Airport code AVN). This airport is 103km away.
• Perpignan Airport (Airport code PFG). This is 151km away.
• Marseille Airport (Airport code MRS). This is 153km away.

The national airline of France is Air France.

Montpellier destination guide: Arriving by boat

The city of Montpellier is only a short drive from the Mediterranean Sea. The closest ferry port is Sète France, which is half an hour away by train. From Sète, there are ferries to Morocco and Spain. However availability may vary depending on the season.

There are around 6 ferries per week from Sète to Morocco. These ferries connect Sète to 3 different destinations in Morocco – Nador, Al Hoceima as well as Tangier Med. The sailing time is between 38 and 47 hours. A one-way ticket for a foot passenger is around 60-100 euro for a seat and 120-180 euro for a cabin (prices as at 2022). There are 2 ferry companies that operate out of Sète – Balearia as well as Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV).

There are currently no ferries operating between Sète France and Barcelona Spain. However the service will resume on 3 October 2022. The sailing time is 11 hours and a one way ticket for a foot passenger is around 70 euro for a seat or 130 euro for a cabin (prices as at 2022). The ferry company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) operates this service.

Montpellier destination guide: How to get around Montpellier France

We were very impressed with the public transport system in Montpellier. Montpellier has an integrated public transport system which includes trams, buses as well as active transport options. Moreover, much of the city centre is car free. The city is also moving towards making public transport free in future. Currently public transport is free for certain age groups as well as on weekends for everyone. This has been done with the aim of reducing pollution levels in the city.

Walking in Montpellier France

By far the easiest and cheapest way to get around Montpellier is to walk. Montpellier is a very walkable city. It is also very scenic, so walking is a very pleasant way to get around. If you wish to visit the beach while in Montpellier, you can get there by tram and local bus.

Local buses in Montpellier France

Local buses service Montpellier.

Trams in Montpellier France

The Montpellier tramway is a four-line tram system which services Montpellier. There are currently 84 stations in the network. Plans are in place for expansion of the network in future, with another line as well as more stations proposed.

Métro trains (subway or underground) in Montpellier France

Montpellier does not have a metro train system. There are however 2 train stations which connect Montpellier to other cities and towns in France – Montpellier Saint-Roch train station and Montpellier Sud de France train station.

Vehicle hire in Montpellier France

A wide variety of vehicles can be rented in France. This includes:

• Bicycles – Montpellier is the perfect place for cycling. The city has over 20km of cycle lanes. There are self-service bike share services available in the city. The Vélomagg’ self-service bikes are free for the first 2 hours and then 0.50 euro per hour thereafter. A 150 euro holding deposit is required per bike and payments can be made with a banking card. Bikes can be found at 51 locations throughout the city including outside the train stations. Alternatively you can hire a bike from a bike hire shop such as W Ville & Vélo.
• Electric scooters – electric scooters are another popular mode of transportation in France. They are lightweight and less bulky compared to bikes. They are great for navigating the little alleyways that are typical throughout France. Much like bikes, electric scooters can be hired in many areas around France. To hire a scooter you will need to download the relevant app in order to unlock the scooter. The price usually includes an unlocking fee as well as a by the minute rate. Expect to pay around 5 euro an hour.
• Motorcycles
• Cars
• SUVs
• Campervans
• Boats

The French drive on the right side of the road.

Navettes (shuttles) in Montpellier France

Navettes make short repetitive journeys between two destinations. Common journeys include going between the airport and the city centre. These journeys can be booked on demand for a fixed price. The Navette Aéroport (line 620) runs from Montpellier Airport to the Montpellier Sud de France train station and also to Place de l’Europe in Montpellier. The cost is 1.60 euro per person or 2.60 euro with city bus/tramway included (prices as at 2023). The journey time is approximately 15 minutes to Montpellier Sud de France train station and 25 minutes to Place de l’Europe. Please note that the Gare de Montpellier Sud de France stop is not serviced on Sundays. For more information see this website.

