One Day in Sète: A Family-Friendly Guide To This Pretty French Town
When we were planning our adventure around the South of France, we knew we wanted to stop in Sete! All our research told us that Sete is the Venice of France (and we really do love Venice) so we decided to add a day in Sete to our itinerary and check out this pretty French town for ourselves.
We stopped in Sete on our way to the Eurocamp Sables D’Or (Our FAVOURITE Eurocamp that we visited on this trip – read the review here) and it was a lovely stop and a wonderful place to pass a few hours. But I also have mixed feelings about Sete because our expectations were so high – we were hoping to see Venice and we…..just didn’t.
So why should you visit Sete? Sète is a charming coastal town in the South of France that’s perfect for a relaxed family day out. As i’ve already said, it’s best known for its canals, but we also really enjoyed the vibrant food markets, and seaside atmosphere. If you’re not expecting Venice and you manage your expectations then Sète is one of those hidden gems that’s worth a quick stop — even if you only have a few hours like we did.
Here’s how we spent our day exploring this picturesque town.
- A Brief History of Sète
- Explore the Canals of Sète
- Visit the Bustling Food Market
- Stroll Down the Main Street
- Why Sète is Worth a Visit
- Further Reading
A Brief History of Sète
Sète isn’t just beautiful canals and bustling markets — it has a rich maritime history. Founded in the 17th century as a port town on the Mediterranean, Sète quickly became a hub for fishing, trade, and maritime culture.
But the thing we found most interesting about Sete is the water jousting (joutes nautiques), a sport that dates back over 350 years. In this sport (that I hadn’t heard of until this summer) competitors stand on boats and try to knock each other into the water using lances. There is a huge water jousting event in Sete every year: the annual Fête de la Saint-Louis in August.
Even if you can’t visit during the festival, it’s fun to spot the small jousting arenas along the canals and you might even get lucky and see some groups training. We arrived in Sete one week after the water jousting tournament for the season had taken place, but we saw a competition taking place in nearby Agde. We were so lucky to watch the teams jousting as we sat in a restaurant eating lunch.
Explore the Canals of Sète
One of the first things you notice about Sète is its picturesque canals. Wandering along the water is both peaceful and visually stunning. That’s why it got that nickname, “the Venice of France” but, unlike Venice, there are only two Canals here— not the hundreds you’ll find in Venice.
But these canals are super pretty and ideal for families with kids who love spotting boats, small bridges, and there are canal-side cafés where you can stop for lunch or just for an ice cream, too.
I do recommend walking along the canals and strolling across its bridges to get the best views of this pretty town. I think this was the highlight for my boys (who are happiest when they’re by water) and you can also take a boat tour of the town OR hire your own small boat and explore at your own pace from here too.
Visit the Bustling Food Market
I thought the canals would be the thing I would love most about Sete but actually Sète’s food market was the highlight for me. Fresh seafood, regional cheeses, fruits, and vegetables fill the stalls, making it a feast for the senses. And the stallholders were so warm and friendly -we spent ages talking to the guy on the spices stall, trying dozens of locally sourced herbs and spices and coming out which far more than we went in for!
Even if you don’t buy much, wandering through the market is a great way to experience local life. But this is the PERFECT place to stop and get a picnic lunch, which you can take down to the beach and eat on the sand with beautiful views. We got lovely cones of charcuterie meats and cheeses which we munched on as we wandered around, and the cakes to take and eat when we got outside!
Top Tips For Visiting The Food Market in Sete As A Family:
- Visit in the morning for the freshest produce and fewer crowds. We visited at around 10.30 am and it was the perfect time to explore without too many people (even in August).
- Let kids try local specialties like fresh fruit, pastries, or olives. Many of the stalls have samples, meaning that kids can try small pieces to help them decide what they’ll like.
- Take photos of the colorful stalls. I love photography (as you might have guessed) and the stallholders were happy for us to take photos, perfect for memories or dreaded social media.
Stroll Down the Main Street
After the market, we wandered down Sète’s main street, where you can do a little shopping and soak up the local atmosphere. We were actually impressed by how many pretty independent boutiques there were here: and i’m such a sucker for locally made jewllery and accessories, so I couldn’t resist stopping…more than once.
Along the way, we treated ourselves to ice cream — there is nothing better than eating ice cream in the sunshine, and we all tried some unusual flavours that was a real treat!
Why Sète is Worth a Visit
So is Sete worth visiting? If you’re in the area, absolutely! Is it the best town in France we’ve ever visited? Sadly not!
We enjoyed our time in Sete. Even with just a few hours, Sète leaves a lasting impression. Its canals, markets, and family-friendly streets make it an ideal stop if you’re exploring the South of France. The town feels relaxed, authentic, and full of little surprises that make it perfect for families looking for a laid-back day out. But it is certainly not worth driving hours out of your way to explore – there are dozens of similar towns all the way along this coastline.
Have you visited Sete before? What did you think? Or is it somewhere that’s on your bucket list and why? I’d love to hear what you think about this pretty French town!
Further Reading
Planning your own road trip and adventure around the South of France? Here’s some further reading on other places that we visited during our road trip in the South of France:
🕍 Exploring The Medieval Walled City Of Aigues-Mortes In France With Kids
🐟 Seaquarium Grau-du-Roi, France: What To Expect On Your Visit
🐘 Everything You Need To Know About The Wonder Of Nantes Giant Elephant
🚗 Planning a Road Trip to France With Kids: What To Pack
🏛 5 Things to Do In Rouen With Kids: What to do, Where to Stay in This Underrated French City
First time hearing of this place. I can see a touch of Venice style in some of the architecture and, of course, the canals but I think its bold of Sete to compare itself to such an iconic city! It does look a lovely place to break a journey though.
It was lovely, but I’m not going to lie I did feel disappointed! Perhaps if they didn’t sell it as Venice, my expectations wouldn’t have been so high (because it really was pretty!)