Collioure
A Catalan harbor town on the French Mediterranean coast, where Matisse and Derain painted in 1905. Known for its castle, pink bell tower and anchovies.
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Collioure is a small harbor town on the Catalan coast of southern France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department close to the Spanish border. Painted fishing boats, red-roofed houses and the pink bell tower of Notre-Dame-des-Anges line the waterfront. In 1905, Henri Matisse and André Derain worked here, and their bright, unblended color helped launch Fauvism. The royal castle, begun by the Knights Templar and later used by the kings of Majorca, stands beside the harbor. Anchovies, salted and packed locally, are the town's best-known food.
Plan one day for the harbor, the castle and the coast path, and a second for the wineries of the surrounding Roussillon hills. The narrow lanes and small harbor fill with day visitors in summer, so arrive early or stay overnight. Late spring and early autumn suit walking and getting a table. Trains run from Perpignan to the town.
Collioure in five
- Take the train from PerpignanRegional trains reach Collioure in about 20–30 minutes. Walk down from the station to the harbor, and skip the car in summer when parking is limited.
- Follow the painters' trailMatisse and Derain painted here in the early 1900s, and the town marks viewpoints with reproductions. Pick up a route at the tourist office.
- Stay one night to enjoy the quietDay crowds leave by late afternoon, and mornings are calm on the harbor. A night costs more but changes the experience.
- Pick the Catalan coast over the Atlantic for calm waterThe Mediterranean is calmer for swimming than the Atlantic at Biarritz, which suits surf rather than a quiet swim.Biarritz
Need to know
- Airport
- Perpignan (PGF), about 30 min away; Barcelona is farther
- Getting there
- Train from Perpignan about 20–30 min; TGV Paris to Perpignan about 5.5 hours
- Getting around
- Walkable; a bus or taxi for beaches nearby
- Best base
- Near the harbor and the old town
- Time needed
- 1 day, or 2–3 with the wider coast
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Quiet, mildJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, mild
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild, quietFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Spring, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Spring, openAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, open
- MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, mild
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Warm, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Peak, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, crowded
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Peak, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, crowded
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Autumn, mildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Collioure, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Collioure
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 37%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Collioure
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°10°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue14°10°50%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 50%.
- Wed13°9°50%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 50%.
- Thu16°9°38%Thursday: Rain. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Fri16°10°34%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat15°10°5%Saturday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun15°8°21%Sunday: Fog. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 21%.
Updated 06:13 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jan–MarCarnival of LimouxCarcassonne, a day trip
- Aug–SepVisa pour l'imagePerpignan, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Perpignanabout 20–30 min by trainA Catalan city with a palace and a market.Read the guide
- Banyuls and the coastabout 15–20 min by train or roadA wine village with hillside vineyards.
- Carcassonneabout 1.5–2 hours by train or roadWalled medieval Cité.Read the guide
Before you go to Collioure
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Rules for Collioure, checked
- Non-EU visitors check Schengen entry rules, including whether they need a visa, on the official France-Visas site before booking.Source
- Service is included in French restaurant bills. Tipping is optional, and rounding up the bill is the usual gesture.
- Keep your passport or national ID card with you. Hotels ask for it at check-in, and police can ask for it.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the EU. For a medical emergency, you can also call 15.
Plan around Collioure
Catalan city and gateway by train
Read the guideCarcassonneWalled Cité, a longer day trip
Read the guideLanguedoc-RoussillonWine and coast beyond the village
Read the guideThe PyreneesMountains behind the coast
Read the guideGetting around FranceTER trains and fixed fares
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideCollioure FAQ
Is Collioure worth visiting?
Yes if you like pretty harbors, painters' views and a slow pace. It is small and crowded in summer, so allow a night or visit in shoulder months.
How do you get from Perpignan to Collioure?
By regional train in about 20–30 minutes. Check timetables for your day.
How many days do you need in Collioure?
A day covers the castle, the harbor and the painters' trail. Two or three days let you add Banyuls and beaches.
Is Collioure a good base for the Catalan coast?
Yes for a quiet stay with train links to Perpignan. For more nightlife choose Perpignan or Béziers.
When is the best time to visit Collioure?
April to June and September to October for mild weather. July and August are crowded.