What to do in Hérault in one week?
Three bases, from the lagoon to the causses and the Canal du Midi: Montpellier, Sète and Thau; Saint-Guilhem, Navacelles and Salagou; Olargues, Minerve, Béziers and Pézenas. Car essential from day 4.
Coast & lagoon
Base: Sète or Balaruc-les-Bains. A car helps on day 3, not essential before.
Day 1 — Montpellier, then the sea
Morning in the Écusson and Place de la Comédie. Lunch at Halles Castellane. Afternoon: tram to Palavas or bike to Maguelone. Evening on the jetty.
Day 2 — Sète
Halles at 8:30, tielle to take away. Canals, marine cemetery, Mont Saint-Clair for a picnic lunch. Swim at the Corniche. Dinner: cuttlefish or macaronade.
Day 3 — Thau
Bouzigues at midday (book in summer). Afternoon in Balaruc: stroll, spa if you have a slot. Sunset on the lagoon.
Without a car. TER Montpellier–Sète, bus toward Balaruc. Bouzigues cabins need a taxi or a bike hire.
Sea and garrigue
Car essential. Leave the salt for the stone, then come back. A full week? See the 7-day itinerary.
Days 1 and 2 — The coast
Like the 3-day itinerary, easing day 1 if you arrive in the evening. Sleep in Sète or Balaruc.
Day 3 — Saint-Guilhem and the bridge
Leave at 8 a.m. Abbey at opening, village before the crowds. Pont du Diable and a swim in the afternoon. Night in Aniane, Saint-Jean-de-Fos, or back to the coast.
Day 4 — Salagou
Lake, ruffe, Mourèze. Night in Clermont-l'Hérault or Lodève if you aim for Navacelles next day; otherwise Pézenas.
Day 5 — Pézenas and Fonseranes
Pézenas in the morning. Fonseranes locks in the afternoon. Valras beach if the sea calls. Train or A9 toward Montpellier.
Vines & villages
Saturday. Pézenas from 10 a.m., lunch, Faugères or Saint-Chinian road. Two estates maximum. Designate a driver. Night in the village or Béziers.
Sunday. Sète or Balaruc market, then Picpoul facing the lagoon. Finish by the water with a jug of Picpoul.
Do not rush. Three cellars in one afternoon is already too many. Department 34 is tasted slowly.
Without pushing too hard
Water
Palavas, Cap d'Agde, Salagou, kayak on the Hérault, Aqualand. Pack water shoes for ruffe and basalt.
Wonder
Pyramids of La Grande-Motte, Clamouse caves, flamingos on the lagoon (early — nothing is guaranteed).
Treats
Ice cream in Sète, petits pâtés in Pézenas, an oyster cabin — half a dozen is enough for children.