Montpellier, the city of sun
Located right in the heart of the Hérault department, Montpellier is a very special Mediterranean city, acclaimed by many tourists. The town is only a few kilometres away from the sea, and boasts a Mediterranean climate: springs are mild and summers are hot, with hot and humid air from the sea that brings a more or less pleasant feeling of heat depending on the season. To organize your trip and book your airline ticket to Montpellier, spring is the best time - the weather is milder and there are fewer tourists. A weekend is enough for visiting the city, but the surrounding region is particularly beautiful so it would be a shame to miss out on it. You should therefore stay several days, and remember to check the time difference before you leave (6 hours from New York for instance). Feel free to browse through our guide to plan your trip properly.
Once there, locals speak French. Yet as the region is so touristy, you will have no problem communicating in English.
Discover Montpellier's history and riches
Montpellier is renowned as a young and dynamic city. Indeed, the many students there make it a destination filled with all kinds of activities. Montpellier has, from its very beginnings, been a town of culture and art. You will discover its magnificent architectural heritage - when walking from the Place de la Comédie to the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle for instance. You can admire the superb Trois Grâces fountain and a little further on the entrance gate to the old city: a monumental Arc de Triomphe.
As you stroll around the city centre, swing by the Peyrou promenade. This esplanade offers a spectacular view of the Cevennes area and the Pyrenees. There you can gaze upon the statue of the Sun King, the monumental water tower erected in 1768 and classified as a historical monument, as well as the Saint Clément aqueduct. A little further down, you can visit the botanical garden - the oldest in France. On an interesting note, you can see there a Phillyrea latifolia, which is a Mediterranean tree whose trunk is scattered with natural cavities. Local tradition has it that people use the tree as a post box for love letters.
During your trip to Montpellier, you can also visit the Ecusson area - which is in the very centre, with its little medieval cobbled streets that will take you back in time. Discover the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the Babotte tower and Jean Jaurès square.
To loop your way back to modern times, stop off in the Antigone area of town - built in the late 90's. All the buildings there were designed based on Greek antiquity. The result is truly stunning.offers many direct flights to Paris departing from major US airports.
When you arrive at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airportyou can easily reach your hotel with the Super Shuttle, Air France buses, Citybird taxis or the Paris public transportation network (RER, metro, etc.).
You may reserve a flight for Paris or you may also reserve your flight + hotel and/or car rental when you reserve your ticket.
Montpellier, its museums and must-see sites
When visiting Montpellier, you can also visit the town's many museums. The Fabre museum is a must-do for art-lovers. It is a very interesting place to visit as it combines art, history and modernity.
Montpellier's History Museum is also worth a visit, set up in the Notre Dame des Tables church. Lastly, for all you science enthusiasts, why not swing by one of the oldest medical schools in Europe and the Anatomy Museum - more commonly referred to as the Horror Museum. It is a surprising conservatory of human anatomy. A thrilling experience, for sure!
After all that excitement, go and relax in one of the town's many bars or restaurants. There you can indulge in delicious Mediterranean cuisine and enjoy the party spirit until the early hours of the morning.