Private beaches Le Barcarès

Nestled on the Catalan coast, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Salses-Leucate lagoon, the seaside resort of Le Barcarès offers a delightful blend of authenticity and modernity. Its 8 km of sun-drenched sandy beaches invite relaxation, while its picturesque fishing port and lively markets give it a typically Mediterranean charm. Whether you seek relaxation on a paradisiacal beach, festive evenings with your feet in the sand, or exhilarating water activities, Le Barcarès will fulfill all your desires under the azure sky of southern France.

Discover the best private beaches of Le Barcarès

Let’s start by discovering together the top private beaches at Le Barcarès.

Ginette Plage

Ginette Plage is undoubtedly one of the most popular private beaches in Le Barcarès. Located by the Mediterranean, this spot combines a friendly restaurant and a lounge area on the sand. During the day, relax on its plush mattresses under parasols, with the gentle sound of waves in the background. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes festive: sip cocktails at sunset in a laid-back musical ambiance. Mediterranean cuisine with southwestern accents, attentive service, Ginette Plage offers a high-end experience with your feet in the water, perfect for enjoying an unforgettable sunset over the sea.

Other iconic beaches of Le Barcarès

• DTC Beach: Located at the foot of the famous Lydia shipwreck, this beach club features a unique setting. By day, enjoy the sun on sunbeds with a view of the mythical wreck; by night, the atmosphere heats up with lively parties and DJ sets facing the sea.
• La Perla Plage: With its bohemian chic decor, this beach hut is a hidden paradise in the dunes. Enjoy exotic cocktails and tapas with your feet in the sand, all in a lounge ambiance conducive to relaxation.
• Le Cactus Club: As its name suggests, this beach club boasts tropical and original decor, punctuated by palm trees and cacti. The atmosphere is friendly during the day for sunbathing in tranquility and festive in the evening with themed parties and a creative cocktail menu.
• K Beach: A private beach with a young and dynamic style, K Beach offers a sporty and relaxed atmosphere. Between sunbathing on its sunbeds, you can try paddleboarding or beach volleyball. Ideal for groups of friends looking for fun by the sea.

So, ready to book your sunbed on one of Le Barcarès’ private beaches? It’s simple, choose your favorite private beach on MySunbed and make your reservation in just a few clicks!

Discover the best private beaches near Le Barcarès

The surroundings of Le Barcarès are also full of exceptional private beaches to discover, perfect for complementing your seaside stay.

Nomad Beach Club in Torreilles

Nomad is a beach club located on the wild coast of Torreilles, just minutes north of Le Barcarès. In a preserved natural setting nestled in the dunes, this bohemian-style beach club offers an escapist experience. Its Berber-inspired decor and world cuisine with Mediterranean flavors make it a unique address. Lying on a sunbed or a bed facing the sea, you can let yourself be lulled by the gentle sound of waves. Refreshing cocktails, lounge music in the background, and blazing sunsets make Nomad an ideal place to “chill” in a paradisiacal setting.

Côté Plage in Canet-en-Roussillon

Head to Canet-en-Roussillon, a neighboring resort south of Le Barcarès, to discover Côté Plage, one of the most renowned beach clubs on the Catalan coast. Spanning a vast sandy beach, this beach club offers a 1500 m² space dedicated to relaxation and gastronomy. During the day, enjoy renting sunbeds with parasols to lounge facing the sea. The open-air restaurant offers refined Mediterranean cuisine (fresh fish, tapas, grill) and even an original tabletop barbecue concept. In the late afternoon, the atmosphere becomes more festive thanks to DJ sets and lounge parties by the water. Chic setting, attentive service, and lively sunsets make Côté Plage a must in the area.

What to do in Le Barcarès?

Le Barcarès is not only about its beaches: the town offers a multitude of activities to enhance your stay.

Learn gliding sports on the Leucate lagoon

Renowned for its Tramontane wind, Le Barcarès is a must-visit spot for water sports enthusiasts. Just a few steps from the center, the Leucate lagoon offers ideal conditions for trying kitesurfing, windsurfing, or paddleboarding. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, you can glide on the clear water of the lagoon while enjoying an exceptional panorama between sea and mountains. Kite and sailing schools offer lessons and equipment rental to experience thrilling sensations safely. Adrenaline and gliding pleasures guaranteed!

Stroll along the Allée des Arts

The famous Allée des Arts is an open-air museum along the seaside at Le Barcarès. By walking this coastal promenade, you’ll discover a unique collection of contemporary sculptures and artistic installations scattered along the beach. Between swims, embark on an unusual walk where art and the sea meet: monumental works, futuristic or poetic statues mark the route. At sunset, the artworks take on an even more magical dimension, offering a visual spectacle blending sky colors and artistic silhouettes. A free cultural experience not to be missed for art and photography enthusiasts.

