Le Barcarès, Torreilles and Sainte-Marie (north coast)
This is where most of our villas are. Le Barcarès sits on a strip of sand between the sea and the Etang de Salses-Leucate, a lagoon popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The Lydia, an old liner beached on the sand, is the local landmark. Torreilles-Plage and Sainte-Marie-Plage are smaller and calmer. Perpignan airport is around 20 to 25 minutes away.
Best for: Families who want a long sandy beach and a lagoon for watersports
Not for you if: You want an old village atmosphere: Le Barcarès is a purpose-built resort and very quiet out of season.
Saint-Cyprien
Saint-Cyprien has a large marina, a long sandy beach and a flat seafront that is good for bikes. The old village sits a little inland, and the cathedral town of Elne, with its Romanesque cloister, is a few minutes away. Argelès and Collioure are within 20 to 30 minutes. Perpignan airport is about half an hour away.
Best for: Families and couples who want a marina, beach and easy cycling
Not for you if: You want character: the resort is mostly modern apartments and villas built around the port.
Canet-en-Roussillon (Canet-Plage)
Canet-Plage is the main seaside resort for Perpignan, with a promenade, a marina and a long beach that fills up in high summer. The Etang de Canet just south is a nature reserve with fishermen's huts and walking trails. Perpignan's old centre is about 15 minutes inland, and the airport around 20 minutes away.
Best for: Families who want the most shops, restaurants and evening life
Not for you if: You want space on the beach in August: Canet is the busiest resort on this coast.
Argelès-sur-Mer
Argelès has the last long sandy beach before the coast turns rocky. Head south to Le Racou for coves, snorkelling and the start of the coast path towards Collioure. The Albères hills behind the town offer shade and walks, including up to the Tour de la Massane. Montesquieu-des-Albères is a quieter inland option. Perpignan airport is around 35 minutes away.
Best for: Families who want sand at one end and rocky coves at the other
Not for you if: You dislike crowds: Argelès-Plage is packed with campsites and holidaymakers in August.
Collioure and Banyuls-sur-Mer (Côte Vermeille)
Collioure's harbour, castle and church tower drew Matisse and Derain in 1905, and painters have followed since. Banyuls is a wine town by a marine reserve, with a marked underwater snorkel trail at Peyrefite. Terraced vineyards climb the hills behind. Choice is limited here. A coastal train links the towns to Perpignan, and the airport is around 40 to 45 minutes away.
Best for: Couples who want harbour towns, vineyards and snorkelling
Not for you if: You need a sandy beach or easy parking: beaches are small and pebbly, and parking in Collioure is hard in summer.
Font-Romeu and Bolquère (Cerdagne mountains)
Font-Romeu and neighbouring Bolquère share the Pyrénées 2000 ski area on a high, sunny plateau. In winter this is apartment and chalet country with family-friendly skiing; in summer it becomes a base for walking, lakes and mountain biking. The Train Jaune, a narrow-gauge line, climbs through the valley. Perpignan airport is around one and three quarter hours to two hours away.
Best for: Skiers in winter and walkers in summer who want cooler air
Not for you if: You want the beach: the coast is around two hours' drive away on mountain roads.
The inland villages (Vernet-les-Bains, Caixas, Llauro, Fourques)
Vernet-les-Bains is a small spa town at the foot of the Canigou, with Saint-Martin-du-Canigou abbey reached on foot above it and the walled town of Villefranche-de-Conflent nearby. Caixas, Llauro and Fourques sit in the Aspres hills, among cork oak and vineyards, near Serrabonne priory. There are only a few houses. Perpignan airport is around 45 minutes to an hour away.
Best for: Couples and walkers who want quiet countryside and the Canigou
Not for you if: You want shops nearby or cooling sea breezes: inland valleys get very hot in July and August.
