You are wondering: What to see around Perpignan?
If, for your summer vacation in France or during a stay in the South of France, you want to visit Perpignan, the beautiful region of Roussillon and its Catalan coastline, here is my tourist circuit with the detailed itinerary map.
Well, with this one-week road trip in the Eastern Pyrenees you will discover the tourist sites around Perpignan, picturesque villages and some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in France which have inspired many painters.
Discover the Roussillon and French Catalan coastlines with this 5 or 7 day tour at the end of the Mediterranean coast. You will enjoy a long sandy coast ideal for seaside pleasures but also a more jagged and wild coast at the foot of the Pyrenees where small fishing ports and heavenly coves nestle.
But tourism in the Eastern Pyrenees also means discovering Catalan gastronomy and a rich and unique wine region. For this, I will reveal to you at the end of the article my Roussillon wine route to discover the Catalan winegrowers who produce exceptional wines (Banyuls, Muscats de Rivesaltes, Côtes du Roussillon).
How to visit Perpignan and its surroundings?
The best way to visit Perpignan and its surroundings (Roussillon region, historic sites, seaside resorts, small fishing ports, mountain ranges) is to travel by car.
Indeed, to discover the must-see attractions of the Roussillon region and the Vermeille coast, this road trip around Perpignan is done by car following a 7-day circuit (see details below).
Itinerary to visit the surroundings of Perpignan in 7 days
Here is the program and the itinerary which allows you to discover the entire region around Perpignan in one week:
- 1 Day:
- Perpignan
- Canet en Roussillon
- 2 Day:
- Saint Cyprian
- Elne
- Collioure
- 3 Day: Port-Vendres
- 4 Day: Banyuls sur Mer
- 5 Day:
- Organs
- castelnou
- Priory of Serrabona
- 6 Day: Peak of Canigou mountain
- 7 Day: The vineyards of Roussillon
Tourist circuit around Perpignan
For this road trip in the form of a tourist circuit around Perpignan, you can use the Google map route below:
Perpignan and surroundings - DAY 1
City Perpignan, Capital of the Eastern Pyrenees has managed to keep its strong Catalan identity. Dali knew how to find it and feel it. He also proclaimed in 1965 that the Perpignan station was the center of the world !!!
30 minutes from the Spanish border, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees, Perpignan is one of the sunniest cities in France and its region is very popular for summer holidays. It offers very diverse panoramas with the Canigou which culminates at 2 meters, the massif of Albères which borders with Spain and its kilometers of coastline of beaches and coves.
How to visit Perpignan?
My tour begins with a visit to Perpignan for which I will have to devote the entire morning.
Direction the Promenade des Platanes where the tourist office is located but also a large parking lot very well placed since it is in the center!
You will discover the historic center through the Castillet, the only but superb vestige of the ancient ramparts of Perpignan. It houses the Catalan Museum. You will continue through the Place de la Loge, the courtyard of the Town Hall and its statue of Aristide Maillol. Pass by Casa Xanxo, one of the rare Gothic houses in Perpignan. You can visit by following the beautiful Cathedral of Saint John adjoining the Campo Santo and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Take the car and drive up to the magnificent Palace of the Kings of Mallorca.
Canet en Roussillon in the afternoon
From Perpignan, you will be a 20-minute drive to Canet en Roussillon.
For history and heritage buffs, the Canet en Roussillon tourist office offers in summer (every Wednesday at 10 a.m.) a 2-hour guided tour retracing the history of the ancient village. You will walk through the narrow streets of the old village to visit the authentic sites of yesterday and today. At the end of the visit, a stop at the Domaine des Hospices is offered with tasting of local products. See detail on official website of the Tourist Office.
And, for families or simply for idleness enthusiasts, Canet beach awaits you for an afternoon of swimming!
Where to stay near Perpignan?
The most pleasant and practical way to follow my tourist circuit is undoubtedly to sleep at Canet Plage.
If you are looking for a hotel with good value for money, I recommend the Résidence Maricel on the seafront with swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, restaurant and parking! See this hotel on Booking
Perpignan and surroundings - DAY 2
Elne - Saint Cyprien - Argeles in the morning
Morning departure for (less than half an hour's drive) to arrive in the town of Elne. It is a must for the sites of the region for the cloister of its cathedral which is preserved in its entirety and adorned with magnificent carvings.
After visiting the cloister, you can make a short detour to Saint-Cyprien which offers summer visitors a pretty marina and beautiful sandy beaches or continue to Argeles.
Indeed, the sandy beaches follow one another up to Argelès from where you can visit the village and its southern Gothic church. Why not swim along the 7 km long sandy beach in clear waters with the Albères massif in the background?
Continuing south, past Racou Plage, you will arrive on the Côte Vermeille. From here, the Pyrenees will plunge into the Mediterranean Sea, forming spectacular coastal reliefs.
