One of the highlights of my recent trip through Spain and France was the three days I spent in Collioure. This colorful seaside town was voted France’s favourite village in 2024, and it’s easy to see why. Although it’s a small town, there are lots of fun things to do in Collioure, from relaxing on the beach to hiking coastal trails to visiting historical sites.
Although you could visit Collioure as a day trip from Perpignan, Narbonne or even Barcelona, I recommend staying at least two nights. This will allow time for both relaxation and exploration, giving you time to experience the very best of Collioure.
Chateau Royal de Collioure (The Royal Castle of Collioure)
For centuries, Collioure and its surroundings were at the forefront of disputes between France and Spain, and both sides spent years occupying this massive waterfront fortress in the very heart of Collioure.
The earliest fortifications here date back to the 600s, while its most recent non-touristic usage dates back to the 1940s and 1950s when it was used as a prison. That’s quite the history!
Admission to the castle costs €9 and most people spend about an hour inside. There are free guided tours in the morning and afternoon, but only in French. The interior of the castle features temporary exhibits and information about the history of the castle and region, while the exterior offers amazing views of the town and sea.
The Fauvist Trail
Fauvism was a short-lived art movement that was briefly popular from about 1905 to 1908. It was popularized by Henri Matisse, who spent several months in Collioure alongside another painter, André Derain. The town’s colorful landscape inspired them to experiment with a new style of painting that bore some similarities to Impressionism but was unique in its shocking use of bold colours.
The Fauvist Trail is a walking route through the historic center of Collioure that takes visitors past seventeen reproductions of Matisse and Derain’s works. A map showing the locations of the paintings is available here.
The Picture Frames of Collioure (12 Points 2 Vue)
Thirty years ago, Catalan artist Marc-Andres de Figueres envisioned a series of works of public art that would put the spotlight on the Collioure bell tower. He created twelve gilded picture frames and installed them at key points around Coullioure’s half moon-shaped bay. Each frame perfect pictures the bell tower, which was once the town’s lighthouse before it was converted into a Catholic church in 1693.
You can make a game of wandering around the city and coming across the frames on your own, or you can visit the artist’s website to find a map of all twelve.
Local Market Day
Every Wednesday and Sunday morning Collioure hosts a typical open-air market in Place du Maréchal Leclerc. My room at Hotel Le Fregate actually overlooked the square, so I got to see them setting up the market before I went down to explore.
About half of the vendors in the Collioure weekly market were selling food like fruits, vegetables, meat, bread and cheese. You could easily make a breakfast or lunch out of ingredients sourced here at the market.
The other half of the vendors were included artisans selling handmade goods, sellers of clothing, jewelery and accessories, and some vendors who were just selling novelties like fancy corkscrews and hair braiding services.
Visit the Fishermen’s Houses
This is one of the most beautiful places in Collioure, and I think it’s one that most tourists miss (I had the street to myself most of the time!). Situated at the far north edge of the village center, this is a quiet street lined with picturesque former fishermen’s houses, painted in bright colours and located within beautiful gardens. You can’t enter the private homes, but they’re definitely worth viewing from the outside.
⏰ If you’re pressed for time, this day trip from Barcelona visits both Collioure and Girona (in Spain) in about nine hours, traveling by air-conditioned van.
Collioure Historic Centre
I’m sure that one of the reasons that Collioure was voted the country’s favourite village in 2024 is because of how beautiful the streets of its historic center are. The village center has colorful streets and plazas lined with independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants, while the surrounding streets are lined with vibrant homes, shady trees and secret views of the sea.
A few of the streets in Collioure are slippery, and I did see one person slip on a smooth cobblestone as they were walking downhill. You can wear flip-flops to the beaches, of course, but consider a good walking sandal if you’re out exploring for the day. The walking sandals that I recommend in this article would all be good.
The Church Notre-Dame-des-Anges
At the time of my visit to Collioure, the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges was closed for restoration work. However, I didn’t have to go inside to understand that this is the most iconic landmark in the city. With its stark facade and stunning bell-tower placed immediately upon the beach, some parts of the building actually sit below sea level (hence the need for renovations).
When the church reopens, you’ll be able to visit the eight chapels and large golden altar inside. It’s possible that by the time you read this the church will be open for weekly mass, if not for tourism.
Saint-Vincent Chapel
Behind Notre Dame des Anges, a waterfront walkway takes you to the Saint Vincent Chapel (which is seen above through a secret viewpoint on the path up the fishermen’s houses). It’s said that this is where Saint Vincent of Collioure, the patron saint of the town’s fishermen, martyred himself to avoid having to practice the Ancient Roman religious practices of the emperor Dacien. The chapel is particularly beautiful, and less busy, at sunset.
When I was in Collioure, Google Maps indicated that the chapel closed by 6:00 pm. However, it was still open and busy when I visited around 8:00 pm. Don’t skip it just because you think it’s closed – walk over to see if the gate is open!
⭐ Looking to stay overnight in Collioure? I also have a complete guide to the best hotels in Collioure!
