Over 24,000 steps and five hours of travel time later, I can say I’ve experienced the charming city of Montpellier in the south of France.  Although it was only a day trip, the city’s beauty captivated me in the few hours I visited. And I hope to return very soon! Here are 7 things to do in Montpellier, France:

1. Promenade du Peyrou

Easily my favorite site of the day!  Just minutes after hopping off the train, Wendy took me to this darling courtyard.  Even though we couldn’t go inside the pavilion, I enjoyed walking up the steps to enjoy some epic views of the city.

2. Cathédrale Saint-Pierre

Read: idyllic small French town.  Even though I didn’t go inside, this huge and majestic castle-like cathedral was worth a look.

3. La Place du Comédie

This city square boasts a cute carousel, cafes, shops, a flea market and fountain all overlooked by the city’s opera house.

4. Café Riche

With my alarm going off before 5 a.m. to make my train (which I missed—but that’s a story for another day), I was ready for an early lunch, and that meant restaurants still served breakfast food.  (And I’m a sucker for a good omelet!)  At Café Riche I ordered an omelet with ham and cheese along with a strawberry peach smoothie because it was blazing outside.  The omelet’s portion size was very generous, and I felt très fancy with my sophisticated smoothie.  And to top it off, this café is located in La Place du Comédie, which means convenience and a view.

5. Libraire Sauramps

I’m not much of a bookworm, but for some reason,  I absolutely love bookstores.  And when it’s in a foreign language in a different country, there’s so much more exploring to do.  It’s pretty difficult to miss the huge bookstore from the street; it’s a worth a stroll to enjoy some shade and culture.

6. Stroll through Polygone

Because what’s vacation without shopping?!  I’ve been to malls before, but shopping in a foreign language and culture is a completely different experience.  Wendy and I stopped at Moa to get some shades for the beach, and the Monoprix provided me with some orange San Pellegrino for the beach (which made it onto my top 5 list for June).

7. Beach

Although the commute was about an hour for our crew, the Mediterranean Sea offers fantastic views.  The large seaside rocks and cityscape framing the sea made up for too many old, fat men in Speedos.  Yikes.  Our group had fun playing with crabs, climbing the rocks and eating ice cream.

I wish my visit to Montpellier wouldn’t have been so rushed, but at least I can add another postcard to my collection.  Happy traveling!