Montpellier, a sun‑splashed city in Occitanie, grew from a 10th‑century trading post into a confident university town. Its medical school is among the oldest in the world, and the old quarter’s honey‑stone lanes still hum with students, cafés, and street musicians. A short tram ride away, the Lez River glints past new neighborhoods designed by star architects.

This is a city of layers: Gothic spires at Saint‑Pierre Cathedral, Louis XIV pomp at the Promenade du Peyrou, and the geometric Antigone district by Ricardo Bofill. The markets brim with pélardon goat cheese, olives, and citrus; nearby, the Languedoc’s Pic Saint‑Loup produces elegant reds, while the Étang de Thau yields briny oysters and crisp Picpoul de Pinet.

Expect about 300 days of Mediterranean sunshine. Most shops break for lunch; dinner runs later (many kitchens open at 7:30–8:00 pm). Trams 1–4 are frequent and easy—budget around €1.60–€1.70 per ride—and the beach is 20–30 minutes away. Keep wallets secure in crowds around Place de la Comédie and the station, and pack a light layer for the Tramontane wind.

Montpellier

Montpellier charms with contrasts: medieval lanes (the Écusson), the grand Place de la Comédie, and Antigone’s neoclassical vision. Spend mornings under plane trees with a café crème, afternoons exploring galleries and street art, and evenings at wine bars pouring Grenache‑Syrah blends from the hinterlands.

• Top sights: Place de la Comédie and the Opéra; Arc de Triomphe and Promenade du Peyrou; Saint‑Pierre Cathedral; MO.CO. and MO.CO. Panacée galleries; Antigone and Port Marianne; 18th‑century Saint‑Clément Aqueduct.
• Fun facts: Fashion designer Christian Lacroix once styled the city’s trams; Montpellier’s medical faculty has alumni from Rabelais to Nostradamus; nearby Saint‑Guilhem‑le‑Désert is a UNESCO‑listed medieval village.
• Local flavors to try: tielles sétoises (octopus pies), brandade, pélardon, tellines (wedge clams), Thau oysters, and AOP wines—Pic Saint‑Loup and Picpoul de Pinet.

How to get here: Fly into Montpellier‑Méditerranée (MPL). For flights within or to/from Europe, compare routes on Omio (flights). If you’re coming from North America or Asia, also check Trip.com (flights) and Kiwi.com. High‑speed trains are excellent: Paris–Montpellier in ~3h10–3h30 (from ~€35–€120), Barcelona–Montpellier ~3h15 (from ~€29–€90), Marseille–Montpellier ~1h30–2h (from ~€15–€40)—search and book on Omio (trains). Buses can be cheaper but slower—compare on Omio (buses).

Where to stay: Browse apartments near the Écusson or Antigone on VRBO Montpellier or hotels on Hotels.com Montpellier.

• Domaine de Verchant Hotel & Spa (country‑estate feel, fine dining, pools, vineyards on site): Check availability.
• Holiday Inn Express Montpellier – Odysseum (great for families near aquarium and shopping; tram to center): See rates.
• Hotel Ibis Budget Montpellier Centre Millénaire (clean, wallet‑friendly base near Port Marianne): Book a deal.

Day 1: Écusson Essentials and Golden Hour on the Peyrou

Arrival (Afternoon): Land at MPL and take the airport shuttle to Place de l’Europe, then Tram 1 to Comédie (or a 20‑minute taxi). Drop bags and stretch your legs with a first look at the Écusson (old town). Start at Place de la Comédie, then wander Rue de la Loge into car‑free lanes lined with stone hôtels particuliers, indie boutiques, and hidden courtyards.

For a well‑paced orientation, join a guided walk that threads history with architecture:

Montpellier Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide

Your guide will cover Saint‑Pierre Cathedral’s flying buttresses, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Promenade du Peyrou’s sunset views toward the Cévennes—perfect for photos and bearings.

