Sète is a small town in Southern France, about halfway between Toulouse and Marseille and a four-hour train ride from Paris. The old fishing port is often referred to as ‘the little Venice of Languedoc’ because of its networks of canals. If you’re in the area, do stop by for a couple of days and enjoy the unfussy small-town atmosphere. Sights in Sète are manageable so it’s an ideal place to wander around and of course indulge in fresh seafood. For more ideas, see our Sète city guide.
Where to stay in Sète
Stay
In the heart of town, we stayed at Le Grand Hôtel. We had a spacious room with a small foyer, which helped us sleep despite hotel corridor noise. A canal-facing balcony is worth considering if your budget allows; check the room type before booking. Tip: skip breakfast at the hotel and head out for a croissant and a cup of coffee in town. Le Grand Hôtel, 17 Quai Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 34200 Sète. Hotel website.
Where to eat in Sète
Eat
Fish lovers paradise
Lunch on fish, and plenty of it. We came for oysters from the nearby Étang de Thau and for seafood around the port. We liked walking a little beyond the busiest canal tables before choosing a restaurant. La Coquerie appears in the Michelin Guide, but check its current menu, reservation rules and opening days rather than relying on an old award or fixed local dining hours.
We stumbled across François Pralus in Sète and loved the macarons, especially pistachio. Its current Sète shop page confirms the Rue Paul Valéry address and also highlights chocolate and the Praluline brioche. The range can change, so see what is in the case when you arrive.
François Pralus, 10 Rue Paul Valéry, 34200 Sète. Shop website.
Things to see and do
See
Water jousting
Do visit Sète in August during the Saint Louis Festival when the city holds the annual water jousting tournament. The renowned local tradition dates back to 1666 and is a huge part of the Languedoc traditional culture. The sport is like horse jousting, but played on long wooden boats in the canal. There are two teams, one blue for the bachelors and one red team for the married men which originates from traditional times when a bachelor would challenge a married man. The boats row toward each other with jousters standing at the end of the boat trying to knock the opponent in the water while musicians play medieval tunes to help the oarsmen pull in unison.
The thousands of cheering spectators and festive atmosphere is quite an experience to witness.
Mont Saint-Clair
From the city centre either walk or take the public bus to Mont Saint-Clair and enjoy panoramic views of the city and its ports.
Sète by boat
One of the best ways to see ‘the little Venice’ of Languedoc is by boat. There are several guided boat tours that offer trips through the canals and marina, and we definitely recommend one of the tours that takes you out to the oyster beds. That said, we also highly recommend renting your own boat and sailing out along the beaches. Pack a picnic, sail, swim and enjoy.
Sandy beaches
Rent a bike in town and head towards one of Sète’s many beaches. With over 12 kilometers of sandy, white beaches, Plage du Lazarat, Plage de la Corniche are closest to the city centre.