The most beautiful coves and beaches on the Catalan coast

It stretches for about fifty kilometers but offers a rare variety of landscape.

The Catalan coast occupies a special place in the Mediterranean landscape.

It is sometimes made up of immense sandy beaches, sometimes steep, chaotic, dotted with creeks that the Pyrenees have shaped by falling into the big blue.

From north to south, from Roussillon to the border with Spain, this is a refreshing and bewitching journey.

To discover

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Le Barcarès, in the shadow of the Lydia

Lydia Beach in Port-Barcarès owes its name to the sandy liner that sits on this beach.

City of Barcares

In the fine sand category, one could opt for the endless Argelès-sur-Mer beach, bordered to the north by the Mas Larrieu Nature Reserve and to the south by the first slopes of the Albères.

But, for its picturesque side, the prize will ultimately go to that of the Lydia.

Located in the town of Barcarès, it owes its name to a famous liner that has been stuck in the sand since 1967. After sailing in southern waters, the cruise ship was decommissioned.

It housed in turn a casino, a nightclub before serving, today, as a place of exhibition and astonishing decor for holidaymakers.

Go :

From the Rivesaltes exit, on the A9, take the D83 towards Barcarès.

Lydia Beach is located north of the village, on the road to Port-Leucate.

Le Racou, gateway to the Côte Vermeille

Racou beach.

Laurent Lacombe / Argelès-sur-Mer Tourist Office

Heading south, Le Racou is the last real sandy beach.

At its southern end stand the first rocks of the Côte Vermeille where children and divers like to venture.

In this hamlet of the commune of Argelès-sur-Mer, there floats like a feeling of freedom.

In the evening, the beach comes alive with impromptu aperitifs while the little houses built in the sandy streets planted with roses and bougainvillea light up.

Go :

From Argelès-sur-Mer, follow the D114, then the D81.

Prefer the car park located on the left at the entrance to Le Racou.

Bus line 540 serves Le Racou.

Saint-Vincent, the most urban

Saint Vincent beach.

Tourist Office of Collioure

With its breathtaking view of the bay of Collioure, it fully deserves the Oscar for the most chic and urban beach.

Saint-Vincent Beach (or Sant Vicenç, in Catalan) bears the name of the 4th-century martyr whose relics can be found in the Fauvist city.

To find it, just pass the Notre-Dame-des-Anges church and around a bend, it appears, small but charming, nestled against the dyke that protects Collioure from storms.

Go :

The easiest way is to take the TER.

The train station is 500 meters from the beach.

Otherwise, in summer, the car parks are often crowded.

Sainte-Catherine, the wildest

From Cap Béar, Sainte-Catherine cove.

Adobe Stock

From Cap Béar, at the foot of the lighthouse, the coastal path, marked in yellow, literally plunges into the big blue.

After about ten minutes of walking in the middle of the cacti, it leads to a very small creek.

In the middle of summer, places are rare, but the turquoise water that bathes the cove of Sainte-Catherine is well worth an early start.

Go :

From Port-Vendres, climb to Cap Béar by the road that passes behind the commercial port then in front of the campsite.

Park at the foot of the lighthouse.

The delights of Paulilles

Paulilles cove and its wild beach.

Christine Chabanette / CRT Occitanie

From Sainte-Catherine, the coastal path continues its journey between coves and cliffs, until you reach the cove of Paulilles after an hour's walk.

The latter has long been occupied by a dynamite factory.

Today, it is home to a heavenly beach, particularly appreciated by Catalans.

All around, a remarkable botanical park has been laid out.

Thanks to its huge pines, the site has shaded areas.

At Sole Mio, on the small beach of Bernardi, you can also taste the local catch with your feet in the water.

Go :

Bus line 540 serves the cove of Paulilles.

Otherwise, by car from Port-Vendres, take the D914.

From the car park, count about fifteen minutes on foot.

The discreet Banyuls

Banyuls, Sana beach.

Laurent Lacombe

Banyuls-sur-Mer has three beaches.

Perfectly matching the shapes of the bay, the center one, covered with pebbles, is lined with café terraces that exude a scent of dolce vita.

At the entrance to the city, just behind the old helio-marine center, hides a small, discreet beach, much less frequented, which is called here Grandes Elmes or Sana beach.

A word of advice, settle down early in the morning to admire the landscape under a grazing light.

Go :

On the 540 bus line, get off at the Les Elmes stop.

By car, on the D 914, turn right just before Elmes beach and park in the parking lot on the left.

Peyrefitte, the submarine

Peyrefitte Creek is located in the heart of the Banyuls-Cerbère Marine Nature Reserve.

Laurent Lacombe

This trip from beaches to coves ends in Peyrefitte, a stone's throw from Cerbère and the border – by the way, the southern part of the Catalan coast still holds a multitude of treasures.

Nestled in the hollow of the eponymous cape, the cove of Peyrefitte is located in the heart of the Marine Nature Reserve of Banyuls-Cerbère.

It is worth as much for the tranquility of its pebble beach as for the beauty of its seabed.

A 250-metre long underwater trail has been laid out to discover, equipped with a mask and a snorkel, the ecosystems of the Vermeille coast.

Go :

From Banyuls, follow the D914 towards Cerbère.

On the 540 bus line, get off at the Cap de Peyrefitte stop.