Montpellier / The verdict
Montpellier: which airport or train route?
Take the train: 23 trains a day run from Paris, the fastest in 3h12 with fares from 25 EUR, and a Saint-Roch arrival puts you a short walk from the Place de la Comédie. Flying makes sense when a direct route into the small MPL airport fits your dates.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Montpellier story
Montpellier is southern France without the Riviera markup: a medieval Ecusson quarter of shaded squares and wine bars spinning out from the Place de la Comedie, where street performers work the terraces until late. The Fabre museum holds one of France's finest provincial collections, old masters through Courbet, Bazille and Soulages, and the Jardin des Plantes has been growing since 1593 as the country's oldest botanical garden. Beyond the stone core, Mediterranean beaches sit a tram-and-walk ride away, with the Travers and Maguelone sands beating kitschy Palavas in season.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: TGV to Montpellier Saint-Roch (runner-up: Fly into Montpellier-Mediterranee Airport (MPL))
Take the train: 23 trains a day run from Paris, the fastest in 3h12 with fares from 25 EUR, and a Saint-Roch arrival puts you a short walk from the Place de la Comédie. Flying makes sense when a direct route into the small MPL airport fits your dates.
Go if
- Travelers coming from Paris, where trains are frequent and arrive in the center
- Anyone who wants to step off at Saint-Roch and walk to the Comédie
- Flyers who hold a direct route into MPL, which travelers describe as small and quick to leave
Skip if
- Your only rail option arrives at Sud de France and you are short on time: OUIGO puts the onward trip at about 50 minutes to the center
- You land late and want the cheapest ride: the airport taxi's night fare is about 35 EUR to the center
- You are booking last minute: one flyer warns one-way fares reach 80 to 120 EUR
The options
TGV to Montpellier Saint-Roch Go
Most travelers from Paris and the rest of France: frequent trains that can land you in the center
Good
- 23 trains a day from Paris, the fastest in 3h12, with advertised fares from 25 EUR.
- Saint-Roch sits right by the historic center, so travelers walk to their hotel.
- One traveler who had driven to Montpellier before chose the train this time and called it the right choice, with no traffic trouble.
- Travelers based near the Comédie found Saint-Roch a short walk away.
Watch out
- Some trains use Sud de France instead, and OUIGO puts the onward trip to the center at about 50 minutes.
- One traveler booked without checking the station and ended up at Sud de France, far from the center.
- The average Paris trip runs 4h25 on SNCF's figures, so the fastest times need the right train.
SNCF Connect: Paris to Montpellier trainsOUIGO: Sud de France station access
Fly into Montpellier-Mediterranee Airport (MPL) It depends
Travelers with a direct route in: the airport is small, quick and cheap to leave
Good
- Shuttle line 620 links the terminal to Place de l'Europe in about 25 minutes for 2 EUR, or 3 EUR with a tram connection.
- Taxis wait in front of the arrivals hall from the first to the last flight, about 28 EUR to the center by day.
- Flyers describe a small, fluid terminal with a quick exit and a sign listing the onward options.
- Budget fares exist: one flyer booked a 45 EUR one-way from Paris Orly six weeks out, another paid 82 EUR return.
Watch out
- Fares jump late: one flyer warns last-minute one-ways reach 80 to 120 EUR.
- There is no rail link, so the shuttle is the only cheap way into town.
- The airport taxi rises to about 35 EUR at night, on Sundays and on holidays.
Montpellier airport: access and shuttlesPre-book a fixed-fare airport transferpartner site
Fly to Paris CDG, then take the TGV from the airport station It depends
Intercontinental arrivals who want to skip crossing Paris: trains leave from the airport station
Good
- SNCF lists 14 trains a day from the CDG airport station to Montpellier, the fastest in 3h40.
- No crossing of Paris between the plane and the train.
- Fares on SNCF Connect start from 55 EUR.
Watch out
- The average journey runs 4h39, and many services involve a change.
- The last listed departure from CDG is 5:57 p.m., so late landings miss it.
- Any missed connection compounds an already long travel day.
Coach from Paris Skip
Only travelers who missed advance rail fares and can spend a full day on the road
Good
- Fares start at 20.98 EUR, with at least 17 trips a day.
Watch out
- The fastest coach takes 9h20, against 3h12 for the fastest train.
- At similar advance fares, the train wins on time by a wide margin.
- Journey times can vary with traffic and route, as the operator notes.
| Criterion | TGV to Montpellier Saint-Roch | Fly into Montpellier-Mediterranee Airport (MPL) | Fly to Paris CDG, then take the TGV from the airport station | Coach from Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris travel time | Fastest 3h12, average 4h25 | 1h20 to 1h30 scheduled flights in traveler reports, plus the 25-minute shuttle | Fastest 3h40, average 4h39 | Fastest 9h20 |
| Cheapest fare seen | 25 EUR | 45 EUR one-way flight in one report, 2 EUR shuttle | 55 EUR | 20.98 EUR |
| Arrival point | Saint-Roch in the center, or Sud de France | Airport, then shuttle to Place de l'Europe | Saint-Roch or Sud de France | Varies by service |
| Frequency | 23 trains a day | Depends on your route | 14 trains a day | At least 17 trips a day |
| Main catch | Check the arrival station | Thin route map and late-booking fares | Long day, often with a change | A full day on the road |
What it costs
- Airport shuttle line 620, shuttle only: €2 (About 25 minutes to Place de l'Europe, also serving Gare Sud de France; free under 5; tickets sold on board). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Airport shuttle line 620 plus tram connection: €3 (Shuttle plus tram ticket, sold on board). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Official taxi, airport to city centre: €28 (Approximate day fare from the airport's taxi price sheet; about 35 EUR at night (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.), Sundays and holidays; 20 to 40 minutes). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Train Paris to Montpellier, cheapest advertised fare: €25 (From 25 EUR on SNCF Connect; 23 trains a day, fastest 3h12, average 4h25). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- FlixBus coach Paris to Montpellier, cheapest advertised fare: €20.98 (From 20.98 EUR; fastest trip 9h20, at least 17 trips a day). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 8 traveler reports (Jan 2025 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- Arriving at Saint-Roch lets travelers walk straight to hotels in the center.
