The sun is making a grand come-back this week in Paris and it has me feeling extremely joyful and inspired. One of the reasons I love living in Paris is the accessibility of travel for quick trips. Sometimes it’s completely necessary to escape the city for a new adventure, even if it’s just for a weekend. Want to visit a charming French town that also has beaches? Look no further than Montpellier. I spent 36 hours in Montpellier during the summer and will surely do it again. Keep reading to see what I discovered + some tips if you’re planning to head south.
The itinerary
For every weekend trip, I use my handy weekend trip planner, which you can download for free here. Having a planner and itinerary helps me to familiarize myself with the destination before getting there, and ensures that I get to do everything I was hoping to, all while keeping realistic expectations. I can’t tell you how many times I said I’d “wing it” and ended up feeling disappointed in my trip.
Even if you’re going for a laid-back schedule of relaxing and unwinding, you should plan it! My Montpellier weekend is certainly aimed at unwinding and doesn’t focus too much on cultural or educational activities.
Here’s what I planned:
Day 1
- Lunch at the beach
- Check-in
- Sightseeing in city centre
- Pre-dinner drinks
- Dinner
Day 2
- Breakfast at hotel
- Massage
- Check-out
- Lunch
- Sunbathe at hotel pool
Where to beach it
Plage Carnon is where I spent my afternoon sunbathing and it’s easy to get to! It was only a 15 min drive from the city center. You can also go by bus or tram (25 min) or by bike! You can follow helpful directions for public transport here. There was a ton of parking and a bike path all along the beach. To get to it you have to take one of the numbered paths which helps you remember where you are, and also adds a little anticipation to your walk towards the beach!
Other notable beaches:
- Palavas Les Flots
- Plage de l’Espiguette
City Centre sites
Montpellier Cathedral (Saint-Pierre) – Cathedral built in the 1500’s with strikingly large pillars at the main entrance. There is also a medicine university inside and 12 different chapels. Address: Rue Saint-Pierre, 34000 Montpellier
La Promenade du Peyrou – For a view of both the Arc de Triomphe and Saint-Clément Aqueduct. This is a beautiful city square with a statue of Louis XIV in the middle. Opposite of the Arc de Triomphe is an old aqueduct dating back to the 1700s with a nice view and fountains.
Place de la Comedie / Opéra house – A beautiful architectural landmark and statue in city centre. Like most Opéra houses in Europe, it has been rebuilt numerous times after fires. The most recent version was built in the late 1800s. Address: 11 Boulevard Victor Hugo, 34000 Montpellier
Where to eat
If you know me by now then this it’s no surprise to you that I plan my vacations around food. I mean, if I only get one dinner then I’m going to do my research and go for something that has what I am looking for, amiright? So here’s where I ate and some of the places that I had my eye on and marked on my map.
Lunch on the beach at Le Mistral
Timing is everything on a short trip, so multi-tasking meals with an activity was my goal. I chose Le Mistral simply because you can have your food served to your beach chair in the sand. They have a pretty simple, no fuss menu of just salads which do the job. Address: Le Petit Travers beach, 34280 Carnon
Other lunch suggestions by the beach:
- La Plage des Lézards – French beach-front restaurant at Palavas les Flots Beach. Address: 1269 Avenue de l’Évêché de Maguelone, 34250 Palavas-les-Flots
- Le J – Large beach terrace restaurant at Plage Carnon offering a full menu. Address: 8 Avenue Grassion Cibrand, 34280 Mauguio
Drinks at Time Café
Small and fun little wine bar in city centre. I found the staff to be very nice and the ambiance to be perfect for a drink before dinner. They also serve tapas here and have a little bit of outdoor seating during nice weather. I went here for pre-dinner drinks on day. 1. *Recommended to make a reservation. Address: 7 Rue des Teissiers, 34000 Montpellier
Tapas & wine at Le Verre à Soi Montpellier
A spacious Art Deco wine bar where you serve your own wine from a dispenser. There are some incredible choices and you can choose the size accordingly. Your tab adds onto a card they give you which you give them later to pay. This was my day 2 lunch spot. Address: 17 Rue Saint-Guilhem, 34000 Montpellier
Dinner at Les Bains de Montpellier
For a quality dinner just near the Opéra house & Place de la Comédie, my recommendation goes to Les Bains. I usually steer away from restaurants that are exceptionally close to tourist areas, but this place is not a tourist trap at all.
Make a reservation and request a table in their garden. It is a large patio area with a fountain in the middle. It’s a great little escape from the street and such a lovely outdoor atmosphere.
The classic French dishes were truly exceptional and affordable for the portions and quality. The staff was super friendly (maybe I am just used to poor service in Paris?). At some point it started to rain quite heavily and the owner was quickly checking on every single table to make sure each and every guest was not getting wet under the umbrellas. This stuck with me as much as the food did. I am very glad that I chose this place for my one and only dinner in Montpellier.
Address: 6 Rue Richelieu, 34000 Montpellier
Psst! Another restaurant that I wanted to try (but simply could only choose 1)
La Maison de la Lozere – A beautiful classy restaurant with outdoor courtyard seating and stunning interior architecture. The food seems to be more gastronomical style and well worth it. I will be sure to try this place next time around! Address: 27 Rue de l’Aiguillerie, 34000 Montpellier
Where to sleep
Hotel Oceania Le Métropole Montpellier
Pool? check.
Spacious rooms? check.
Central location? check.
This was my main criteria for my search when booking a room. This place was really great. The room was HUGE and the outdoor pool was perfect for a last minute dip between checking out and waiting for the train back to Paris. They also have an in-house spa with massages if that is up your alley. It’s a quick walk to the train station, making it ideal for a quick trip! Saving travel time is a BIG plus.
Address: 3 Rue du Clos René, 34000 Montpellier
What’s next?
Are you feeling ready to check out Montpellier? I’m happy to help further with any questions. Just comment below or send me an email.
Make your planning a little easier by using my FREE weekend trip planner! I originally designed this for myself to save some time and help me get organised for short trips like these.
Bon voyage!
xo
Tamara ♡
Keemia
love it! thanks
Tina
Thank you very much for this blog! Its helps me a lot! *-* https://www.studytravel.de/sprachreisen-montpellier.html