Sète Bus System

Sète (and the nearby towns) is served by an extensive bus system - you can get nearly anywhere!

Buses in Sète

The city buses are yellow, and look like this (but I have also been on a white one...). The lighted sign shows the line number and the name of the terminus, so you know which direction it's going. You can pick up "horaires" (schedules) at the train station, tourist office, and the bus office inside the Passage du Dauphin.*

Bus stops often look like this, but many also have covered benches

You get on in front, and exit from the middle or back doors. You can pay your fare in several ways: (1) monthly or yearly pass; hold the pass above the device on the right, and it will light green for ok (2) multi-fare or week-pass card; drop it into the slot (color side towards you) in the top of the device on the left, and it will stamp it (3) cash; pay the driver directly (1.30€; 20€ is the largest bill accepted); your ticket will print from the device on the right, and is good for transfers up to an hour. (4) no charge; line 6 is free - and now all electric! Just hop on!

Some lines (most buses on line 3) have a computerized sign that tells you what the next stop is. Don't forget to push the "stop" button when you see yours coming up (and make sure the "arret demandé" sign has been lit red).

Where can you go?

Almost all lines go to the "Gare SNCF" (train station) and centre-ville - see the inset in the above map. Line 6 is free.

Many lines (1, 2, 3, 7) go to the hospital (and the Auchan shopping center across the street)

Lines 3 and 9 go along the Mediterranean side to the Corniche (cliffs and small pebble beachs). 9 continues down the 8 kilometers of sandy beaches to Marseillan, and 3 goes further around the island (stop at "ifremer" for a short walk to the Lido, a sandy-beach-and-restaurant area)

Line 5 goes up the mountain for great views, then down to the Corniche.

Summer - it's crowded! They add more buses to some routes, and they run till almost midnight. But they are still almost always late, so don't count on the schedule; just go with it! AND! If you need the bus to catch a train, make sure to build in plenty of time (half an hour is not too much)!

Etiquette: each situation has it's rules, both stated and simply understood.

• Sète uses a pseudo-line; you almost form a line, but when the bus arrives, just go - sometimes you gesture to others to precede, and you may hear "allez-y" (go ahead)
• Always say "bonjour" to the driver when you get on, and "merci, au revoir" when you get off
• Offer your seat to someone else if they are older, handicapped, or pregnant. (That is, jump up, and gesture your seat to them)
• Make sure to always stamp / validate your pass; there are often transport police who check this, and there is a fine for not doing so.
• Spelled out as not allowed: no smoking, no eating or drinking (water is ok tho), no feet on the seats
• Commonly seen: baby carriages, shopping caddies, wheelchairs (the bus has a retractable ramp), beach equipment, dogs (big and small). I haven't seen bikes on the bus, nor stowed on the front as in some places.

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* For current schedules online, go here: http://mobilite.agglopole.fr/Pratique/Lignes-et-horaires
There is also Hérault Transport, the regional bus company (orange buses), if you want to go farther afield. See here: https://www.herault-transport.fr