Car hire in Montpellier
1 office in Montpellier · airport pick-up · France
Montpellier is the young city of southern France: one of Europe's oldest universities, the medieval maze of the Écusson and bold contemporary architecture flowing down to the sea. The tram handles the city, but the surrounding Languedoc — its lagoons, vineyards and gorges — works at the scale of a car.
Hiring at Montpellier-Méditerranée airport, a quarter of an hour from the centre, gives you immediate access to the wild beaches of the Camargue, historic cities such as Nîmes and Carcassonne, and inland landscapes like the Hérault gorges, where public transport simply doesn't go.
Search cars in MontpellierWhy hire a car in Montpellier
- The best beaches, from Espiguette to the flamingo lagoons, lie beyond the reach of tram and train.
- The Hérault hinterland, with Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and the river gorges, is accessible only by car.
- Pick-up at Montpellier-Méditerranée airport, around 15 minutes from the centre, with direct access to the A9.
Day trips near Montpellier
- Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert — A medieval village in a gorge, a Romanesque abbey listed as World Heritage, and swimming holes in the Hérault river. About 45 minutes away.
- Nîmes — The French Rome: an almost intact amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée and, close by, the Pont du Gard aqueduct. About 50 minutes away.
- Sète and the Bassin de Thau — A harbour town of canals, sunsets over the lagoon and oysters straight from the growers' huts. About 40 minutes away.
- Carcassonne — France's most famous walled citadel, its 52 restored towers standing guard over the Aude. About 1 hr 30 min away.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Montpellier
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to reach the beach from Montpellier?
You can reach the urban beaches of Palavas and Carnon by tram and bus, but the loveliest ones, such as Espiguette or those fringing the lagoons, require a car. In summer, set off early: the big beach car parks fill by mid-morning.
Where is the best area to stay if I'll be driving?
If you plan daily excursions, staying outside the Écusson — near the ring roads or a tram stop — saves you the expensive, awkward parking of the historic centre. You take the tram into town and hit the road without the jams.
← Back to home · Also in France : Ajaccio · Bastia · Biarritz · Bordeaux · Clermont · Strasbourg · Lille · Lyon