Where to Stay in Montpellier, France (Best Areas + Best Hotels)

Where to Stay in Montpellier for YOU

Click on the link you’re interested in above to see the best hotel in the area.

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Montpellier – Pros & Cons

Discover what each neighborhood has to offer and the pros and cons of each right below.

THE BEST Area to Stay in Montpellier: Old Town l’Ecusson

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that l’Ecusson, the historic center of Montpellier, is the best area to stay in the city.

The first reason for that is, quite simply, that it is right in the heart of Montpellier, and that you will thus have prime access to all of the main hotspots of the city.

Then, I’m sure you will adore strolling around the magnificent medieval streets and staring at one of the many squares and fountains.

But wait, the best part is yet to come: believe it or not, Old Town l’Ecusson is the largest pedestrian zone of Europe! That’s right, the center of Montpellier is entirely walkable, and you won’t be bothered by cars or public transport. How much more relaxing can it get?

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Old Town l’Ecusson by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Le Yellow – Hôtel Particulier XIXème: This place is exceptionally well decorated and offers comfortable beds. It is both incredibly bright and spotlessly clean, and the host will warmly welcome you; you can book it with your eyes closed.

✨ Luxury Choice – Hôtel Richer De Belleval – Relais & Châteaux: This accommodation located in a stunning building has high-quality equipment, serves exquisite breakfasts, and features a skillful and smiling staff.

💰 Budget Pick – Appartement centre historique: Although simple, this accommodation is fully equipped and functional, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, and you will have all you need to feel at ease.

Best Place to Stay in Montpellier for Nightlife: Place de la Comédie

The Place de la Comédie is the heartbeat of Montpellier. It is its most frequented area, and it features tons of restaurants and bars, making it the place to be for a fun night out. And, believe me, nights in the lovely south of France are particularly memorable!

Don’t worry though, you won’t get bored during the day either, as there are plenty of cute strolls you could go for, as well as loads of amazing shopping addresses. This is also the main area for concerts and various events, from Christmas to book markets.

Even better, it is located right next to the train station of the city, making it perfect if you need to leave early in the morning, or don’t want to move too much in Montpellier.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Place de la Comédie by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Hotel d’Aragon: This hotel is decorated in particularly fine fashion, and it offers bubble baths among other great services. It is also perfectly located, in a calm area.

✨ Luxury Choice – La Comédie, appart de Charme: Expertly soundproofed, this accommodation offers space to breathe and silence to chill. Overall, a magical stay awaits you there!

💰 Budget Pick – Kyriad Hotel Montpellier Centre Antigone: Here, not only will you be assisted by a smiling and caring staff, but you will also enjoy tasty and varied breakfasts, all the while you will stay right next to the Place de la Comédie. It also has its own secure, underground parking lot.

Coolest Area to Stay in Montpellier: Beaux-Arts

I know that not everyone has the same definition of “coolest”, especially when it comes to neighborhoods. All of them have their own atmosphere, offer different perks, and please various people, but I believe that everyone will agree on the Beaux-Arts when it comes to Montpellier.

There, a laid-back atmosphere and a small-town lifestyle await you: particularly fond of ecology and alternative culture, the inhabitants of the Beaux-Arts are both nice and welcoming.

What’s lovely about it is that it is located right next to the heart of the city, but that it also has its own personality, with its street concerts and cute little markets.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Beaux-Arts by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Appartement design: This place has a modern interior with all the needed equipment, located in an ideal area. 

✨ Luxury Choice – Hôtel du Parc: This hotel is located within an ancient, magnificent building with a lovely courtyard featuring a lush garden. Breakfasts here are fresh and copious. Go for it with your eyes closed!

💰 Budget Pick – Appartement type F2 au calme: If you seek simplicity, comfort, and low pricing over anything else, this is the right place. This cozy little apartment is well-furnished, and it offers all the necessary comfort for a great stay.

Most Peaceful Area to Stay in Montpellier: Les Arceaux

Vinicius Pinheiro / CC BY-SA

Next up on this list is the relaxing, the quiet, the pleasant Les Arceaux, the most peaceful area to stay in Montpellier. Despite being laid-back and calm, this neighborhood still offers easy access to the historic center of l’Ecusson, making it a perfect pick if you’d love to walk around busy areas during the day and rest in a quiet zone at night.

This area is famous for its Roman aqueducts, which are remnants of a glorious past. These are intelligently blended in the area, and they fit perfectly with the rest of the buildings. In fact, Les Arceaux is overall a fantastic mix of eras!

Be wary that the atmosphere might be different at night, and that you could feel unsafe because of the quietness.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Les Arceaux by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Hotel des Arceaux: This great hotel is stylishly decorated and its beds are comfortable, but what’s best about it is that you can eat your breakfast on a cute patio.

✨ Luxury Choice – Les 4 étoiles: This place has a near-perfect rating of 9.9 out of 10, on over 200 reviews! Here, you will start your day each morning with fresh French pastries with a coffee and can end it on your extremely wide bed.

