When we talk about Montpellier, we’re talking about the city where I was born and where I still live. But above all, Montpellier is a city where the sun shines 300 days a year! How fantastic is that? This article takes a look at my favourite beaches around Montpellier. Perfect spots for sunbathing in total peace and quiet, sampling delicious local dishes or sipping an aperitif with your toes in the sand in one of the delightful beach restaurants we call “paillotes.”
Looking for some tips for your next holiday? Just follow the guide below!
Villeneuve-Lès-Maguelone (East Beach, Prévost Side), my absolute favourite
Discover a pebble beach stretching for over 10 kilometres, with two very distinct characters. One side boasts a lively atmosphere with comfortable loungers and restaurants. The other side, which is completely deserted, is ideal for those seeking peace and seclusion.
How do I get there and where should I park?
- By car: Around 25 minutes from Montpellier, follow signs for Palavas-Les-Flots via the Près d’Arènes roundabout. When you reach the entrance to Palavas, turn right. You’ll find the Prévost car park at the very end of the road. Parking costs €6 from 8am to 6pm and €3 from 6pm to 8pm from mid-April to mid-September, and it’s free the rest of the year. You can get directly onto the beach from the car park. For a bit of extra peace and quiet, a small train can drop you off several stops further along this 10 km beach. If you fancy a bit of exercise, continue by bike or on foot!
- Public transport: Find all the information on the city’s website.
What services are provided there?
There are two private beaches close to the car park (details in the paragraph below), as well as a water sports centre featuring range of water sports including jet skiing and towed buoys.
Where can I get something to eat? And, more importantly, an aperitif?
La Bonaventure
With an incredible décor, this private beach is right next to the car park. This is the place to be if you like a bohemian vibe. You can choose to eat at the tables in the restaurant or on a deck chair.
The best time to enjoy this magical place is at the end of the day when the sun goes down. Just picture yourself with your feet in the sand, sipping a drink and savouring a delicious meal.
Prices:
- Starters: from €14
- Main courses: from €28
- Loungers: from €22
One of my personal favourites is the slipper lobster! The cocktails are excellent too. Prices are around €15.
There are also various beach activities, including pilates and stretching sessions, massages and musical evenings every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.
The paillotte opens from April to September, every day from 10am to 1am.
Le Carré Mer
A stone’s throw from La Bonaventure, Carré Mer will transport you to a Mediterranean haven. This delightful spot is ideal for those who want to get away from it all while enjoying delicious food and cocktails.
The menu was put together by the Pourcel brothers, well-known Michelin-starred chefs with main courses from €22. Equally tempting cocktails start at €12, and for those who prefer to relax on the beach, sunbeds are available for around €30. In addition to the main courses, Carré Mer also offers a delicious selection of tapas, ideal for sharing with friends and family.
The bar and restaurant are open every day from 10 am to 1 am, while the beach and sunbeds are open from 10 am to 6 pm.
Palavas-Les-Flots, the easiest beach to get to from Montpellier
This is Montpellier’s best known sandy beach and has plenty to offer children and adults alike. There are a few places where you can hire a sun lounger, but the beach is big enough to lay your own towels and have a picnic.
How do I get there and where should I park?
- By car: Just follow the signs to Palavas, either via Carnon or via Les Arènes, for about 20 minutes. There are a number of car parks in the town and by the beach, with hourly parking charges at the pay and display machines. Parking charges apply all year round.
- Public transport: Find all the information on the city’s website.
What services are available there?
Along the waterfront you’ll find all kinds of water sports, boat hire and cruises, restaurants, bars, ice-cream parlours, shops and much more.
Places to eat in Palavas
La plage des Lézards
One of the older paillotes, La plage des Lézards offers deckchairs and classic food right on the beach. Located to the west of Palavas, just before the Prévost car park and before you reach Villeneuve-Lès-Maguelone, this beach bar is not to be missed.
