Cap d’Agde, Montpellier, and Amsterdam: A Travel Adventure

Intro

I had finished my Asia leg, and my Paris leg of the Round the World Trip 2024. So far 24 days had past since the beginning of this adventure, and before I start a new chapter in this trip, I wanted to consolidate the posts in this list:

Kickoff to My RTW24 Adventure: From Newark to Shanghai

Disneyland Shanghai: First Time, Zootopia and Pirates of the Caribbean

Shanghai Disneyland Highlights: Toy Story, Tron, and More

Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Shanghai: Top Attractions and Tips

Top Attractions in Shanghai: From Zhujiajiao Ancient Town to Yuyuan Garden

Beijing Adventures: Fast Train, Great Food, and Iconic Sights

Your Ultimate Guide to Universal Studios Beijing

Ultimate Guide to Universal Beijing: Thrilling Rides and Attractions

Jeju Island: Exploring Korea’s Hidden Gem

Exploring Jeju Island: The Ultimate West Tour Guide

Must-Visit Attractions in Seoul: From DMZ to Traditional Villages

Exploring Puerto Princesa: Hidden Gems and Travel Tips

A Traveler’s Guide to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

A Magical Day at Disneyland Paris: Attractions and Experiences

Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney Studios and Disneyland Paris Nighttime Shows

Exploring Paris During the 2024 Olympics

Experience the Magic of Versailles and the Paris Olympics

Exploring Paris: Top Museums to Visit

Bye Paris: Montmartre, Seine Boat Tour and Eiffel Tower Views!

Now, I am going to summarize my next 6 days of this adventure in this post, where I will get to relax at Cap d’Agde after all the craziness of Paris and the Olympics, explore Montpellier and get to see Amsterdam once again.

From Paris to Cap d’Agde

It’s funny that more than a year ago, probably around the time I had booked the next leg of this trip, a friend of mine told me about the upcoming destination. I knew I wanted to come to Paris for the Olympics, and then I had the other tip. There were 6 days in between that I needed to figure out what to do with, and I felt that going to Cap D’Agde was the answer.

Although, it is easy to get there, it is quite the task to get out from there to my boarding destination: Amsterdam, so to do that I had to do a quick stop also at Montpellier, not too far from Cap D’Agde.

But first, I had to go to Gare de Lyon in the south east of Paris, and get on a train to Agde.

We had officially left Paris, after all those days. And this was a new side of the trip I was waiting for. The relaxing by the beach part. We got to the Agde Train Station, and from there, we took an Uber to the Ville Naturiste.

Ville Naturiste de Cap d’Agde

The Uber left us at the entrance to the Ville Naturiste, kind of like a paradise for nudist in the South of France.

This is a is a world-renowned complex dedicated to naturism. Spanning several hectares, it offers a space where visitors can live freely without clothing, whether on the beach, in shops, restaurants, or during daily activities. This unique village attracts naturists from around the globe, featuring comprehensive infrastructure with accommodations, shops, and tailored facilities. While celebrating naturism, it blends a family-friendly atmosphere with a vibrant nightlife.

I had been to Gunnison Beach in New Jersey, Haulover Beach in Florida and Boy Beach in Provincetown, plus some other nude beaches in St. Marteen and Barcelona, but this was my first fully nude resort I had ever been.

To get in, you need a permission given by the hotel or Airbnb you are staying in, pay the resort fee, and be ok with naked people basically everywhere.

From the entrance, after checking in the resort, we walked to the Airbnb that hosted us, and we got into the room. Our hosts welcomed us fully naked and gave us our room for the next few nights.

After relaxing in the room, we got to explore the town. It is not necessary to be naked, it is full optional wherever you go, unless it is a private party or establishment that demands it. Otherwise, you can wear clothes at all times if you want.

By the main building of the resort, we found Le Calypso for lunch, and there we realized that everything would be really expensive in this town.

Time to get back to the Airbnb. We checked a lot of spots and corners of this whole resort, but we wanted to also check the beach.

And that we did. Almost before sunset we walked to the beach and it was a little chilli, although many people were still naked and enjoying the water.

Maybe it was the time, but it was not too many people. The gay area of the beach is at the very end, but there was a good mix of everything all over.

The water looked beautiful, but the Mediterranean was a little bit cold for us today.

We still had fun at the beach and then went back to the Airbnb, not without stopping by the supermarket to get some stuff for the night and for breakfast.

Later that night, we continued exploring this whole resort. Men and women would get nice dresses at night to go to the restaurants and the clubs, although some would wear some stuff a little bit sexier and more revealing than a traditional attire. For us, we mostly went to a bar to get some dinner in the form of tapas at L’Envie.

No more waking up early in the tight Paris schedule. For this section of the trip, we were sleeping in and relaxing. We got breakfast with what we bought and what the Airbnb offered, and then we headed out once again.