In the 1st notch, Collioure stands out for the beauty of its site!
Collioure in the afternoon
Collioure is quite simply my favorite on the Vermeille coast.
With its 2 ports framing an old Templar castle, its small pebble beach, its church by the sea and covered with a pink dome, its colorful and flowery alleys, Collioure is a little marvel!
For visit Collioure, by immersing yourself in the history of the painters who left their mark, a path of fauvism will lead you through the alleys in the footsteps of Matisse or Derain, to the very places where they put their easels!
Where to stay in Collioure?
The hotel offer is limited in Collioure, but I can recommend theHotel le bon port which is quite central and not too expensive.
The crest road from Collioure to Banyuls - DAY 3
Port Vendres in the morning
About ten kilometers south of Collioure, you will reach Port Vendres this morning. A real fishing port where nets dry in front of the facades of pastel-colored houses, Port Vendres has a lot of charm.
Morning and evening, the fishermen bring back anchovies, sardines and blue fish caught with lamparos.
The route des crêtes
After strolling along the colorful houses of Port Vendre, you will have to return to Collioure to take the Route des Crêtes.
Narrow, on the mountainside, from chapels to hermitages, passing by the edge of terraced vineyards, it is said that this road has as many bends as there are days of the year!
The Côte Vermeille road, called the crest road, is accessible by Exit 14 of the D914. It offers over twenty kilometers of the departmental which connects Collioure to Banyuls panoramas which combine sea and mountain.
On the road, you can stop at the Tour de Madeloc perched on a promontory to have a spectacular view of the entire Vermeille coast.
Where to stay in Banyuls?
My good accommodation plan in Banyuls is a waterfront hotel with such a picturesque decor: Les Elmes – Hotel & Spa
Banyuls sur mer - DAY 4
Impossible to describe to you what I like most about Banyuls. Whether restaurants, bars, sea trips or hikes through the terraced vineyards, Banyuls deserves to be spent at least 2 days there!
I let you discover Banyuls in the video below:
Backcountry Catalan Pyrenees - DAY 5
castelnou
You will have to return to Perpignan for a journey of just over 1 hour to arrive at Castelnou. I advise you to take a photo break in this pretty little fortified village with its feudal castle. Sheltered from mass tourism, this perched village has retained all its authenticity and beauty.
The organs of the Tet valley
My tour continues through the Eastern Pyrenees to take you into the mineral setting of Les Orgues. Heading towards Ille sur Têt, you will discover a natural amphitheater made up of walls of sedimentary rocks with majestic reliefs.
Priory of Serrabona
Then you will take the beautiful mountain road which leads to the Priory of Serrabona. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque art from the 11th century which is a must-see site in the Catalan Pyrenees.
On site, guided tours (included with the entrance ticket) of 1h15 are offered in summer to discover the Priory, the cloister and the pink marble rostrum of Villefranche, more than 3 meters high.
Lake Vinça - Unusual accommodation
On the road leading to the Canigou massif, I advise you to stop at Lake Vinça for a unique experience. For this night in the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees, here is the unusual accommodation that I was able to enjoy in the heart of nature: Sleep in a bubble !
Le Canigou - DAY 6
If you like climbing, this is a day that will satisfy you! Early departure for the Canigou massif, a must-see in the Eastern Pyrenees.
Classified as a Grand Site de France, Canigou, nicknamed the sacred mountain of the Catalans, is the ideal site to spend an unforgettable day surrounded by nature.
You will go to Vernet les Bains and enjoy walks around the Massif. If you are a good hiker and want to climb to the Pic du Canigou, here are some circuits to do in 1 or more days: Pic du Canigou hikes.
Where to sleep near Canigou?
With a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, Canigou Lodge is located in Vernet-les-Bains. This accommodation is perfect for enjoying the tranquility of the site and the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and is an excellent location for exploring the surroundings of Canigou! See this accommodation on Booking
Roussillon wine route – DAY 7
For those who are lucky enough to have a few extra days, here is an idea for visits that will particularly appeal to lovers of good wine.
For more than 15 years, the Roussillon region has experienced a real renaissance of its wine market. In fact, the winegrowers of the Pyrénées Orientales, as passionate as they are talented, have raised the wines of their Catalan vineyards among the best great wines in France.
What can we say about the vines from Collioure to Banyuls planted on terraces facing the Mediterranean Sea, the winds and the sun of Roussillon? Beautiful landscapes and exceptional wines!
To discover for yourself this rich terroir, the grape varieties and the history of Catalan wines, here is my Roussillon wine route going from estates to châteaux through the most beautiful landscapes of French Catalonia.
Does the South of France attract you? Want a little more? So check out my road trip in Camargue, my small circuit in the Landes, my itinerary to visit Provence, my tourist circuit in the Gard, road trip in Ardèche or a weekend in the Basque Country.