There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Montpellier and Perpignan each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national holiday) March or April: Easter Monday (national holiday) May 1: Labour Day (national holiday)On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!
May 8: Victory Day (national holiday)Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.
June 21: Fête de la Musique (celebrated nationwide)Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues across both Montpellier and Perpignan.
July 14: Bastille Day (national holiday)This holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Montpellier and Perpignan, festivities similar to those in all other French cities are organised: parades, concerts and fireworks displays.
August 15: Assumption Day (national holiday)This celebration, still very popular in Montpellier and Perpignan, is marked by the faithful with religious processions and ceremonies through the streets.
Third weekend in September: European Heritage Days (celebrated nationwide)The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public, such as castles and private collections. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!
November 11: Remembrance Day (national holiday)French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.
December 25: Christmas (national holiday) December 31: New Year's Eve (national event)On the night of December 31st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Montpellier, with families and friends celebrating the new year.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 3/37 | 12/54 | 55/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
February | 3/37 | 13/55 | 51/2.0 | Not the best period to go |
March | 6/43 | 16/61 | 34/1.3 | Not the best period to go |
April | 9/48 | 18/64 | 55/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
May | 12/54 | 22/72 | 42/1.7 | Good period to go
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June | 16/61 | 26/79 | 27/1.1 | Good period to go
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July | 19/66 | 29/84 | 16/0.6 | Good period to go
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August | 19/66 | 29/84 | 34/1.3 | Good period to go
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September | 15/59 | 25/77 | 80/3.1 | Good period to go
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October | 12/54 | 20/68 | 96/3.8 | Not the best period to go |
November | 7/45 | 15/59 | 66/2.6 | Not the best period to go |
December | 4/39 | 12/54 | 67/2.6 | Not the best period to go |
Montpellier offers excellent public transport options. The city's buses and trams can get you almost anywhere, and run late into the evening. If your destination is not on the bus routes or tram lines, you can always take a taxi or walk. In fact, the city's entire historic centre, one of the largest in France, is a pedestrian zone.
Perpignan is a relatively compact city and most sights are within walking distance of each other. If desired, the city also has an efficient network of bus routes covering the entire metropolitan area.
Montpellier has 36 bus routes covering the whole metropolitan area. One bus runs at night every day: the Amigo, which runs a circuit connecting destinations in the city centre with the night clubs and dance spots on the outskirts (on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) One ticket costs EUR 1.60. For further information about the public transportation system in Montpellier, please visit the https://www.tam-voyages.com website.
With four lines serving the entire city, trams are an efficient way of getting around Montpellier. A single ticket costs EUR 1.60.
Bicycles are an ideal solution for exploring Montpellier, which offers more than 137 km (85 miles) of cycling paths. Bike lanes have even been set up on some of the city's sidewalks. Vélomagg, the city's public bike-sharing system, has 57 stations distributed throughout the city, along the routes taken by the buses and trams. The rental fee is just EUR 0.50 per hour. For further information, please visit https://www.tam-voyages.com/presentation/.
Taxis are another option for getting around Montpellier. Expect to pay between EUR 10 and EUR 15 for a trip within the city centre.
Buses are the most convenient mode of transport to travel both shorter and longer distances in the city and the surrounding area. The routes operated by Compagnie de Transports Perpignan Méditerranée (CTPM, https://www.sankeo.com) serve all districts within the city as well as nearby towns. A single ticket costs EUR 1.30.
Taxis are a useful option for getting around Perpignan. A short ride in the city centre costs about EUR 10.
Upon your arrival in Montpellier or Perpignan, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Montpellier Tourist OfficeOffers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
The currency used in France is the Euro (EUR).
R$ 1 = € 0,14
€ 1 = R$ 7,14
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. The cities of Montpellier and Perpignan count several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Perpignan and Montpellier.
As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:
For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.
Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure.
For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/
Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Montpellier and Perpignan, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Montpellier or Perpignan a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Tipping
In Perpignan and Montpellier, like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.