Cruises to Sete

57 Reviews
Sete (Photo:PHB.cz (Richard Semik)/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Sete

If you had never been to the Mediterranean coast, and had to create the ideal small seaport town from scratch, Sete would be it. The town is almost like a movie set, with its small pristine harbor, sidewalk cafes, lighthouse, canals and hilltop church. One would almost expect to see Cary Grant wandering among the art deco buildings or seated in a canal-side cafe sipping an aperitif. Travelers on a cruise to France will enjoy a day docked at the port of Sete.

Sete is a small port on the southern coast of France that time seems to have passed by. Its size prevents the larger cruise ships from stopping there, and as a result, it retains a charm and an unspoiled quality (only the small ships of Windstar, Silversea and Radisson currently call here as part of seven-day western Mediterranean itineraries). It is a real working port, or actually ports, with the old port area in the southern end filled with pleasure boats and the small cruise ship dock, while the commercial port is out of sight on the other side of town.

The Canal Royal is the focal point, as all major attractions and shopping areas are along (or within easy walking distance) of this central waterway. While Sete has some interesting attractions, the real pleasure comes in just being there, enjoying this relatively unspoiled French coastal village.

  • More about Sete

  • Why Cruise to Sete?

  • Sete Cruise Port Facilities?

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Viking Jupiter
Viking Jupiter Aquavit Terrace (Photo: Viking Ocean Cruises)

7 Night
Iconic Western Mediterranean

429 Reviews
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Viking Venus
Viking Venus (Photo: Viking Ocean Cruises)

7 Night
Iconic Western Mediterranean

228 Reviews
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Viking Star
Viking Star

7 Night
Iconic Western Mediterranean

2,051 Reviews
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Viking Star
Viking Star

7 Night
Iconic Western Mediterranean

2,051 Reviews
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14 Night
Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn

228 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

21 Night
Atlantic Crossing & Mediterranean

1,209 Reviews
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20 Night
Atlantic & Mediterranean Horizons

125 Reviews
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11 Night
Western Mediterranean Medley

1,087 Reviews
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10 Night
Mediterranean Cruise

399 Reviews
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8 Night
Mediterranean - Western Cruise

392 Reviews
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14 Night
Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn

66 Reviews
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20 Night
France, Italy & Maltese Gems

79 Reviews
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7 Night
Riviera Gems & The Calanques

156 Reviews
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14 Night
Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn

228 Reviews
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10 Night
Jewels Of The Riviera

166 Reviews
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More about Sete

Why Cruise to Sete?

Pros:

Sete is easy to explore on foot and features a network of pretty canals

Cons:

Many villagers do not speak English

Bottom Line:

A pretty and quiet village that sees fewer tourists than other Mediterranean ports, Sete is endlessly charming

Sete Cruise Port Facilities?

Sete is a great opportunity to people-watch. The town is compact, filled with small parks and sidewalk cafes, and the natives usually far outnumber the tourists. Place A. Briand is a nice setting to relax, surrounded as it is by busy shopping streets. For a less crowded venue, try the Parc du Chateau d'Eau, with its playground and war memorial. And for relaxing with a view, try hiking up to the top of Mont Saint-Clair.

Good to Know?

Alas, the French have not gotten into the habit of picking up after their dogs. Particularly on side streets, watch your step!

Getting Around?

On Foot: The entire town radiates from the old port dock, and except for a couple of spots up the rather steep hill, everything is an easy walk.

By Car: Hertz, Avis and Budget all have locations in Sete. Reservations are a must, and remember, the norm in Europe is the stick shift. Renters must request (and be prepared to pay a significant premium for) automatic cars.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The euro; there are a few ATM's along the Quai de la Resistance and the nearby side streets. Shops outside of the main shopping areas often do not take credit cards.

Language?

French. The city does not get many cruise ships, so while workers in the main shopping areas speak a bit of English, owners of the offbeat, and off-the-beaten track shops often do not.

Where You're Docked?

Ships dock a couple of short blocks and across a small canal from downtown. The entire city is within easy walk of the pier.


Sete Cruise Reviews
Sete itself is not very interesting, but it is an hour away from Carcassone fortress and Aigues-Mortes mini-fortress towns, both of which are good tourist stops, so Sete is not a bad port to stop at.Read More
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Catlover54
Sete is drop-dead gorgeous. What a charming little fishing village, full of colorful pageantry, like a postcard. After the included walking tour in the morning which itself was great, we went to the salt water lagoRead More
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boss61
We were struck by the charm of this beautiful place. I'd gladly return the Sete.Read More
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VanDoren
Another pretty port. We purchased a tour to see a vermouth winery. It was worth the price for the tour and tasting and the guide was excellent. Ride to & from winery was maybe 30 mins and included some stops at sceniRead More
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twointimeofwar

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