Collioure, France: Best Things To Do In 2024

Are you looking for the best things to do in Collioure? I’ve got you covered!

I had never heard of Collioure, France before I visited the small coastal town, but it quickly won me over with it’s vibrant colors, historic charm, and seaside views.

However, this hidden gem of Southern France isn’t so hidden if you are an art connoisseur. Famous artists like Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Pablo Picasso have been inspired by Collioure’s sunny seaside colors.

Is Collioure worth visiting?

Yes, Collioure is definitely worth visiting. If you are looking to relax, eat and drink, and take a dip in the sea and/or enjoy art, you should visit Collioure. I would describe it as a popular but still quaint beach town in the South of France that isn’t as pretentious as other towns along the south coast of France.

Best things to do in Collioure

Here’s a rundown of how to spend your time in Collioure, France.

Visit Château Royal de Collioure

This imposing castle sits right in the center of town along the water. The views of the town and sea from its ramparts are worth the small entrance fee. You can do a self-guided tour with an informational pamphlet provided.

Relax on the beach

There’s a couple beaches right in town, Plage de Collioure and Plage de Port d’Avall, that are nice for sitting out, reading, and dipping your feet in the water. I didn’t swim at either of them but other people did and the waves are calm enough to allow for an easy dip in the sea.

Shop your way through Quartier du Mouré

Collioure is best explored on foot. The town’s small size makes it easy to wander and there’s plenty of shops and restaurants to check out. If you are looking for jewelry and home goods, you’ll easily cross plenty of cute boutiques with unique offerings.

Walk the sea wall

The view of the coast, the sea, and the town from the sea wall is not to be missed. It’s an easy walk to end of the short sea wall.

View of Collioure from the castle which shows a pebble beach, lighthouse and sea wall extending out into the blue sea.

Musée d’art moderne de Collioure

This museum highlights modern and contemporary art. Get a deep dive into the Fauvism movement that started here. Here you can see works inspired by Collioure’s unique landscape.

Admire the view from Fort St Elme

Drive up to the lookout point next to Fort St Elme for a spectacular view of the town and the Mediterranean sea. The Fort itself is closed but the panoramic views are breathtaking.

View from the hillside above Collioure France which shows the small light brown buildings along the green coastline with the blue sea on the right and lightly cloudy sky above.

Find all the viewpoint frames

There are 12 frames around Collioure showcasing the best viewpoints according to the artist Marc André de Figueres.

Go wine tasting

The surrounding hillsides are dotted with vineyards that make Banyuls and Collioure wines. The Cellier Dominicain is a great option for tasting local wines right in town.

Enjoy dinner in town

There’s no shortage of restaurants throughout old town and running along the water all through town. Here are a few recommendations for meals I enjoyed on my trip.

🍴La Bodeguita: Serves tapas and local wine. Only open for dinner.

🍴Chez Simone: French restaurant with outdoor tables along the waterfront. A good option for lunch to enjoy the sunny seaside.

🍴Paco: My personal favorite meal we ate was at Paco, which is also a tapas restaurant. I really enjoyed the mussels and the pork.

Small wooden table with a carafe, a glass of sangria, and other clear beverages on the street outside a restaurant in Collioure.

Overhead view of small plates with croquettes, bread, a tortilla, and two glasses of sangria at Paco restaurant in Collioure, France.

How to pronounce Collioure?

The French pronounce Collioure as “koh-lyur.”

Where to stay in Collioure, France

📍Le Relais des Trois Mas: Luxury option with a swimming pool on a terrace with amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea and town.

📍H otel Madeloc: Located on a residential street only a short walk from town.

📍Hotel Ibi s: This hotel is actually in neighboring town, Port Vendres, but is a good option for people on a budget. I had a pleasant stay here for a few nights and it’s a 20 minute walk into Collioure. Despite the distance I still recommend walking into town versus driving over and trying to park in town.

How to get to Collioure, France

🚄 Train from Paris to Collioure: Board a high-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Perpignan. The journey usually takes around 5 hours. From Perpignan, a regional train can whisk you to Collioure in about 20 minutes, offering lovely views of the countryside and the Mediterranean.

🚄 Train from Barcelona to Collioure: A convenient option is to take a Renfe-SNCF high-speed train from Barcelona Sants station to Perpignan, which takes approximately 2 hours. Then, hop on a local train for a short ride to Collioure.

🚆Train from Toulouse to Collioure: You can take an Intercités or TER train to Perpignan, which takes around 2.5 hours, followed by a local train to Collioure.

✈️ From Perpignan Airport to Collioure: Located about 30 km from Collioure, it’s a short taxi or shuttle ride to the town. Some airlines offer seasonal flights to this airport.

✈️From Girona Airport to Collioure: Approximately 90 km away, you can rent a car or take a bus to Girona train station, then continue by train to Collioure.

✈️From Barcelona Airport to Collioure: For a wider range of international flights, consider flying into Barcelona. From there, you can take a train, bus, or car to Collioure.

🚗Drive From Barcelona to Collioure: You can easily visit Collioure, France on a day trip from Costa Brava if you are exploring the northeast corner of Spain. It’s an easy 2 hour drive up the picturesque Costa Brava on the AP-7 and A9 motorways.

🚗Drive From Montpellier to Collioure: Drive along the A9/E15 motorway for 2.5 hours, enjoying the views of the Languedoc vineyards and the Mediterranean coastline.

🚗Drive From Marseille to Collioure: Take the A54 and A9 motorways for about 3 hours, passing through the heart of Provence and the Camargue.

Where to park in Collioure, France

Be aware that parking in Collioure is difficult! There is a large paid public lot next to the castle in town but even that fills up. It is a small town with limited spots and lots of tourists!

I visited in October (so after the busy rush of summer) and still had trouble finding open parking. If you are driving I’d strongly advise staying in hotel that has parking available.

Best time to visit Collioure, France

To avoid the crowds you should aim to visit Collioure in late spring and early fall when you’ll get warm weather but less tourists than prime summer time. Although, I was there in mid October and it was still quite busy.

If you want to explore other Mediterranean seaside towns, I highly recommend traveling down the coast to Cadaqués, Spain.

TL;DR: Best Things To Do In Collioure 2024

A gem of the French Mediterranean coast, Collioure calls to travelers with its charming streets, vibrant art scene, and cute beaches. Don’t miss a visit to the castle and wandering the old town while you enjoy the stunning sea views from almost anywhere in town.