💰 Budget Pick – MICHELET Studio climatisé: If you are one of those travelers who would rather book a small, 1-room apartment rather than pick a cheap hotel, then you will adore this place.

Best-Served Neighborhood in Montpellier: Port-Marianne

For those of you who are tired of the big city life and its non-stop buzzing activity but still want to stay close to it so you can go in and out as much as you’d please, I can only recommend Port-Marianne, a trendy neighborhood of Montpellier.

Located between urban spaces and nature, it offers a much-welcomed break from the crowded historic center, as well as easy access to the green areas surrounding the city. Don’t worry though, you can still reach the center quite fast thanks to the tramway lines!

Also, aside from the many students going to law school, you will find design apartments and unique landscapes.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Port-Marianne by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Mas de Lafeuillade: This place is truly unique. This idyllic accommodation has its own sunny terrace surrounded by beautiful trees, as well as a modern and well-designed interior.

✨ Luxury Choice – Port Marianne City Cosy Apparemment: After being greeted by majestic statues in the superb main hall, you will discover your fully equipped, cutting-edge room. Just incredible in my opinion!

💰 Budget Pick – Aparthotel Adagio access Montpellier Centre: This place is the best compromise for travelers on a budget looking to stay in Port-Marianne. For a low price, you will have access to a modern apartment and eat great breakfasts.

Best Place to Stay in Montpellier for Shopping: Antigone

France as a whole is the ideal destination for you if you love shopping. And, if you are heading to Montpellier and want to stay near the best boutiques, you should consider the Antigone quarter.

Built by a Catalan architect, this neighborhood definitely stands out, and it feels like it isn’t really part of Montpellier, but rather of northeastern Spain… or maybe even Ancient Greece! Stretching from the historic center to the Lez river, it boasts incredible monuments, and it is a constant alternation between fountains and squares.

Even if you don’t elect to stay there, you should check it out on Wednesdays, as that’s when the neighborhood comes alive, for its local market. Aside from that, it has loads of magnificent shops for you to go and discover!

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Antigone by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Crowne Plaza Montpellier Corum: With its private parking lot and sunny swimming pool, no wonder this hotel is a personal favorite. It also has a fully equipped outdoor area and comfortable rooms with modern amenities.

✨ Luxury Choice – Appartement Premium 4 Stars – Antigone: As its name suggests, it offers a premium experience for those who pick it. It is immaculately clean and modernly designed.

💰 Budget Pick – Citadines Antigone Montpellier: This hotel offers record low prices, all the while its rooms feel premium, both in terms of quality of equipment and cleanliness.

Best Place to Stay in Montpellier for the Beach: Palavas-les-Flots

In case you didn’t know, Montpellier isn’t directly on the beach, and you would need to go to another nearby city if you’d love to stay by the seaside. If it were me, I would immediately pick Palavas-les-Flots for a stay on the beach.

Famous across France, Palavas-les-Flots is the embodiment of a typical southern village. With its narrow Mediterranean streets, its colorful markets, and its excellent restaurants serving seaside specialties, it is just a cool place to stay, honestly.

You’ve guessed it by now, but I will still say it: the coastline of Palavas-les-Flots is just magnificent! Also, compared to other places such as Marseille or Nice, it isn’t that crowded, which just feels great.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Palavas-les-Flots by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – La lagune aux oiseaux: Although its interior is absolutely stunning, with its design and amenities, I fell in love with its outdoor area and views of the seaside.

✨ Luxury Choice – Hôtel Plage Palace & Spa: If you value the comfort of your accommodation over anything else, then you should have a look at this place. Located on the beach, this hotel is the definition of fanciness, with its whitewashed interior and superb design.

💰 Budget Pic – Très bel appartement cosy: This is a very cozy place. The host will warmly welcome you, and you can be sure your stay in Palavas-les-Flots will be comfortable.

Where not to stay in Montpellier?

Even though Montpellier isn’t unsafe for tourists, generally speaking, there might be some areas you want to avoid. If it were me, I wouldn’t stay in Les Cévennes, La Mosson, Figuerolles, or Saint-Roch for a holiday in Montpellier.

How many days should I spend in Montpellier?

Short answer: from 1 to 3 days.

Long answer: depending on what you are looking to do and discover, you might want to take more or less time. When it comes to Montpellier in and of itself, 1 day can be enough. But if you want to learn more about the city, discover the beachfront or try one of the activities in the surrounding areas, 3 days are better.

Final Thoughts

Well that’s it! These were my 7 favorite areas for where to stay in Montpellier. I hope you learned something interesting, but mostly that you found the best fit for you.

Just in case some of you might still be hesitating at this point, let me insist: the overall best neighborhood in Montpellier is Old Town l’Ecusson, so don’t think too much and go discover its incredible medieval streets!

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