Located 8 km inland from the Mediterranean coast, Perpignan is a beautiful place close to some of France’s stunning beaches. The southwest of the country attracts millions of tourists every year, and part of the region’s charm is its beaches. Depending on what you are looking for on a beach, they are in differing qualities.

 To Perpignan’s north, the beaches are flat and wide and usually prone to much wind. Therefore, beaches like Le Barcares and Le Franqui are widely known among kite surfers and windsurfers. Some of the well-known beaches near Perpignan, like St Cyprien, Canet, and Argeles Sur Mer, are popular among families.

The most beautiful beaches in Perpignan are on Cote Vermeille, just to the city’s south, where the fantastic scenery of the Pyrenees offers a dramatic backdrop to the beaches. The waters here are also clearer, and in the summertime, they get crowded.

Here Are Some Of The Best Beaches Near Perpignan:

La Franqui

For windsurfers, La Franqui is incredibly popular. It is a wide and large beach; with pristine sand that attracts tourists. Here, there are two beaches- the one further up the coast also bordered by the sea on one side and the one in front of a village. This makes up a long beautiful strip of 2-sided beach. It gets windy here all the time, so you might want to visit for some interesting windsurfing.

Leucate Plage

This is a large beach surrounded by trees and houses at the rear. The Leucate Plage is located between Le Barcares and Port Nouvelle and might be the best of the beaches situated in the north of Perpignan.

Leucate Plage boasts of two beaches; the main beach and a nudist beach located towards the craggy breakwater. Given the strong current of the wind that tends to get across this area of the region, Leucate Plage is a well-known resort for lovers of windsurfing. If you want, you do not need to bring your gears as they can be hired in the town.

Le Barcares

Le Barcares beach ranks high among the best in the area. The beach has a coastal village vibe about it and is a great alternative to the resorts of Port Barcares and Port Leucate. Le Barcares is incredibly wide; therefore, finding a spot will not be difficult. If you are looking to quench your thirst after an active spell in the sun, the beach has plenty of bars, restaurants to dines, and stalls to shop. For lovers of jet skis, they can hire their gears at the port close by, and even mini golf is near. There is never a dull moment here.

Torreilles beach

This beach is perhaps one of the most lively beaches in the area. Its sand dunes are reminiscent of an exotic beach, and it attracts lots of people every year. Like Canet Plage is get crowded too, and it has a view of the Pyrenees in the distance that pauses the sands. You will also find a few bars at the rear of Torreilles beach where you can relax.

Canet Plage

The Canet Plage is a massive expanse of sand with the thrills of a decent beach. It has been said to have fewer activities like few others near Perpignan, but the sand is quite fine. Canet Plage is deep and vast enough for you to get a spot. Partially due to the hip status of holiday apartments and gaudy shops, the beach’s resort gives off a down-at-heel vibe.

Notwithstanding, there are many play areas for children, restaurants, and bars to wind up. In the summer, Canet Plage can be very busy, especially in the afternoon, so you might want to arrive there early.

St Cyprien Plage 

This beach is close to Perpignan and is well-known with vacationers. Both the north and south sections of the beaches are great as they are quiet and have long stretches of sand. St Cyprien beach is also a top-rated one because the view if the Pyrenees to its southern side is impressive.

St Cyprien consists of three beaches, and the sandy north one is the biggest. Having many restaurants and shops, the Central part of the beach is its commercial hub. And similar to all of Perpignan’s beaches, St Cyprien is windy, making it a favorite for kite surfers.

Argeles Sur Mer 

This beach is a wide sweeping bay that faces the warm Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees. It is one of the best and most popular beaches near Perpignan with its cleanliness and great quality of water. With brilliant facilities and a massive harbor area, the beach itself, along with neighboring Canet, is a major Mediterranean beach resort. The town also has some impressive shops and cracking restaurants.

As the only east-facing coastline in the country, Argeles Sur Mer is located on Cote Vermeille’s top end. Therefore, the broad sandy beaches are nicely sun-drenched and are well forged by the Pyrenees’ backdrop. Argeles Sur Mer comprises of three beaches- Arges Plage des Pins and Argeles Plage Nord are sandy, broad beaches with many spaces. Le Racou, the third, is situated to the south and is a tidy small bay with perfectly blue water.

At the end of the 1930s, the Angeles-sur-Mer quickly developed with its population as thousands of refugees fled from the dictatorship rule in Spain. Like the Languedoc-Roussillon coast, the Argeles-sur-Mer has many tourist spots, bars, massive marinas, and restaurants. Over 300,000 vacationers come here every year.

Collioure 

With its three beaches, Collioure ranks incredibly high in the list of the best beach resorts near Perpignan. Even though the beaches are not big and they are often busy, the views of the Pyrenees and gentle sea are magnificent.

In addition, there is the coastal town of Collioure that has been charming vacationers for a long time. The town with its small harbor, popular church and chateau, and the mazy old is the ideal place for a family day out.

Visitors can even combine swimming, sunbathing, a splendid church, and a bit of sightseeing at a swing. Located south of Perpignan, Collioure is close to the Spanish border and a wonderful vacation center.

Lydia Beach

This beautiful beach is named after a ship (Lydia) situated in its sand in the 60s. Thanks to the boat, which also houses a discotheque and a casino, Lydia beach is one of the most popular beaches in Languedoc. Lydia beach extends to both sides of the ship. And since the road is not near, the space is large.

When you visit in the summer (peak season), there is a lifeguard on standby. You might also find many private beaches and mattress rentals and restaurants. For those who are differently-abled, the Lydia beach is handicap accessible.

Beautiful Beaches Near Perpignan – Summary

With some of the best and most beautiful beaches in the area, vacation in southwest France does not get better! From the wide beaches of Le Franqui, the pristine sands of the Torreilles beach to the lively scenes at Canet Plage beaches near Perpignan, a wonder. Do not forget to add any of them to your south of France itinerary.

Do you know any other beautiful beaches near Perpignan? Leave your comments below.