Collioure
Where the Pyrenees dip their last foothills into the Mediterranean, Collioure glows — Matisse and Derain invented Fauvism trying to paint its pink and orange houses.
- Best forCouples · Foodies · Photographers
- In March15°C · 9 rainy days · sea 13°C
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFrench
- Local time13:121h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+33
Why go
The last foothills of the Pyrenees drop straight into the Mediterranean here, and a small port town has wedged itself into the gap: a royal castle on the water, a bell tower that was once a lighthouse, pebble beaches either side and steep terraced vineyards behind. The light is the reason the painters came, and it still does something peculiar to the pink and ochre walls in the early evening.
This is Catalan France, closer in feel to Spain than to Provence, and it works as a base for the Côte Vermeille and the wine villages inland. Four nights is about right. July and August fill the beaches and the narrow streets to bursting; May, June and September are warm, calmer and better for walking the coastal path. The beaches are shingle, so bring shoes and adjust expectations accordingly.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Painterly, Catalan, sun-soaked, small
From our guides
A royal castle splits the two town beaches, anchovy boats still land their catch, and the vineyards behind produce serious Banyuls and Collioure reds. Stay for the evening light on the bell tower; it's the whole postcard.
Featured in Ten lovely beach towns for lazy harbourside evenings
Things to do
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Château Royal
The waterfront fortress served Majorcan kings and later Vauban, and the ramparts give the best angle back over the bay and the bell tower.
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Notre-Dame-des-Anges
The church on the shore has a former lighthouse for a bell tower and an extraordinary gilded baroque altarpiece inside, worth stepping in from the sun to see.
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Chemin du Fauvisme
Reproductions of works by Matisse and Derain are mounted at the exact spots where they were painted, turning a walk round town into a lesson in colour.
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Fort Saint-Elme
A star-shaped fort on the ridge above town, reached on foot in about forty minutes through vines, with views along the whole Vermeille coast to Spain.
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Banyuls-sur-Mer
Twenty minutes south, a fishing town known for its fortified sweet red wine and a marine reserve that makes for good snorkelling off the rocks.
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Anchovies of Collioure
Salted and filleted here for centuries, they turn up on toast, in salads and with local reds. The town's salting houses still supply the restaurants.
Getting there
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Fly to
Perpignan/Rivesaltes (PGF)
Nearest airport to Collioure, about 30km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Collioure
About 40 minutes by car from Perpignan (PGF), or take a taxi to Perpignan station and the regional train down the coast.
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On the ground
Getting around
The village is tiny and walkable end to end. Park on the outskirts, as the centre is largely closed to traffic in summer.
Public transport: The regional train from Perpignan stops at Collioure and carries on to Banyuls and Cerbere.
Flights
Los Angeles Collioure, France
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Roughly 12h in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 12°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest in January and July and August; wettest in March, with rain on about 9 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 24°C, coolest at 13°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March15° · rain 9 days · sea 13°Cool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Family-run hotels, apartments in the old lanes, a scattering of vineyard chambres d'hôtes and campsites along the coast. No large resorts and almost no international chains.
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Best base overall
Collioure old town
Sleep inside the coloured lanes between the castle and the church and you walk to both beaches, the market and dinner. Rooms are small, stairs are steep and nothing is cheap in August.
Find stays in Collioure old town -
Best with children
Port d'Avall
The southern town beach, with shallow sand, shade and ice cream within sight of the towel. It is the busiest patch of the town, and space is tight by mid-morning.
Find stays in Port d'Avall -
Best value
Port-Vendres
The working fishing port ten minutes down the coast, where rooms cost less and the fish comes off the boats each afternoon. Prettier to eat in than to swim in.
Find stays in Port-Vendres -
Quietest
Argelès-sur-Mer
A long flat beach a few minutes north, with more space, more parking and campsite country behind. It lacks Collioure's looks entirely, which is rather the point after a busy day.
Find stays in Argelès-sur-Mer
Worth knowing before you book: July and August book out by spring, and the town charges for parking everywhere, so confirm whether your hotel actually has a space before driving down.
Search everything else in Collioure by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Beaches
- The town beaches are coarse shingle rather than sand. Water shoes make a real difference, and the coves south of town are quieter than the central strips.
- Parking
- The old town is largely pedestrian and summer parking is genuinely difficult. Use the car parks on the approach roads and walk in.
- The tramontane
- A strong, dry north wind blows down from the Pyrenees, most often in winter and spring. It clears the sky and flattens the terraces at the same time.
- Getting there
- Perpignan is half an hour away with an airport and TGV connections, and a scenic local train runs down the coast into the village itself.
- Walking
- The coastal path towards Port-Vendres and Banyuls is rocky, exposed and beautiful. Start early in summer; there is very little shade.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Cadaqués
Catalonia, Spain · 31km away →
Girona
Spain · 64km away →
Costa Brava
Spain · 92km away →
Barcelona
Spain · 147km away →
Flamingos in the Camargue
France · 150km away →
Calanque d'En-Vau
Cassis, France · 214km away →Elsewhere in France
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Collioure?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 12°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest in January and July and August; wettest in March, with rain on about 9 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 24°C, coolest at 13°C.
How long should I spend in Collioure?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Collioure?
About 40 minutes by car from Perpignan (PGF), or take a taxi to Perpignan station and the regional train down the coast.
Do I need a car in Collioure?
No. The regional train from Perpignan stops at Collioure and carries on to Banyuls and Cerbere.
What currency and language are used in Collioure?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Collioure best for?
Best for couples, foodies and photographers. In a phrase: painterly, Catalan, sun-soaked, small.