Things to do in Collioure
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Collioure
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Mid April to June is a best window, 20 to 28C, everything open and the village busy without being besieged.
Highs can reach 35 to 40C with full car parks, beaches and prices, workable only on an early riser strategy.
September to early October is the connoisseur window, warm sea, harvest in the terraces and thinning crowds.
Winter is mild, luminous and very quiet, with many restaurants and some hotels closed or on short weeks.
What's on
- Fête de l'Anchois first weekend in June
The anchovy festival, with Catalan boats, tastings and street life, the most local festival of the year.
- Fêtes de la Saint-Vincent around 15 August, several days
The patronal festival with music, processions and fireworks over the bay, and the hardest week to park or book.
Best things to do in Collioure
Château Royal de Collioure
A royal fortress with its walls in the sea, dividing the two bays, with the best tower view over the whole village.
Église Notre-Dame-des-Anges
The church on the water whose bell tower was a lighthouse, and the most painted view on this coast.
Chemins du Fauvisme
Reproduction panels stand where Matisse and Derain painted in 1905, so you compare the canvas with the living view.
Quartier du Mouré
The old fishermen quarter of steep lanes, pastel houses and bougainvillea, best wandered early with no route.
Plage du Boramar
The town swim between a castle and a lighthouse church, with a promenade of cafes behind the pebbles.
Anchois Roque Collioure
The historic anchovy house where you watch the filleting, taste for free and buy jars that travel well.
Musée d'Art Moderne de Collioure
A small villa museum for Collioure artists and temporary shows, best after the Fauvism trail tells the story.
Moulin de la Cortina
A restored olive oil windmill above the bays, reached by a short climb to the classic panorama over Collioure.
Where to stay in Collioure
Old Town and the Port
first trip, couples, no car
Every sight, beach, market and restaurant within a ten minute walk, but parking is scarce and lanes are pedestrian.
Faubourg and Port d'Avall
quieter stays, divers, repeat visitors
The calmer southern bay with the second beach and good value houses, a short walk around the castle to the port.
Route de Port-Vendres headland
views, pools, drivers
Panorama, terraces and on site parking on the point, traded against a walk or drive into town each evening.
Upper town, station and Madeloc side
value, quiet, parking, longer stays
Residential streets above the centre with the best price to quality ratio and an uphill walk home.
Think twice about
- Argelès-sur-Mer resort strip
Fine for an Argeles holiday but a poor Collioure base, committing you to the coast road and full Collioure car parks daily.
- D914 roadside outside the village
Car dependent properties with no evening walk home, losing the promenade, market and swim that justify the Collioure premium.
Best restaurants in Collioure
Restaurant La Balette
The starred table on the point, tasting menus of local fish and produce above the bay.
Restaurant Le Neptune
Refined seafood on the quiet bay, facing the illuminated castle across the water at night.
Restaurant Le 5ème Péché
A tiny room where Catalan produce meets Japanese technique, with counter seats at the open kitchen.
Can Pla
A warm Catalan bistro away from the crowds, for tapas, grilled fish and generous traditional plates.
Casa Léon
Catalan and Spanish cooking in an old town alley, joyful service and portions made for sharing.
Le Jardin de Collioure
Dinner in the walled garden of the Dominican cloister, the coolest and calmest table on a hot night.
Chez Simone
The seafront tapas address locals defend, with bay views, tuna tartare, salmorejo and sangria.
Bar à Anchois
Desclaux anchovy bar serving the fish in all its forms, small, musical and full of local life.
Outdoor things to do in Collioure
Sentier du Littoral
The yellow blazed cliff path south to Port-Vendres, past vines and coves, with the train back from the far end.
Plage de l'Ouille
A quiet pebble cove under the cliffs with clear water for snorkelling, reached only by the coastal path.
Fort Saint-Elme
A star fort on the ridge above two ports, with arms collections and a full panorama from its terrace.
Tour Madeloc
A medieval signal tower at about 650 metres, the high point of the vineyard circuit above Collioure.
Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls
France first marine reserve, with a marked underwater snorkel trail at Peyrefite over rocks and seagrass.
CIP Collioure
A long established dive school running first dives and guided boat dives on the rocky Cote Vermeille sites.
Riverside Paddle
Kayaks and paddleboards from the Ouille cove for the rocky northern coast, best at sunrise or sunset.
Compagnie Maritime Roussillon Croisières
Boat trips and sea shuttles from the castle quay along the Cote Vermeille to Port-Vendres and Paulilles.
Best hotels in Collioure
Le Relais des Trois Mas
The one true luxury stay, every room facing the bay, with a pool, parking and a starred restaurant.
Hôtel Les Roches Brunes
A stylish villa hotel above the rocks on the headland, with gardens, terraces and sea views to the port.
Hôtel La Casa Païral
A Catalan house hidden by the quay, with garden breakfast, a heated pool and rare private parking.
Madeloc Hôtel
The consensus all rounder, quiet rooms, a heated pool, spa, garden, parking and a praised breakfast.
Hôtel Le Bon Port
A friendly family hotel on the quiet bay, good for drivers, pets and longer calmer stays.
Hôtel des Templiers
The historic artists hotel by the castle, its walls covered in works left by painters who stayed.
Hôtel Restaurant La Frégate Collioure
The big central port hotel, unpretentious and in the middle of everything the moment you step out.
Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Balcons de Collioure
Self catering apartments with balconies, a pool and parking, the working budget for a family week.
Is Collioure expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €75 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €150 a person |
| Splurge | €320 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls: a few days ahead
- CIP Collioure: a few days ahead
- Riverside Paddle: a few days ahead
- Compagnie Maritime Roussillon Croisières: a few days ahead
- Golf de Saint-Cyprien: a few days ahead
- Domaine du Clos de Paulilles: a few days ahead
- Restaurant La Balette: weeks ahead
- Restaurant Le Neptune: weeks ahead
- Book hotels months ahead for July, August and the Saint-Vincent festival.
- Book La Balette and Le 5eme Peche weeks ahead, and Neptune and Can Pla days ahead in season.
- Book diving, reserve snorkels, Paulilles and sunset sailings days ahead in season.
Is Collioure safe?
- Check the Tramontane wind forecast before ridge walks to Tour Madeloc.
- Carry water and wear proper shoes on the unfenced coast path, and swim carefully at unsupervised coves.
- Use ordinary pickpocket sense in the market and car parks. Emergency number 112.
Collioure travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Driving in after 10am in season, the central car parks fill and visitors circle for 45 minutes or give up.
- The first row of Boramar terraces, where the view is the product and plates can be small and expensive.
- Visiting the modern art museum expecting Matisse originals, which are in the world major museums.
Getting around Collioure: public transport and more
- Walk the village, everything central is within 15 minutes.
- Take the TER train, Collioure station is five minutes from the port and links Perpignan, Port-Vendres and Banyuls.
- Use the seasonal sea shuttle between Argeles, Collioure and Port-Vendres to skip the parking problem.
Who Collioure suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Collioure your trip
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