- Flyers rate MPL's small terminal as fluid and quick to leave.
- A traveler who switched from driving to the train called it the right choice for the trip.
- Budget flights exist for early bookers, from 45 EUR one way in one report.
What people complain about
- One traveler landed at Sud de France by mistake, far from the center.
- Late-booked one-way flights reach 80 to 120 EUR, one flyer warns.
- Parking at the airport cost one flyer 39 EUR for 48 hours.
- Coach travel from Paris takes at least 9h20.
How to do it right
- First check whether a direct flight into MPL exists for your dates
- From Paris, book a train into Saint-Roch rather than Sud de France unless the fare gap is large
- Landing at MPL, take the line 620 shuttle: 2 EUR to Place de l'Europe, 3 EUR with a tram connection, tickets on board
- For a taxi, use the rank in front of entrance A; official taxis do not approach you inside the hall
- If you end up at Sud de France, allow about 50 minutes to the center by shuttle and tram, as OUIGO advises
The trap to avoid
Booking into Sud de France by mistake. One traveler who did not check the station landed there, far from the center, and found the return from Saint-Roch much more convenient; OUIGO puts the transfer from Sud de France to the center at about 50 minutes.
What to do instead
Why this pick
For most travelers the train is the clean winner. SNCF lists 23 trains a day from Paris to Montpellier, the fastest in 3h12, with fares from 25 EUR. The decisive edge is the arrival point: pick a Saint-Roch service and you step off by the historic center. Travelers who arrived that way walked to their hotels, and one who had driven on an earlier visit called the train the right choice this time, with no traffic to deal with.
Flying ranks second because the airport itself works well, it is just not always on your route. Flyers describe a small, fluid terminal: one reached the gate area about ten minutes after walking in, another found a quick exit with a sign listing the onward options. Getting into town is cheap, with the line 620 shuttle reaching Place de l’Europe in about 25 minutes for 2 EUR, or 3 EUR with a tram connection, and taxis waiting in front of the arrivals hall at about 28 EUR by day. The catch is price timing: one flyer paid 45 EUR one way by booking six weeks out and warns late bookings reach 80 to 120 EUR.
Flying into Paris CDG and taking the train straight from the airport station is a fair fallback for long-haul arrivals, with 14 trains a day and the fastest in 3h40, but the average trip runs 4h39 and the last listed departure leaves at 5:57 p.m.
Two cautions. Check which Montpellier station your train uses: Sud de France sits outside the city, OUIGO puts the onward trip at about 50 minutes, and one traveler landed there by mistake. And the coach, from 20.98 EUR, takes at least 9h20, a poor trade against a 3h12 train for a few euros more.
Timing and tickets
Book trains early, since the advertised from-fares sell first. Buy the airport shuttle ticket on board, and use the official taxi rank in front of entrance A rather than anyone offering a ride inside the hall.
Book or check times
SNCF Connect: Paris to Montpellier trainsMontpellier airport: access and shuttlesOUIGO: Sud de France station accessSNCF Connect: CDG Airport to Montpellier
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Pre-book a fixed-fare airport transferpartner site
Where to stay
Staying in Montpellier?
Which area of Montpellier to stay in, based on traveler reports. Search Montpellier hotels on Expedia partner site
Questions
Is it better to fly or take the train to Montpellier?
For most travelers the train wins. SNCF lists 23 trains a day from Paris, the fastest in 3h12, with fares from 25 EUR, and Saint-Roch is in the center. Flying makes sense mainly when you hold a direct route into MPL.
How do I get from Montpellier airport to the city center?
Shuttle line 620 takes about 25 minutes to Place de l'Europe: 2 EUR for the shuttle, 3 EUR including a tram connection, tickets on board. The airport's taxi price sheet lists about 28 EUR to the center by day and about 35 EUR at night, on Sundays and on holidays.
What is the difference between Saint-Roch and Sud de France stations?
Saint-Roch is the central station by the historic center. Sud de France is a high-speed station outside the city; OUIGO puts the shuttle and tram trip to the center at about 50 minutes. Check which station your train uses before booking.
Can I land at Paris CDG and go straight to Montpellier?
Yes. SNCF lists 14 trains a day from the CDG airport station, the fastest in 3h40 and the average around 4h39, with fares from 55 EUR. The last listed departure is 5:57 p.m.
Is the bus to Montpellier cheaper than the train?
Slightly, at the bottom of the fare ladder: coaches start at 20.98 EUR against trains from 25 EUR. The fastest coach takes 9h20 against 3h12 by train, so the saving rarely justifies the time.