Phare de Collioure
The Phare de Collioure, or Collioure Lighthouse, is another important landmark in the town center. You can reach it by continuing along the narrow stone breakwater beyond the Saint Vincent Chapel. From here you have another beautiful photo opportunity, fantastic views of the town, and the opportunity to imagine what it must have been like to be a seafarer in the 1700s and 1800s, when the lighthouse was most in use.
The Beaches of Collioure
Because I was only in Collioure for three days and I didn’t have a car, I limited my beach time to the three beaches closest to the village center: Plage du Port d’Avall (shown above), Plage de Collioure (shown in the photo of the royal castle) and Plage Saint Vincent, near the entrance to the breakwater that leads to Chapel Saint Vincent and the lighthouse.
The latter two beaches were definitely my favorites, as I found the water to be much clearer and the sea life much more abundant. I snorkeled at both beaches for several hours in the morning and saw lots of fish – they weren’t colorful, but some were quite large! These two beaches also had floating docks in the water where you could sunbathe or practice your dives and backflips.
I did go for a brief swim in Plage du Port d’Avall but I found the water to be murkier, and because of its position it seemed that more seaweed washed up here. It still seemed very popular with families, however, and there was a small beach bar that rented sun chairs and umbrellas for reasonable prices.
Boat Tours from Collioure
If you don’t have a car, one of the easiest ways to explore the Côte Vermeille Coast is by boat. I noticed three different boat tour companies during my visit.
Two companies (KapMer and Rousillon Croisieres) had signage at the old artillery building, just past the pedestrian footbridge. They offered tours to different places along the coast at different times, depending on the day of the week and the sea conditions.
Over in Faubourg, I also saw that the scuba diving center CIP Collioure offered excursions by boat, including scuba diving trips (of course) but also a sunset apero tour. 🥂
Wine Tastings in Collioure
Collioure is a well-known wine-producing region, and is protected under an Appellation d’Origine Controlée by the French government. There are a number of different places where you can sample local wines direct from the producers; I opted to visit the Dominican cellar in the old church in the Faubourg neighborhood. The street behind Hotel Le Fregate, Rue Pasteur, also had several wine shops selling direct from the vineyards.
The Modern Art Museum
The Collioure Museum of Modern Art is closed until at least 2028, as the installations and building undergo significant restoration work. However, I’m including it on this list because if you follow the signs to the museum and then continue on the path behind it, you will reach the stunning walking trail that includes the next three things to do in Collioure.
The Old Oil Mill
Collioure’s hilltop windmill was constructed in the 1300s to produce olive oil from the abundant olive trees in the surrounding hills. Over the years it gradually fell into disuse, but was restored in the early 2000s as part of a revival of the region’s history.
The Collioure oil mill is open on Wednesday and Sunday in high season. You can tour the mill, learn how it was operated, and purchase olive oil made from Collioure olives (pressed in nearby Millas). At other times, you can still visit the mill, but there won’t be any activity.
From the mill you can continue onward to Fort Saint-Elme, which you can see in the distance. At the time of my visit the fort was temporarily closed (are you sensing a trend?) and there was a significant risk of wildfires, so I skipped the hike.
La Glorieta
Continue past the oil mill to reach La Glorieta, a monument constructed in the early 1900s to give artists and thinkers a place to rest atop the hill, with views of the sea and city beneath them. Although you can no longer sit inside, you can still understand the perspective of those who did by looking through one of the town’s twelve golden picture frames, located directly in front of the building.
Cactus Gardens
Your last stop on the trail behind the Museum of Modern Art in Collioure is the cactus garden, which reminded me a bit of the Jardin Exotique in Èze, just outside Nice. Bursting with plants designed to withstand the hot sun and harsh wind of the Mediterranean coastline, the garden offers beautiful views of Notre Dame des Anges, the beach and the sea.
Collioure Tourist Train
If all of this is sounding a little bit overwhelming, especially in light of the recent heatwaves that have scorched the South of France, I have the perfect alternative to exploring Collioure on foot: riding the town’s tourist train.
During the high season the train departs hourly from Place du Maréchal Leclerc (the same square that hosts the weekly market) and winds its way along the coastline, through vineyards and past Fort Saint-Elme, all the way to the nearby village of Port Vendres.
During the low season there are reduced departures and occasional cancellations due to conditions along the mountain road.
Adult tickets cost €10 and children under 11 can pay €6 with valid proof of age. The price is for the return trip to and from Port Vendres.
Coastal Hikes in Collioure
Speaking of Port Vendres, it’s also possible to explore the villages of the Côte Vermeille by foot if you’re a confident and experienced hiker, and the weather conditions are in your favor. The regional tourist office has a full list of hikes (with maps included) on their website here. Take note of current path closures due to extreme heat, cold or rain, and make sure to both dress and pack appropriately for the conditions. As it was over 35° Celsius every day of my visit, I skipped the hiking in favor of more snorkeling time.
If you’re interested in visiting Collioure, you might also want to read these articles about nearby destinations in Spain and France!
🏰The Best Hotels Inside the Medieval Walled City of Carcassonne
🧀 A Complete Review of Les Grands Buffets de Narbonne
🎨 The Best Things to Do in Figueres
⛓️ I Slept in a Converted Prison Cell in Beziers, France (Hotel La Prison Review)
♥️ The Best Things to Do in Perpignan, France
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