Sète

Travel Guide

Sete featuring a bay or harbor, boating and a river or creek
Sète which includes shopping and street scenes
Sete showing a city, boating and a river or creek
Sete featuring street scenes
Sete featuring street scenes

Stroll along the network of canals, retreat to nearby beaches and enjoy some of the finest seafood in France in this boisterous port city.

Sète is known as the “Venice of Languedoc” for its attractive system of canals, including the final stretch of the 150-mile (241-kilometer) Canal du Midi. Watch fishing boats vie for space as they weave around the maze of canals, learn about hometown heroes at local museums and eat seafood fresh from the nearby lagoon.

The town was founded in 1666 under orders from Louis XIV. Construction began on both the town and its port as an outlet for the Canal du Midi. Following the construction of the port, Sète thrived. To this day, it still plays an important role as a commercial fishing center.

Walk around the characterful 17th-century canals, many lined with pastel-colored buildings. Look for the Canal Royal, which hosts an annual water jousting tournament that sees two boats square off using lances.

Ascend Mont St-Clair hill by foot or take a bus or taxi to the summit to enjoy panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Languedoc mountains. Look for the Musée Paul Valéry near the top. This museum is dedicated to the famous symbolist poet and essayist who was born in Sète.

To discover more about Sète’s famous residents, visit the Espace Georges Brassens, a museum that commemorates the Sète-born singer-songwriter. Pay your respects to Valéry and Brassens at their burial sites in Cimetiére Marin, a cemetery with spectacular views of the sea.

Spend an afternoon lounging on La Corniche beach, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. It is located about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of the old port. Back at the harbor area, choose from many seafood restaurants on the quay.

During late August, Sète hosts the annual Fête de la Saint-Louis, with water jousting competitions on the main canal.Sète’s nearest airports are Béziers and Montpellier. Both cities are connected to Sète by rail routes.

Sète is easy to navigate by foot. Reliable local buses can help you get the most out of this surprisingly lively and engaging city.

Hotel de Paris

Hotel de Paris

3 out of 5
2 rue Frederic Mistral, Sète, Herault
The price is $107 total per night from Oct 26 to Oct 27
$107 total
per night
Oct 26 - Oct 27
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Sète. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (501 reviews)
"Customer service was brilliant"

Reviewed on Oct 1, 2025

Hotel de Paris
Hôtel Port Marine - Sète

Hôtel Port Marine - Sète

3 out of 5
30, Promenade J-B Marty, Sète, Herault
The price is $107 total per night from Oct 23 to Oct 24
$107 total
per night
Oct 23 - Oct 24
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Sète. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (356 reviews)
Sete at its BEST
"Loved the roof top overlooking the Med. Rooms are small but very comfortable. We liked our stay there so much, we added an extra day!"

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2025

Hôtel Port Marine - Sète
Hôtel Impérial

Hôtel Impérial

3 out of 5
Place Edouard Herriot, Sète, Herault
The price is $98 total per night from Nov 4 to Nov 5
$98 total
per night
Nov 4 - Nov 5
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Sète. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (467 reviews)
"Staff was very friendly and helpful. Room design could use a little help. I would suggest hanging mugs on the wall instead of taking up space on table in room as space is at a premium."

Reviewed on Oct 4, 2025

Hôtel Impérial
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Résidence Odalys Terra Gaïa

Résidence Odalys Terra Gaïa

4 out of 5
361 Boulevard Cerf Lurie, Sète, Herault
Stay at this 4-star residence in Sète. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Plage de la Fontaine and Plage de la Corniche ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (200 reviews)
"Apartment style with convenience of hotel reception."

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2023

Résidence Odalys Terra Gaïa
Les Clés Secrètes

Les Clés Secrètes

11 Quai de la République, Sète, Hérault
Stay at this aparthotel in Sète. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a snack bar/deli. Popular attractions Orsetti Maritime Station and International ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (18 reviews)
"Beautiful room."

Reviewed on Oct 7, 2025

Les Clés Secrètes
Villa la schooner air-conditioned swimming pool 5 minutes walk from the beach of sete

Villa la schooner air-conditioned swimming pool 5 minutes walk from the beach of sete

Sète
Book a stay at this family-friendly villa in Sète. Enjoy private pools, a water park, and a garden. Popular attractions Plage de la Fontaine and Plage de la ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (20 reviews)
Great south of France seaside family house
"Good facilities, nice peaceful location and very near beach as well as other facilities"

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2023

Villa la schooner air-conditioned swimming pool 5 minutes walk from the beach of sete
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Sète

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
2
5 - Excellent 33%
4 - Good
3
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
1
3 - Okay 17%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Awesome!

4/5 - Good

JPS

They have wonderful little seafood restaurants along the various canals.

Cities near Sète

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