Taxis in France

Taxis are common in France. Fares are regulated and are usually metered. The exception to this will be standard journeys such as airport trips. In this case the fare will be a fixed price. However in general your fare will include the following costs:

• The pickup fee or minimum fee – this is charged as soon as you get into the vehicle
• There may also be an additional fee for extra people or heavy luggage
• A reservation fee – this will be higher if you book in advance compared to if you want a taxi immediately
• Price per kilometre – this price can vary depending on the time of day
• Price per hour – this is a price that gets charged when the taxi is stuck in heavy traffic. The price also varies depending on the time of day

Ride-share services in France

There are many rideshare services operating in France. These include Uber, Lyft, InDriver and CarpoolWorld.

France travel guide to travelling during Covid

We have written a detailed post outlining the Covid entry requirements. You can find the post here.

Montpellier France destination guide: Is Montpellier France worth visiting?

Montpellier is a city worthy of including in your France itinerary. It has a lively and growing young population and offers many attractions. You can enjoy its picturesque parks and squares, its stunning beaches nearby, and its fashionable local markets. The city is also easy to explore with great public transportation and walkable public spaces. Plus, it has good train connections to other French regions, making it a convenient destination in southern France.

Montpellier destination guide: How long to spend in Montpellier France

Montpellier is a great place to come for a weekend. It is a very livable, cosmopolitan city which can easily keep you entertained for much longer. We spent 10 days in Montpellier and enjoyed taking time to enjoy the various activities available in this beautiful city.

Montpellier destination guide: What to do in Montpellier France

Montpellier is a beautiful French city with many activities on offer. It has a range of great free activities as well as paid activities.

Montpellier destination guide: Free things to do in Montpellier France

There are enough free activities in Montpellier France to keep you entertained for a weekend or even a leisurely week:

• Place de la Comédie
• Parc Zoologique de Montpellier
• Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier
• Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier
• Porte du Peyrou
• Aqueduc Saint-Clément
• Pavillon Populaire
• Promenade du Peyrou
• Halles du Lez
• Antigone neighbourhood
• Place Jean Jaurès
• Place de l’Europe
• Eglise Saint Roch
• Office de Tourisme Montpellier

For more details, see our Montpellier travel guide on the 14 Best Free Things To Do in Montpellier France.

On the 1^st Sunday of every month entry to Montpellier museums is free. This includes:

• Musée Fabre

Public transport in Montpellier is free all weekend.

Montpellier destination guide: Paid activities in Montpellier France

A number of attractions in Montpellier France charge an entry fee:

• Château de Flaugergues – entry fee is 11.50 euro for adults (as at 2023)
• Planet Ocean Montpellier – entry fee is 19.50 euro for adults (as at 2023)

Weather in Montpellier France

Montpellier enjoys a warm temperate climate. Its climate is heavily influenced by the nearby Mediterranean area. It has cold winters, with average temperature range between 3°C and 11°C in the coldest month of January. Summers last from June to September and are hot and sunny, with the average temperature range between 19°C and 29°C in the hottest month of July. It is a windy city and experiences frequent and sometimes powerful winds. Snow is rare but not unheard of in Montpellier. The month with the most rainfall is October with 7.3 days of rain on average and the driest month is July with an average of 2.9 rainy days.

Best time to visit Montpellier France

Montpellier is a vibrant city that is enjoyable at any time of year. However with its beautiful parks, squares and nearby beaches, Montpellier is particularly enjoyable during the warmer weather months of May to October.

Internet and mobile phones in France

Since June 15th, 2017, Roam Like at Home (RLAT) rules came into force for European Union (EU) countries. As such, people with EU mobile numbers are no longer charged temporary mobile roaming fees if they travel within the European Union. This means that if you have a European Union mobile number, you can use that number anywhere within the European Union and you will be charged for calls, texts and data in the same way as if you were in your home country. There are limits to this in order to prevent abuse of these rules.

The main internet and phone companies in France include Orange, SFR, LeFrenchMobile, Bouygues Telecom, Lebara, Lycamobile and Free.

5G has been in France since November 2020. However 2G is expected to continue in France until 2030.

