10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Montpellier

L’Écusson - Vieux Montpellier is the city's historic old town district in the bustling city centre that's filled with gems of shopping and dining for just about every taste. Here, nestled among buildings dating back hundreds of years, you'll find a neighbourhood rich with shopping opportunities. You can find small indie boutique shops, high-street name-brand stores, small bookshops, stores selling handmade puppets, and shops offering every kind of art, craft, gift and souvenir you can imagine.

When you're done shopping in this vibrant region, you can stop at one of the dozens of nearby cafes and restaurants. This is a neighbourhood that lets you get lost in the local culture and colour.

Odysseum offers the opportunity to explore a vast open-air shopping centre with lots of opportunities to soothe your shopping bug while exploring entertainment options galore. It features everything from big-brand high-street names to smaller independent luxury boutiques. You can take in a blockbuster film at the multiplex cinema, grab a bite at one of the many restaurants and cafes, and take the kids to the onsite aquarium and planetarium.

This spot is the place to go not just for shopping, but also to play and have fun with the entire family. It's only about 20 minutes southeast of the city centre.

Lez Market (Marché du Lez) is a traditional market in the city centre that is a newer market but offers lots of shopping, dining and entertainment. This market is in an old industrial-agricultural complex that once had a farmhouse, warehouse and printing house right on the banks of the River Lez. Today it houses gathering places, arts and crafts markets, secondhand shops, workshops, small start-ups and exhibitions. You can find everything from antiques to clothes to prepared foods here.

If you want to experience Montpellier's arts and cultural community, Lez Market is a hub of creativity and a vibrant spot to spend days just basking. Have fun, nourish your creativity, and shop till you drop.

Polygone Montpellier (Centre Commercial Polygone) is a vast shopping mall that's centrally located, offering a solid selection of big-name stores and boutique shops from French to international brands. Here you can find local department store brands like Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette as well as international names like Gap, Zara, Lacoste, Mango and others from all over the globe. Like any good shopping mall, the Polygone offers plenty of opportunities for onsite dining and entertainment, with occasional events held throughout.

The decor here is elegant and the vibe very relaxed and chill. It's a good place to come and while away a few hours, right in the heart of the Montpellier city centre.

Antigone Market is a vast and vibrant farmers market along Avenue Samuel de Champlain offering just about everything from chocolate to flowers, produce, honey and beyond. This market is held every week and has been going on for over 17 years as a staple of local culture. Many locals come here to do their weekly grocery shopping, and you can occasionally find non-food items like gifts, arts and crafts. It is, however, heavily focused on ingredients and prepared foods including artisanal vinegar and oils.

It's a wonderful place to come and explore sustainably sourced fresh produce while soaking up local colour. It's in the heart of the city centre, so it's an easy walk to reach.

Arceaux Market (Marché des Arceaux) is an organic food market and a favourite produce spot among locals and visitors alike with lots of ethically sourced fruits, veggies and food. It runs right along the Arceaux aqueduct and goes on in its long shadows. Here you'll see mounds of farm-fresh produce like olives, tomatoes, peppers, beans and more. In other stalls, you'll find loaves of fragrant fresh-baked breads. Some stalls have prepared foods, and many vendors are willing to offer recipes.

This is a bustling market that's wildly popular but never feels urgent or crowded and has a relaxed, welcoming vibe. It's only about 7 minutes west of the Montpellier city centre.

Galeries Lafayette is a massive 3-level indoor shopping mall offering all of the big names you're familiar with plus some local boutiques selling everything from clothes to appliances. Just a few of the brands you'll find scattered throughout this elegant shopping centre include Eden Park, Claudie Pierlot, Michael Kors, Azzaro, Hugo Boss, Zadig & Voltaire, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Longchamp and many others. In addition, the mall hosts a wide range of restaurants to enjoy so you can grab a delectable treat while shopping.

For the kids, the mall even offers a special play area where the young ones can run, jump, tumble and laugh. It's directly in the heart of the city centre.

Marché des Beaux-Arts is a classic, quaint and small traditional outdoor market in the Beaux-Arts neighbourhood offering a handful of stalls surrounded by elegant sidewalk cafes. This is a great spot to explore handmade arts and crafts, gifts, souvenirs and other wares. It's also a solid spot to enjoy some local colour and a true sense of what Montpellier culture looks, smells, feels and sounds like.

When you're done finding that unique treasure you've been seeking, head to one of the cafes, grab an espresso, and watch the people go by. Marché des Beaux-Arts is a 10-minute walk north of the city centre.

Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle is a 19th-century promenade lined with rows of shaded trees along with ice cream parlours, pubs and plenty of small indie shops. The park was first laid out in the 18th century, with many of the fountains of that era still existing. The tree-lined paths were created in the 19th century, and the bandstand was laid out in 1925. The park was renovated in 1988, and today it is a major meeting and shopping destination for locals.

Most of the shops here are independent boutique shops and tent vendors selling locally made arts and crafts. It's a wonderful place to spend an afternoon in the city centre.

Halles Castellane is a covered farmers market selling fresh produce and prepared delicacies from hot foods to baguettes, cured meats, cheeses and other farm-to-table goods. Many folks love to come here to grab a loaf of freshly baked bread, some meats, cheeses and veggies, and whip themselves up a deli-style lunch or head to one of the local parks for a picnic. The sights, sounds and smells here are authentic and delicious, and the crowds are friendly and welcoming. It's an authentic slice of Montpellier culture with fantastic flavours to go with it.

Halles Castellane is a wonderful place to soak up the local charm and spend a few hours exploring. It's in the heart of the city centre.