floridamom, in addition to the tourist things mentioned in DK book, do you have any special recommendations? We plan to use Montpellier as a base for area travel (coming from Barcelona, going on to Nice). Thanks to you and all who respond!

Am hoping to send this to the top. Montpellier will be our base, so we are interested in places to see at the end of a day's travel. Student areas, people watching places...

ttt

If you don't get replies here, try the Francophile forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/PBProvence/start Some people there know the area well, though many regulars may not happen to be posting that much at the moment.

A year or two ago I was thinking of taking a trip based there and going on day trips by public transportation, since I didn't want to rent a car and drive, but I never did follow through with that tentative plan. However, I think I may have asked some initial questions either here or on the Francophile forum. I think I got some answers on a Fodors thread about places in France that can easily be visited by public transportation. I'll either top it or post a link here if I can find it.

I was just in Montpellier for several days in June, but I wasn't clear on what your question is or what area you are talking about, or what floridamom has to do with it or if you just want answers from that one person. I'm not sure if you are asking about things to do in Nice, outside Montpellier, or in Montpellier or where, so maybe you can re-clarify that. I also don't know what's DK or what's in it, but Montpellier is not a super-large city, so the standard popular areas and things to see should probably be named in a standard guidebook. There are some good websites on that, also.

I also don't understand whether you are looking for something in Montpellier for just one night or whether you are based there longer (as Nice is quite a distance away to use Montpellier as a base).
The obvious people watching place is the main square (Place de l'opera). It is buzzing at night as the city has a young feel to it due to the numerous students.
I enjoy just getting lost in the narrow streets of the old city just wandering.
Local places to visit will be the coast at Sete or Palavas, and inland you must visit St Guillelm le desert (check my spelling) which is a hilltop village.
Further out towards Nimes you'll find the Pont du Gard - an ancient aqueduct.
Most of all, I just love Montpellier for itself.

Apologies for the vagueness and thanks for the, nonetheless, concrete answers. My husband and I are going to Barcelona, Montpellier, Nice, Paris. Montpellier and Nice will be bases for area train travel. Montpellier major tourist info is listed in DK books (aka Eyewitness Travel) but I was asking for "insider" info. Any off the beaten path places maybe not mentioned. Thanks!

Topping this thread.

It depends where you are staying in Montpellier as to convenience, I suppose, for things in the evening. I stayed at Hotel Royal right near place de la Comedie, and that is a prime people-watching area, of course. Surprisingly, they didn't have many good cafes/brasseries around it, just casual places for snack food type meals. It's great for a beer, though, and bruschetta, if you want it (they seem very taken with bruschetta in Montpellier). Now, another "place" I quite liked at night for people and liveliness and dining was place Jean Jaures, and also place Castellane. These are a short walk from the place de la Comedie. They were all fairly lively and had several restaurants around, or good for a drink. I read about some other areas but didn't have personal experience at night. I do recommend highly the resturant L'Entrecote near place de la Comedie (I got that from a tip from Ger, who didn't make it there). They only have steaks and frites, though -- sort of one menu -- but it is really popular and the food was great. They had good dessert, also. www.entrecote.fr

I didn't eat at any other place special, but found some in regular guidebook, so they might be in DK.

For sightseeing, the tourist office is right near place de la Comedie and the park (espanade). Unfortunately, their museum was closed for renovations when I was there (Musee Fabree), but was supposed to be open sometime in 2006. I think I just did some walking around from my Michelin green guidebook, saw the big park (place Royale du Peyrou).

I did daytrips to Nimes and Narbonne from Montpellier, and liked both very much. They are both a short train trip.

Thanks Christina and AR! In addition to the "must see" places in Montpellier, we'd like to find the less travelled areas. floridamon mentioned being there on business so I thought she might have found some non-tourist places.

Hi cmt, Thanks for that info as well, I'll look it up. Didn't mean to leave you out with my previous thanks-just call me flaky!
Hub and I enjoy the trains and busses also!