Evening: Toast your first night with a glass of Pic Saint‑Loup at Trinque Fougasse (wine bar with generous boards and occasional live music). For dinner, choose one:

• Le Petit Jardin – romantic courtyard, Mediterranean herbs and seafood, ideal for lingering mains like herb‑crusted fish.
• Pastis Restaurant – seasonal market menu, concise and creative, strong on local produce and sauces.
• Terminal #1 – contemporary brasserie by the Pourcel brothers; think grilled octopus, precise sauces, and great cocktails.
• Chez Boris – for steak lovers; aged meats, béarnaise, crisp fries.

Finish with gelato under the opera lights at Amorino on Comédie, then a relaxed stroll along Esplanade Charles‑de‑Gaulle.

Day 2: Food Market Finds, E‑Bikes, and the Lez

Morning: Coffee at MANA Coffee (flat whites, house bakery, superb sourdough toasts) or Café Bun (specialty brews, Vietnamese‑French brunch bowls). Then sample the city’s flavors with a guided tasting and history walk through the center:

Montpellier Gourmet Food Tour

You’ll nibble your way from Place de la Comédie to covered markets, tasting pélardon, tielles, and regional wines while hearing stories that bring the stones to life.

Afternoon: Swap to two wheels to cover more ground—Antigone’s monumental lines, Port Marianne’s sleek riverside, and the leafy banks of the Lez are perfect for a spin:

Guided Tour of Montpellier City Centre by Electric Bike

Prefer to roam independently? Pick up an e‑bike and follow the Lez toward the Lattes wetlands to spot flamingos, or loop back through Antigone for iced coffee on the terraces.

Evening: Head to Marché du Lez, a creative hub of vintage shops, street art, and food stalls. Share boards of local charcuterie, slurp a dozen Thau oysters with a glass of Picpoul, or grab wood‑fired pizza and bao while a DJ sets the mood. If you’d rather sit‑down in the old town, try La Diligence (stone‑vaulted dining room, Occitan flavors) or L’Atelier de la Canourgue (intimate bistro near the square). Nightcap at Glouglou or Le Parfum (speakeasy‑style cocktails).

Day 3: Oysters on the Thau and a Farewell Stroll

Morning: Save your last morning for the sea’s bounty on a half‑day tasting that combines vines and lagoon. It’s a delicious way to connect Montpellier to its coast:

Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Wine and Oyster Tour from Montpellier

Travel along the Étang de Thau to taste just‑shucked oysters and sip zesty Picpoul de Pinet, then visit a nearby winery. Expect ~4–5 hours door‑to‑door, returning around midday.

Afternoon (Departure): Back in town, graze at Halles Laissac—pick up cheese, olives, and a rotisserie sandwich—or enjoy a quick plate of moules‑frites near Comédie. If time allows, pop into MO.CO. Panacée for a compact contemporary art fix and espresso in the courtyard. Collect your bags and ride Tram 1 to Comédie/Corum then on to your onward train (Omio trains) or the airport shuttle to MPL; for flights beyond Europe, also scan Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Optional Add‑Ons (if you have extra time):

• Saint‑Guilhem‑le‑Désert & Hérault Landscapes: Romanesque abbey, Devil’s Bridge, and the red earth of Lac du Salagou. Discovery of the Grands Sites de l'Hérault from Montpellier

  

• Self‑guided city games: Turn the center into a puzzle hunt with an app, perfect for families or groups of friends. Try the playful Montpellier City Exploration Game

  

Practical eating and coffee map: For breakfast, MANA Coffee or Café Bun. Lunch ideas include Halles Laissac (quick, quality), Marché du Lez (varied, convivial), or bistros around Place de la Canourgue. Dinners shine at Le Petit Jardin, Pastis, Terminal #1, or La Diligence. For wine, try Trinque Fougasse or Glouglou; for a final scoop, Amorino near Comédie.

In three days, you’ll have traced Montpellier’s arc from medieval university to modern Mediterranean hub, tasted the region’s wines and oysters, and drifted along the Lez by e‑bike. It’s a city that rewards curiosity—easy to navigate, rich in stories, and irresistibly sunny. Bon voyage.