Argelès-sur-mer? Non merci, Collioure.
One month ago me and some friends were planning a beach day trip. We thought about going to Narbonne, but I had already been there and wanted something new. That’s when Argelès-sur-mer came to our mind. Suddenly, a friend of ours said Argelès-sur-mer was overrated, always crowded and was honestly not up to the hype. She went on to suggest Collioure.
To be honest, I had never heard about Collioure. However, we checked it up online and were convinced right away. Once I got there, I could not believe how I had never heard about this magical place.
How to get there?
You can get to Collioure by train or bus, if you don’t have a car. Either way, it will take 3 hours to get there from Toulouse. Prices vary depending on the season. However, SNCF usually has weekend deals and you can get a round trip to Collioure for just 2 euros.
What to do in Collioure?
Here is my list of things to do in Collioure, you can use it as a checklist
- Walk alongside Port d’Avall. You’ll see nice bars and restaurants for having lunch
- Swim in the cold mediterranean ocean. At first it feels freezing, but then it is just incredibly refreshing
- Have a picnic in Platja de Collioure. Try to sit far from the trash cans, there are many flies
- Visit Château Royal. We just walked alongside, did not enter.
- Grab a Gelato (preferably speculoos flavour). This is a must for ending the perfect beach day.
The return was not that fun
If you have been traveling in France for a while, you know this country is known for their constant strikes. It turns out there was a strike planned for the day we went to Collioure, which made the return train take 4:30h to get back to Toulouse. So, my best tip would be to check if there are any strikes organized for the day you are planning to travel.
