By air

Montpellier Méditerranée Airport, formerly Fréjorgues Airport, is situated on the outskirts of the city in Mauguio. It’s one of the busiest airports in the region, receiving more than one million passengers each year. Most tourists fly to Montpellier from other French cities. The airport operates flights to more than 50 destinations in the country, to Europe and some other parts of the world.

Facilities at the airport include restaurants and cafés, shops and a business centre as well as short-term and long-term car parks. There are also ATMs, Wi-Fi services, a nursery and emergency medical treatment upon request. The airport is disabled-friendly, but make sure you let your airline know in advance if you need help. Shuttle bus services provide connections to the city centre of Montpellier.

By Rail

Montpellier can be easily reached by TGV train from Paris and from other major towns in France. The main station is Montpellier St Roch, which is usually swarmed by tourists. The journey from Paris takes about 3 hours, 15 minutes, while travelling from Lyon takes about 1 hour, 40 minutes. Those coming from Barcelona can also hop on trains provided by Talgo.

By Car

If you want to drive to Montpellier, take the A9 motorway from anywhere in the country and exit either at Vendargues, Montpellier Est, Montpellier Sud, Montpellier Ouest or Saint Jean de Vedas. Once you turn off, follow the signposts to the city. The A75 also serves Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier.

Les Jardins des Plantes, Fabre Museum, Arc de la Triomphe, Promenade du Peyrou, University of Montpellier

Les Jardins des Plantes

Also known as the Botanical Garden, this lovely area is perfect for nature lovers and inspired gardeners. The garden is marked as the first botanical garden in the country, created by Pierre Richer de Belleval in 1593. Walk into a variety of beautiful creations such as a bamboo garden, tropical greenhouses and a gorgeous orangery, and be amazed at the number of exotic species of plants.

Fabre Museum

Home to a great selection of art masterpieces by Dutch, Flemish, Italian, Spanish and French painters from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the popular Fabre Museum was founded in 1825 by local painter François-Xavier Fabre. Apart from magnificent paintings, the museum also features a variety of sculptures and ceramics. A must-visit place for those with artistic spirits, the museum is conveniently located close to the city’s main square.

Arc de la Triomphe

Locals know the place by the name of Porte du Peyrou, but tourists usually call it the Arc de la Triomphe. Designed by the Languedoc architect Charles-Augustin Daliver, the arch borrowed its main features from the model of the famous Porte Saint-Denis in Paris and is no less exquisite. Boasting distinctive Doric style, the arch also glorifies King Louis XIV of France through marvelous carvings of major events.

Promenade du Peyrou

Locals and students usually flock to this terraced 17th and 18th century promenade to meet up and relax in the sun. This is where the Arc de la Triomphe is situated so you can’t miss it. Check out a famous water tower and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea from the promenade, or observe an exquisite 14th century cathedral built in the Gothic style. There are also many elegant large houses to drool over. The promenade also makes an ideal place for people-watching.

University of Montpellier

A visit to a university town is not complete with a tour at the university. The University of Montpellier was founded in 1220 and is renowned for its medical school. It is thought that the medical schools were established by the Moors and date back to the 9th century. Explore the university from which Nostradamus qualified as a doctor and where Petrarch also stayed for 7 years. Take a walk around the buildings and feel the medieval atmosphere while checking out the energetic students.

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January - February -> 1(°C) - Winter
July - August -> 29(°C) - Summer

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