Montpellier in One Day: Is It a Mini Paris?, Montpellier, France

You can’t beat Paris but if you’re after a mini version of the French capital then head to Montpellier in Southern France. It has its own l’Arc de Triomphe, a small art gallery in its version of The Lourve, botanical gardens and an aqueduct. We had one full day in which to explore the university city where students account for a third of its inhabitants. Here’s what we did in one day in Montpellier with our two daughters (4 and 1). Be sure to check out my vlog below to get the full Montpellier experience.

We arrived in Montpellier late Saturday afternoon in early August. We’d travelled from the Dordogne where we’d spent a week with friends. It took around four hours to get there and with empty bellies, we ate at Burger et Blanquette (the burgers were very good). As it was already getting late, we went back to our hotel, put the kids to bed and got an early night ahead of a full day of exploring the next day.

Waking up early we headed to Cold Drip Food and Coffee. I spotted it the previous day and after a week in France, I was desperate for a decent cappuccino!

Cold Drip delivered. Run by a French/Kiwi couple Katy and Steven, they know how to make good coffee - and food. We enjoyed a very substantial breakfast which kept us going until mid afternoon. I had smashed avocado on toast, the hubby enjoyed eggs benedict and the girls devoured pancakes. We were fuelled up and ready to go. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).