Making the most of Sete
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Sete port has 3 main landing locations:
The Dolphin berth “Epi Dellon” is a new, breakwater-sheltered facility for large vessels of 240-350 meters LOA. Tendering from here to the downtown cruise terminal takes 10 minutes.
A free shuttle runs to the main gate. Local town bus line 3 travels to the Mont Saint Clair Viewing Point: board at Passage le Dauphin and leave at La croix Saint-Clair. A picture of the town bus lines is attached, while a local map is available from tourist information by the port-shuttle gate.
All piers are within easy walking distance of the city. The main canal, town centre and covered market are a 10 minute walk away.
A printable map is available to take along.
Although many visitors leave on excursions, the town has a pleasant summer-day buzz and makes it easy to pass a few hours sitting beside one of the canals.
- “Quai d’Alger” takes ships up to 200 M long with a 7.40 M draft. Its bright, attractive cruise terminal has a Wi-Fi hot spot, tourist information office, shop and currency exchange, only a 5-10 walk from the city centre. The adjacent parking area holds up to 12 tour coaches and includes a taxi stand.
- Pier “P2”, inside the port and with easy highway access, accommodates vessels up to 225 M LOA (>240 M on request) with a draft of 10 meters.
Getting around
Boat excursions of different kinds are available from Sete.
A "Tourist Train" offers a 40 minute tour of Sete.
Regular trains serve Montpellier, 28 km inland, and the station is easy enough to walk to. Montpellier’s beautiful old centre is readily explored either independently or with a guide.
Nearby places
Near the charming port of Sete, Carcassonne is the finest surviving example of a medieval walled city dating to the Roman Empire. Although its knights and horses have long disappeared, their presence still seems tangible along the winding streets. Explore the town’s boutiques and cafes, and sample cassoulet, the city speciality of meats cooked with beans. Peak-season traffic can be heavy and parking difficult, so a tour to Carcassonne is the better option.
Food and shopping
Local gastronomy draws on Italian migrants who came to SèTe, as well as local seafood products.
Small sidewalk cafes fill the town, with those on Quai Maximin Licciardi appearing especially popular with locals.
Money
The currency is the euro.
Staying connected
The cruise terminal provides free WiFi.
For local emergencies, call 112.
Opening Hours and
In France, most shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks remain open all day. Smaller shops and enterprises may be exceptions, closing for lunch sometime between 12.30pm and 2pm. Large shops normally trade from 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday; smaller shops generally open Tuesday to Saturday, though some may also open on Monday afternoon. Boulangeries and food shops can always be found open when others are closed, usually until noon on Sunday.