Overview
Bathed in warm Mediterranean sunshine and with the Pyrenees’ peaks providing a dramatic backdrop, the Spanish and French Catalan coast invites exploration on foot. This route takes you into one of the loveliest coastal areas of the Catalan Pyrenees on both sides of the French/Spanish border.
Unsurprisingly, the coast (in French the Côte Vermeille, in Spanish the Costa Brava) and its fishing villages have long attracted many artists, among them Dalí, Picasso and Matisse, who were drawn by the bright Mediterranean light. By walking from Cadaqués to Collioure along the coast, you will discover for yourself the lure and enchantment of this beautiful region.
- Cadaqués
- Cap de Creus national park
- Banyules Sur Mer
- Vermillion Coast
- Collioure
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cadaqués
Arrive at Girona Airport or Figueres Vilafant train station (if landing in Barcelona), from where you will be transferred to your accommodation in Cadaqués.
Cadaqués is a beautiful whitewashed coastal town surrounded by mountains and was a favourite of both Picasso and Salvador Dalí. It is a great place for eating out; it has a great selection of restaurants ranging from small Mediterranean family-run restaurants to fresh fish restaurants, pizza cafes and tapas bars. We recommend trying the seafood during your stay in Cadaqués, it’s always fresh and delicious when washed down with a bottle of chilled Catalan white wine.
- Accommodation: Hotel Octavia or similar in Cadaqués
- Optional upgrade: Hotel Llanes Petit or similar in Cadaqués
Day 2: Cap de Creus loop | 20km
Today you embark on a beautiful walk out to the Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain with spectacular coastal views; the rock outcrops are one of the most significant features of the Parc Natural, with their complex and beautiful shapes. You could also eat lunch at the wonderful restaurant on the peninsula.
- Walking for the day: 20km, 6-7h
- Accommodation: Hotel Octavia or similar in Cadaqués
- Optional upgrade: Hotel Llanes Petit or similar in Cadaqués
Day 3: Cadaqués – El Port de la Selva | 13km
Leaving Cadaqués behind, you make your way north through the heart of the famous Cap de Creus national park. You will follow a rural trail with beautiful views of the Catalan countryside, you’ll have some magnificent views of the Pyrenees and the French/Spanish border before arriving in El Port de la Selva.
El Port de la Selva is outstanding for its varied landscapes, its beaches and its mountains. The village retains the charm of a small fishing settlement, and there are many places to visit, including the Taballera Dolmen and the Serra de Rodes medieval site, made up of Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Sant Salvado Castle (13th century), Santa Elena Shrine, the village of Santa Creu and Sant Fruitós Church. The village offers some of Catalonia’s best beaches.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4-5h
- Accommodation: Porto Cristo or similar in El Port de la Selva
Day 4: El Port de la Selva – Llançà | 19km
Leaving El Port de la Selva behind you, walk northwest, ascending to the Sant Pere de Rodes cloister, considered one of the most important monasteries in Spain. Make your way up to the ruins of the Castle of Sant Salvador, from here, you will have a breathtaking view of the Alt Emporda, across to the Albera Mountains and far into the Pyrenees. You also have stunning views of the Bay of Roses and the entire Cap de Creus. You will then go down to the seaside town of Llançà.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 6h
- Accommodation: Hotel Grifeu or similar in Llançà
Day 5: Llançà – Banyules Sur Mer | 15km
Today you take the train from Llançà to Portbou, then continue walking north and will enjoy wonderful views over the Pyrenees, the famous Canigou peak, the Cap de Creu and the Mediterranean Sea as you ascend into the beautiful Catalan hills. You cross the border into France and walk to the seaside town of Banyules Sur Mer.
Nestled in the heart of the Côte Vermeille (Vermillion Coast), Banyuls is a preserved jewel that combines the authentic character of a town steeped in traditions with the dynamism of a modern city. Originally a fishing village that turned to wine-making and developed essentially with tourism, Banyuls owes its world reputation to its exceptional wines and its spectacular vineyards that plunge down to the sea.
*March 2026 update: due to the heavy rains during winter, part of the trail has been affected. As an alternative, the walk will start directly from Llançà and end in Portbou, where you take the train to Banyuls sur Mer.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h
- Accommodation: Le Catalan or similar in in Banyules Sur Mer
Day 6: Banyules Sur Mer – Collioure | 17km
Heading north, you follow quiet lanes and cliff-top paths around the rugged Cap Béar headland, the views are truly spectacular. There are a couple of spots where you can pause for a swim before winding your way through the vineyards that produce the region’s wines and finally reaching the end of your journey, the beautiful French coastal town of Collioure.
Of the four little salmon-pink towns along the Vermillion Coast, Collioure is the indisputable star, a picturesque ensemble of an old town, beaches, waterfront castle and church, all set around a beautiful bay. The resort had attracted artists since the early 1900s when Matisse and Derain started painting here. With several sandy and pebble beaches, creeks and clear waters, you have a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a swim.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 6h
- Accommodation: Hotel Madeloc or similar in Collioure
Day 7: Departure
Return home or individual stay extension.
What to expect
Accommodation
On this walking holiday, you will be staying in 3-star hotels. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Octavia (Cadaqués)
- Porto Cristo (El Port de la Selva)
- Grifeu (Llançà)
- Le Catalan (Banyules Sur Mer)
- Hotel Madeloc (Collioure)
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. When no restaurant location is available on route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or restaurants in the village near your hotel.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for experienced walkers (no high mountain experience required) and requires a good level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain.
We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from mid-February till early July and from early September to the beginning of November.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date within the season. We do not offer this trip after the second week of July and in August as it is too hot for walking, the hotels become too expensive, and they are usually fully booked by the beach crowd. On the coast, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild and relatively rainy winters and hot and sunny summers, in which the air is humid but tempered by the breeze.
To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blogs, Best time to go to Catalonia, Best time to go to Spain and Best time to go to France.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on Spain and France.
Click to view travel options
- The private transfer from Girona airport to your first accommodation (included) takes approximately 1h 30min.
- If you fly to Barcelona, you need to take the shuttle train to Barcelona Sants from the airport; they leave every 30min and take approx. 20min. You then change trains at Sants and take a train to Figueres Vilafant (53min) or Figueres (approx 2h) depending on the train you take. There are also convenient bus connections (including direct lines from Girona or Barcelona operated by Sarfa). The private transfer from Figueres Vilafant (included) to your first accommodation takes approximately 30 minutes.
- See up-to-date train schedules here and bus schedules here.
- You can also consider Perpignan Airport (PGF) for your departure. There are trains every hour from Collioure to Perpignan (26mins). There are several trains a day from Collioure to Girona and Barcelona (2 to 3h 30min depending on what train you take). See train times here: SNCF or use the Omio planner above.
- An alternative to air travel is by rail – Cadaqués is 10.5h from London.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast included
- One evening meal (Day 5)
- Private transfer from Girona Airport or Figueres Vilafant train station (if travelling from Barcelona) to the first hotel on Day 1
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days
- For 2026: holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps (digital copy and one printed copy per party only)
- From 2027: detailed digital travel documents, access to navigation app
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and departure transfer
- Lunches and dinners (apart from the evening meal on Day 5), drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- Optional upgrade to a hotel with outdoor pool in Cadaqués – sea-view room with balcony (2 nights) – Hotel Llanes Petit or similar
- Optional upgrade in Collioure – Hotel La Casa Pairal**** or similar
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