We went to the beach and later we got some Mussels from Le Ghymnos. If people being naked is distracting for you, then I would not recommend coming here lol.

We also got some needed protein in the shape of meat. It was really good. I think despite everything being expensive, the food seemed more fresh than in other places.

Time flies and it was the third day of our stay in Cap d’Agde. It was finally a very sunny and hot day, and the beach was full. Really lots of fun this day.

Montpellier

The second of three destinations for this post is Montpellier, only 1 hour away from Cap d’Agde on train. We came here because we needed a way to fly out to Amsterdam, where we will be boarding our next leg of the trip.

We would just stay in one night here, so we decided to walk around and explore the most important spots in this city. But first, some coffee at the Starbucks of this famous mall located in the city center.

Montpellier is a vibrant city in southern France, known for its rich history, dynamic culture, and Mediterranean charm. As the capital of the Hérault department, it features a beautifully preserved medieval old town, the iconic Place de la Comédie, and stunning modern architecture like the Antigone district. Montpellier is also a hub for education and innovation, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. With its sunny climate, proximity to the sea, and lively arts scene, the city offers a perfect mix of tradition and modernity.

It was relatively easy moving around Montpellier taking the trams, and basically following whatever Google Maps recommended.

It started raining, and we took the tram to the Jardin des plantes de Montpellier. There were many sections that were closer, and we really were not too impressed, so we left only after a few minutes.

Walking around this hilly city was really a good cardio, but we got to pass by the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier, founded in 1364, just wow!

From there, we walked South towards probably one of the most famous spots of this city: the Promenade du Peyrou.

In this promenade, you can find the famous Arc de Triomphe, not to be compared with the one in Paris.

And at the very end of the promenade, a nice view of this was about to shock me…

A beautiful sunset over the Aqueduc Saint-Clément. Just amazing how this city offered way better views than I expected.

And the rain brought the rainbow over us…

But before the sun set, we needed to get some dinner, and then relax tonight before our flight tomorrow.

So, from there, we sneaked into the little streets of the Old Town of Montpellier, and found a nice Hispanic restaurant, Takkito.

It was nice eating some meat again, and it was really good. I would recommend coming to this restaurant.

Under the rain, we walked back to the hotel, and the sunset was still going on lol. Longest sunset ever. The view of the trams on the street reminded me of all the nice Eurotrips I had done in the past, in all those cities in Western and Central Europe.

It was the next day, and we got up to explore a little bit more of Montpellier. We went to Starbucks first again, and then we headed to get some breakfast around Place de la Comedie.

I could not leave France without getting another crepe, this time from Le Kreisker, around the block from the plaza.

From Montpellier to Amsterdam

Time to get back to the hotel, get my suitcase I had left during check out and head to the Montpellier Airport. Our flight got delayed a couple of hours, so we decided to get into the FDI Business Lounge. Not super expensive, only 18 euros, but offered WiFi and a lot of snacks. Plus, our gate to Amsterdam was right upfront.

We finally departed France. After so many weeks here, we were excited about starting this new chapter in the Round the World Trip. Amsterdam as coming up.

We landed almost at sunset in Schiphol AMS Amsterdam International Airport. From here, it was pretty easy to move anywhere with The Netherlands excellent public transportation system.

We were now more towards the West, the direction of the RTW I decided to take this year.

We finally arrived to the hotel, and let me tell you, the hotel was great, but it was soooo far from any train station, and the city, that I begged them to only charge me for the night, and then switched to another hotel in the city for the remaining night. Yes, only 2 nights in Amsterdam, and then the upcoming leg on the way back home.

Amsterdam

Regardless, I walked to the train station and explored Amsterdam in this first night.

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a picturesque city renowned for its historic canals, charming architecture, and vibrant culture. Famous for its museums like the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, it is a hub of art and history. The city is also known for its liberal atmosphere, cycling-friendly streets, and lively neighborhoods such as the Jordaan and De Pijp. With a mix of historic landmarks, modern innovation, and a welcoming vibe, Amsterdam offers something for every visitor.

I had been to Amsterdam multiple times in the past, and it really is one of my favorite cities.

For an August day it felt really quiet. We took advantage to do laundry before our big section of the trip, and get energized for that.

My second hotel, located in the very center of the city, was great, although confusing to navigate. The location made it all.

And close to it there were many bars and restaurants. From Nude Burger, located just steps away, I got a chicken sandwich. I was craving some chicken for some reason.

After a long night of fun with my friend, we decided to have a nice breakfast, and walk around the city center before heading to our destination.

We had the chance to see the Dam Square and the Royal Palace, and get to Primark to get some cheap jackets that we would need for the upcoming leg. 22 days to go on this Round the World Trip, and everything was coming up so fast! Do not miss the conclusion of the Europe leg on the next post.