Montpellier Parking

Montpellier parking is very easy if you know where you're going.

If you're heading into the centre of town for some Montpellier shopping, or to check out some Montpellier restaurants, then parking is going to play an important part.

So, to get your self into the centre of town, you can either drive right in and park, or park just outside and take the tram in.

Either way works very well, but there are a couple of points to consider;

• If your vehicle is more than 1.8m tall (4x4 or maybe something with a large top box) you will not be able to use the Montpellier parking underground car parks in the centre of town.

• This means you will be limited to using Montpellier parking meters, or pay and display, which both have a 2 hour time limit.

• So, if you're planning on a lengthy visit, the tram is really your only option.

I can only guide you in from the A9 motorway, because that's the way I always take to my Montpellier parking.

• Exitthe motorway at Junc 29 and head North towards Montpellier centre, not towards the airport.

• As you come off the motorway you'll filter onto the D66, a two lane dual carriageway heading into the centre of town.

• After about 3km (1.8 miles), the road will cross the river and you'll come to a set of traffic lights.

• Get into the left lane at the lights and go straight ahead.

• Stay in the left hand lane and after a couple of hundred metres, follow the filter lane round to the left.

• As you join the next road you'll see a set of traffic lights ahead of you.

• Go straight ahead at these lights.

• The next set of traffic lights is a pedestrian crossing.

• At the ones after that you want to turn right.

• This will bring you onto a tree lined, single lane, one way road with parking metres along both sides.

• Carry on all the way to the end of this road, where you'll come to a roundabout.

• At the roundabout you basically want to go straight ahead.

• After a few metres, the road will go under an overpass and you'll be at another set of traffic lights.

• Turn right at these lights and you'll see the Montpellier parking car park entrances in front of you.

• Look for signs to the "Polygone". This is the large shopping centre just off the Place de la Comedie, right in the middle of town.

• When you're in the car park, look for signs to "Gallerie Lafayette". This is a small department store at one end of the Polygone, and the easiest way to get up and into the shopping centre.

• As you come up the escalator into Gallerie Lafayette, get off at the first shopping level you come to and turn right.

• Through the shopping centre, up one level and outside.

• A few hundred metres and you'll be in La Place de la Comedie. The very heart of the city.

• Exit the motorway at Junc 29 and head North towards Montpellier centre, not towards the airport.

• As you come off the motorway you'll filter onto the D66, a two lane dual carriageway heading into the centre of town.

• After about 1km (half a mile), take the filter road off to the right. There will be signs for "Odysseum" and "Gaumont Multiplexe".

• As you come down the sliproad you'll come onto a roundabout.

• Go round the roundabout, under the main road you've just come off, and come back on yourself, turning right, again towards "Odysseum" and "Gaumont Multiplexe".

• Through the traffic lights and up to the roundabout.

• Exit the roundabout following signs to "Gaumont" and park in the free Montpellier parking car park.

• To give you an idea of where you need to go, as you turn off this roundabout, the tram stop is off to your right, just a couple of hundred metres away.

• You'll need to get a ticket at one of the machines on the platform before you get on a tram. They're very frequent, so don't panic if you miss one.

• Once you get on the tram you need to swipe your ticket in one of the machines in order to validate your journey.

• You'll board the tram at the end of the line at "Odysseum" and for the heart of the city, you want to get off at "place de la Comedie".

• And when you go back, same thing, just get on a tram heading for "Odysseum".

• All the ticket machines are multi-language, and although this all sounds complicated, it really is as easy as getting lost in a strange city.

For more information about Montpellier, be sure to read my pages about Montpellier shopping, Montpellier restaurants and Montpellier museums. Why not even take a Montpellier tour?