Cell phone SIM cards can be bought in many places throughout France. These include phone stores, some supermarkets, newspaper kiosks as well as online.

How much to budget for Montpellier France?

Is Montpellier expensive?

Montpellier is a university city with a relatively low cost of living compared to other French cities. It also plans to make public transport free for residents in the near future. The city supports active transport modes like walking and cycling with excellent infrastructure. Moreover, you can enjoy many free activities in Montpellier, such as beach visits and Montpellier zoo trips. These factors make Montpellier a great value destination in southern France.

Montpellier destination guide: Daily spend for a couple travelling in Montpellier France

As a rough guide, we recommend the following budgets for a couple:

• Low-budget daily spend – 100 euro per day for a couple will get you budget accommodation, self catering and bakery meals, walking, using Vélomagg’ bikes or catching local transport to get around the city and free or cheap activities such as going to the zoo or going to the beach.
• Mid-range daily spend – 300 euro per day for a couple will get you mid-range accommodation, walking, using Vélomagg’ bikes or catching local transport to get around the city, dining at reasonably priced cafes and restaurants and some paid activities.
• Luxury spend – 1000 euro per day for a couple will get you a premium experience in France, staying at luxury hotels, travelling by private transport, doing a range paid activities and eating at high end restaurants.

Montpellier destination guide: Accommodation in Montpellier France

There is a good range of accommodation to suit most budgets in Montpellier France. We couldn’t find many hostels in Montpellier . However we found the prices for mid-range accommodation to be a bit lower than many other places we visited in France. Airbnb operates in France and we were impressed with the range of options available in Montpellier.

Where to stay in Montpellier France?

We recommend the following accommodation in Montpellier France:

• Best hostel in Montpellier France – Le Maje Hostel is a modern hostel with friendly and knowledgeable staff. The hostel is very safe and secure with codes for the main door as well as each room. It is conveniently located next to the old town and also close to the train station. The beds are comfortable and there is a large common area.
• Best bed & breakfast in Montpellier France – Les 4 étoiles is a comfortable and clean bed & breakfast close to the historical centre of Montpellier. The host is warm and welcoming and the breakfasts are fantastic.
• Best 4 star hotel in Montpellier France – Pullman La Pléiade Montpellier Centre is a nicely renovated hotel with friendly and attentive staff. It is centrally located and has a nice roof terrace area with a small swimming pool. There is also an excellent breakfast buffet.
• Best luxury 5 star hotel in Montpellier France – Hôtel Richer de Belleval is set in a beautifully renovated historic building. The hotel is a work of art and is beautifully decorated, particularly the bar area. The beds are extremely comfortable.
• Best value self-contained apartment in Montpellier France – Aparthotel Adagio Montpellier Centre Comedie is ideally located near Place de la Comédie and Opera Comedie. The apartment is spacious and quiet and the staff are friendly.

How much is accommodation in Montpellier France?

For short-term accommodation, a general price per night is as follows:

• Budget accommodation – we couldn’t find any dorm accommodation in Montpellier
• Mid-range accommodation – 35-150 euro for a private room
• Luxury accommodation – 300-400 euro a night for a luxury hotel
• Rental property – 150-400 euro a night for a fully furnished 3-5 bedroom home

Montpellier destination guide: Food in Montpellier France

Being close to the water, seafood is very popular in Montpellier. In particular, oysters harvested from nearby Étang de Thau lake are a must eat food when you’re in the area.

How much does food cost in Montpellier France?

Our price guide for your food budget in Montpellier France is as follows (prices as at 2022):

• Restaurant meal – 15-20 for a main dish
• Bakery food – 1-2 euro for a croissant or baguette, 5 euro for a sandwich
• Glass of wine – 4-6 euro
• Coffee – 3-4 euro

Regional dishes in Montpellier France

• Clapassade
• Oysters
• Seafood
• Cassoulet
• Escalettes
• Tapenade
• Grisettes de Montpellier

Cheap Eats in Montpellier France

• Boulangeries (French bakeries) are a great place to get cheap and delicious food. Baguettes are typically around 1 euro. Croissants and pain au chocolat are also around 1 euro. Other common food that can be found in boulangeries include quiches, pastries, sandwiches as well as pizza.
• Crêpes are a great cheap eat option in France. They are made fresh to order and are a delicious local food. Expect to pay 1-5 euro per crêpe, depending on the filling.

