Things to Do in Perpignan

A red-brick Gothic gate tower turned museum of Catalan folk art and history. Free entry to the ground-floor space with exhibits; the tower climb costs around €3.

🕐 10:00–18:30; closed Mondays

💡 If you don't mind stairs, the tower climb pays off with a panorama of the old town and the river. The museum bit is small but packed with local craft.

A lively covered market hall in the main square, selling fresh produce, cured meats, and olives. Free to browse, and sampling is tolerated if you buy something.

🕐 07:00–13:30, closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays

💡 Arrive before 11am for the best selection, and try a tapas plate of local anchoïade from one of the stalls — costs about €3 and is a proper snack.

A striking Catalan Gothic cathedral with a wide, uncluttered nave and a fine 18th-century organ. Free to enter and wander.

🕐 08:30–12:00 and 15:00–18:30 daily

💡 Look for the small adjacent cloister — it's often missed by tourists and gives a quiet spot with good light for photos.

A long, shaded tree-lined walk along the river Basse, with benches, a small fountain, and locals playing pétanque in the afternoons. Completely free.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Best in late afternoon when the light filters through the plane trees and the pétanque games get competitive. Grab a coffee from a nearby kiosk.

A 13th-century fortress-palace with grand courtyards and views over the city and Pyrenees. Entry is cheap — about €5 — and the main ground-floor courtyard is free to walk through.

🕐 09:30–17:30 (winter) / 10:00–18:00 (summer); closed Mondays

💡 Go on the first Sunday of the month (from November to March) when entry is free for everyone.