Meals are simple and delicious especially the grilled fish platter! Meals start from €20 and loungers are available from €15. To make things even more relaxing, you can also get a massage on the beach.
Plage des Lézards is open at lunchtime and in the evening every day from March to October.
L’Albatros
Just 200 metres from the Plage des Lézards, L’Albatros is the go-to spot for delicious food at affordable prices. There’s a choice between the bistro, with dishes from €20, and the tapas bar, where prices range from €6 to €25. Cocktails are priced at €12.
L’Albatros welcomes you for lunch and dinner, every day of the year.
Espiguette, spacious beach, extraordinary landscape and a guaranteed change of scenery!
Just imagine 10 unspoilt kilometres of fine sandy beach, right next to the magnificent wetlands of the Camargue. There’s a 10 minute walk across the dunes to get to the sea. There’s only one place where you can hire beach mats, and the rest of the beach is completely deserted. Ideal for those in search of the peace and tranquillity of nature in its purest form.
How do I get there and where should I park?
Far removed from the busy urban beaches, l’Espiguette is just 40 minutes from Montpellier. Head towards La Grande Motte and Le Grau du Roi and you’ll find this untamed beach. Parking is easy: choose the free car park is next to Espiguette campsite or go to Parking des Baronnets, on the World Heritage Site, which charges €7. The paid car park is closer to the sea than the free car park, which is 10 minutes away on foot.
What services are provided there?
Horse riding is available at several ranches on the Route de l’Espiguette. Don’t hesitate to stop there. The paillote next to the free car park had to close down so do bring a good picnic with you since there’s nowhere to buy snacks.
There are water sports activities available at the pay car park, along with a paillote so you won’t go hungry.
Where can I eat without lugging around a 5 kg cool box?
Oyat Beach
Located near the Baronnets pay car park, this charming little private beach will win you over with its authentic Camargue style, nestled among the dunes and far from the hustle and bustle.
Try the fresh salads, tapas, sandwiches and grilled meats, all at very reasonable prices. For just €15, you can rent a lounger and sunshade. You can also hire a paddle board for €10 an hour, perfect for exploring the surrounding waters.
The beach organises dance evenings throughout the summer, with details available on their Facebook page. Although the paillotte does not take bookings, it operates non-stop in July and August.
Grand Travers, the peaceful beach…out of season!
Discover a fine sandy beach stretching as far as the eye can see, a real hidden treasure where parking is free – one of the few places to offer this luxury!
How do I get there and where should I park?
It’s located 25 minutes from the city centre, following Route des Plages towards Grande Motte. The car park is free. This beach is just as large as the others but more popular. If you prefer seeing fewer people, come out of season when it’s perfect!
What services are provided there?
In the interests of preserving the coastline, there are fewer and fewer on-site services. However, you can enjoy water sports at La Grande Motte, a seaside resort just a few minutes’ drive from Le Grand Travers. And if you have a sweet tooth, there are the famous “chouchous beignets” (doughnuts) which are sold all day long on the beach.
Where’s the best place to eat at this beautiful spot?
For several years, this beach was home to a number of delightful paillottes where you could enjoy a drink or a meal with your toes in the sand. Unfortunately, these beach shacks had to be moved a few kilometres away.
Only two of them have survived to this day: L’Effet Mer and La Pampa Plage. The rest of the beach is now reserved for relaxing and picnicking.
The private beaches of Voile Bleue and Paillotte Bambou have moved to La Grande Motte, just a few minutes from Le Grand Travers, where you can relax on a beach mat, enjoy a refreshing aperitif and enjoy a delicious meal.
There are many more beaches to choose from around Montpellier, but these are my personal recommendations. If you’re coming to Montpellier and want to discover some other great places, take a look at the Blog des Exploratrices, in particular my articles Quoi faire à Montpellier (Things to do in Montpellier) and Les bonnes adresses de la ville (Places to go in the city).
So don’t hesitate – pack your bags and fly to Montpellier this summer!