Fine dining in Montpellier France

Montpellier is home to a number of Michelin Guide restaurants.

1 star Michelin restaurants in Montpellier France (2023)

• Leclere
• Pastis
• Jardin des Sens
• Reflet d’Obione
• La Réserve Rimbaud

Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Montpellier France (2023)

• L’Artichaut
• Le Bistro Urbain

Michelin Plate restaurants in Montpellier France (2023)

• Céna
• Chez Delagare
• Anga – Beaulieu
• Abacus
• La Canourgue
• Ébullition
• Umami – La Cinquième Saveur
• Le Petit Jardin
• L’Arbre
• Mahé
• Terminal #1
• Soulenq

Montpellier France culture

France national holidays

• New Year’s Day – 1 January
• Good Friday – the Friday before Easter Sunday, typically in March or April. This is only observed in Alsace and Moselle.
• Easter Monday – the Monday after Easter Sunday, typically in March or April.
• Labor Day – 1 May
• Victory Day – 8 May
• Ascension Day – this is celebrated 40 days after Easter
• Whit Sunday – this is the Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is celebrated 50 days after Easter, typically in May or June
• Whit Monday – it is the day after Whit Sunday, typically in May or June
• Bastille Day – 14 July
• Assumption Day – 15 August
• All Saints Day – 1 November
• Armistice Day – 11 November
• Christmas Day – 25 December
• St Stephen’s Day – 26 December. This is only observed in Alsace and Moselle.

National symbols of France

• France flag – a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured blue, white and red from left to right.
• France coat of arms – this features a lictor’s fasces (a bundle of wooden rods with an axe protruding from the top). This symbol rests on branches of laurel and oak. There is also a ribbon with the national motto “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”. The lictor’s fasces represents magisterial power, law and governance. The oak is the national tree of France and symbolises strength and endurance. The laurel is a symbol of triumph.
• National flower – fleur-de-lis (also known as the lily flower)
• National bird – Gallic rooster

France pastimes

• National dish – Pot-au-Feu
• Popular drinks – Pastis, wine
• National sport – football
• Religion – 41% Catholic, 40% non-religious (as at 2019)

Famous people from Montpellier France

• Noteworthy people born in Montpellier France – philosopher Auguste Comte, YouTuber Rémi Gaillard, king James I of Aragon, artist Alexandre Cabanel, composer Jo Bouillon, artist Frédéric Bazille, singer Juliette Gréco, Saint Roch, actor William Nadylam, sociologist Loïc Wacquant
• Sports stars from Montpellier France – race car driver Didier Auriol, footballer Jean-Christophe Rouvière

Is Montpellier France Safe?

France travel guide: Safety in France

We travelled through France for two months and found the country to be extremely safe. As with any country, there are good areas as well as bad areas. Watch out for pickpockets particularly in Paris, Marseilles, Nice, Lyon, Cannes as well as Strasbourg. Also, make sure no-one is watching whenever you are entering pin codes and never lose sight of your credit card when making a purchase.

General safety considerations in France

Other general safety considerations for travel in France:

• Drinking water – The tap water is safe to drink in Montpellier.
• Mosquitoes – the tiger mosquito has been present in France since 2004. This type of mosquito spreads diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikunguya.
• Road safety – French motorways are the safest in continental Europe. However the National and Departmental roads are much less safe. Additionally, roads are the leading cause of violent death in the country. Take care on the roads in France.
• Water safety – If you visit any of the lakes, beaches or waterways near Montpellier take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect.
• Sun safety – Exposure to the sun can have adverse short-term and long-term effects on the skin, eyes as well as the immune system. Sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses is very important to ensure you don’t get burnt.

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

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