a large building with a clock on the top of it

Sète

Sète is a working fishing port on the French Mediterranean coast. Go for oysters, tielles and evenings along the canals.

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Sète is a port town on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, in the Occitanie region, about 30 kilometers southwest of Montpellier. The town lies between the open sea and the Étang de Thau, a lagoon where oysters and mussels are farmed, and canals run through the center past moored fishing boats. The old quarter, the seafront and the hill of Mont Saint-Clair sit close together, so most of the town is walkable.

Sète is known for seafood, especially oysters and mussels from the lagoon, and for tielles, small pastries filled with octopus in tomato sauce. The singer Georges Brassens was born here and is buried in the seaside cemetery. In summer, the port hosts water jousting, a contest in which two rowers on boats try to knock each other into the water. It suits travelers who want food and harbor life more than beach resorts. Plan at least one night, and two if you want a beach day. Late spring to early autumn is the warm season for swimming.

Sète in five

Eat a tielle and Thau oystersThe tielle is a Sète octopus pie, and the nearby Thau lagoon is known for oysters and mussels. Ask for local specialties, not a generic menu.
Walk the canals and the quaysThe old town is built along canals, with boats moored in the center. Walk early or at sunset.
Check the August jousting datesWater jousting is a local tradition in late summer, around the Saint-Louis festival. Confirm dates on the tourist office site.
Take the train, skip the carSète has a station on the Montpellier line and a walkable center. Parking is tight in summer.Montpellier

Things to do in Sète

See all attractions in Sète

Museum · SèteMusee Paul Valery

Museum · SèteEspace Georges Brassens

Museum · SèteInternational Museum of Modest Arts

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SètePut the places you like in Sète on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Montpellier–Méditerranée (MPL), about 40 min by car
Getting there: TER from Montpellier about 30 min; direct TGVs from Paris
Getting around: On foot in the center; buses reach the beaches
Best base: Near the canals or the quays
Time needed: 1 day; 2 with the lagoon and beach

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Mild, spring
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Warm, spring
MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, beaches
JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Hot, beaches
JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, busy
AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hot, jousts
SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, quiet
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, oysters
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Cool, wet
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cool, quiet

Average daily high and low in Sète, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Sète

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 9°
Humidity: 58%
Wind: 11 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Sète

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today17°10°0%Monday: Clear. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue15°8°20%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
Wed12°8°70%Wednesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 70%.
Thu11°10°76%Thursday: Rain. High 11°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 76%.
Fri16°8°80%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 80%.
Sat14°5°25%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 25%.
Sun15°7°62%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 62%.

Updated 09:25 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Sète

TGV and TER to SèteDirect TGVs from Paris run dailyRead the guide

Thau lagoon tastingOysters and wine near the harborCompare tours

eSIM for the Occitanie coastData when you leave the harbor townRead the guide

Cover for a beach city breakTheft, delays and sun injuriesRead the guide

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Rules for Sète, checked

France is in the EU, so EU entry rules apply. Check the current requirements on travel-europe.europa.eu before you travel.Source
Meat and dairy products brought from outside the EU are restricted in luggage. Check the French customs rules on douane.gouv.fr before you pack food.Source
Service is included in restaurant bills in France. Leave a small extra tip only for good service, or round up the bill.
Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance. 15 reaches the medical service (SAMU) and 17 the police.

Plan around Sète

Montpellier travel guide

A university city 30 minutes by train

Read the guide Béziers travel guide

Wine and canal town to the west

Read the guide Languedoc-Roussillon

How to link the southern wine coast

Read the guide All of France

Regions, trains, entry rules and money for a France trip

Read the guide

Sète FAQ

Is Sète worth visiting?

Yes if you like real port towns. It has canals, seafood and beaches without the glitz of the Riviera. It is not a museum city.

How many days do you need in Sète?

One day covers the canals, a seafood lunch and Mont Saint-Clair. Stay two for beaches and the lagoon.

How far is Sète from Montpellier?

About 30 minutes by TER or 40 minutes by car. Many visitors do Sète as a day trip from Montpellier.

What is Sète famous for?

Its canals, the tielle, oysters from the Thau lagoon and the poets Georges Brassens and Paul Valéry, who both came from here.

Does Sète have good beaches?

Yes, long sandy beaches run along the Lido, and the town has smaller coves. They are busy in July and August.