By train. Montpellier sits on the main Paris–Spain TGV line. The high-speed Ouigo/Inoui trains from Paris Gare de Lyon take about 3h20 to Montpellier Saint-Roch, the central station, walkable to the Écusson. A second station, Montpellier Sud de France, sits at the edge of town for some long-distance services; it's linked to Saint-Roch by a tram extension.
By plane. Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport is 10 km southeast of the city. A shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes to Place de l'Europe, from where tramline 1 takes you into the centre. Low-cost connections include London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Marrakech and other European hubs; long-haul travellers usually connect through Paris.
By car. Montpellier is on the A9 (Spain–Italy coastal motorway) and the A75 (descending from Clermont-Ferrand and the Massif Central). The Écusson is closed to traffic — leave the car at one of the park-and-ride stops along the tram lines.