Discover the Fishermen’s Village

Dive into local history by visiting the charming Fishermen’s Village of Le Barcarès. This authentic site recreates an old fishing hamlet with its traditional wooden and reed huts. By strolling between these thatched-roof shelters, you’ll relive the atmosphere of a past Barcarès, when fishing was the heart of the village. Regularly, animations and themed evenings are held here in summer, reviving Catalan traditions in this timeless setting. At dusk, the place lights up with a magical ambiance: the huts reflect in the nearby lagoon, offering a picturesque and romantic spectacle.

Need more ideas for activities in Le Barcarès?

These websites will allow you to discover even more activities and places to see in Le Barcarès:

• - Le Barcarès Tourist Office: the official city website, to learn all about activities, events, and tips from the resort.
• - Itinéraire Voyages – Le Barcarès: a blog article offering the top 10 must-dos and sees in Le Barcarès.

Iconic places of Le Barcarès

It’s impossible to stay in Le Barcarès without discovering its iconic places, true symbols of the seaside resort.

The Lydia

A true emblem of Le Barcarès, the Lydia – nicknamed the “Sand Liner” – is a former cruise ship stranded on the beach since 1967. This majestic white liner, planted in the sand facing the sea, offers an unusual and iconic setting. Once a floating casino then a trendy nightclub, it now occasionally hosts exhibitions and cultural events. Even seen from the outside, this sea giant offers a unique experience: you can stroll around its hull and imagine the glorious times it has witnessed. The Lydia is the must-see photo spot in Le Barcarès, especially at sunset when its silhouette stands out against the orange sky.

The natural site of Les Dosses

Away from the hustle and bustle of the seafront, the natural site of Les Dosses is a haven of peace for nature lovers. Located on the edge of the Salses-Leucate lagoon, this protected area reveals great ecological richness. An interpretation trail of about 2 km allows you to explore this preserved lagoon environment, between reed beds, marshes, and small dunes. Throughout the walk, panels explain the local fauna and flora: you may spot migratory birds, flamingos, or coypus. The route also offers superb views of the Corbières and the Canigou massif in the distance. Whether on foot or by mountain bike, an escape to Les Dosses guarantees a breath of fresh air and wild landscapes just a stone's throw from the city center.

The best municipal beaches of Le Barcarès

If you prefer to lay your towel on the sand of a public beach, Le Barcarès has several exceptional municipal beaches, all free and well-equipped.

La Grande Plage

As its name suggests, the Grande Plage is the largest stretch of sand in Le Barcarès. Stretching over several kilometers along Avenue du Lido, this central beach delights families and swimming enthusiasts. Its blond and fine sand, gently sloping waters ideal for children, and lifeguarded beach in summer make it a safe and friendly place. Bordered by the coastal promenade, Grande Plage has showers, lifeguard stations, and beach huts/snacks nearby. You can rent umbrellas and sun loungers in high season or simply lay out your towel to enjoy the Mediterranean sun. Romantic sunset, sandcastles with family, or beach volleyball with friends, Grande Plage invites all seaside pleasures.

Lydia Beach

Right next to the iconic ship, Lydia Beach offers an exceptional setting combining the pleasures of the sea and unusual heritage. This fine sand beach is dominated by the silhouette of the Lydia liner, giving it a unique charm. By settling here, you’ll enjoy not only a refreshing swim in clear waters but also a breathtaking view of the stranded white ship. Lydia Beach is as well-equipped as Grande Plage (showers, lifeguard station) and is very popular for sunbathing sessions with a touch of history. After your swim, you can indeed take a few steps to admire this sand giant up close and learn more about its history.

Argonautes Beach

At the northern end of Le Barcarès lies Argonautes Beach, marking the border with the beaches of Leucate (Aude). Less crowded than the central beaches, it charms with its wilder and more peaceful side. Its wide ribbon of golden sand stretches facing a blue azure sea, offering plenty of space for everyone, even in the height of summer. Here, no buildings or roads nearby: only the dunes and the sea on the horizon. Argonautes Beach is ideal for those seeking calm and authenticity – you can walk in peace, practice beach yoga at sunrise, or picnic while admiring the distant Corbières coasts. A lifeguard station is present in season, testifying to the quality of hospitality of this preserved beach.

How to get around in Le Barcarès

Whether to reach Le Barcarès or to get around once there, various means of transport are available for a serene stay.

By plane

The nearest airport to Le Barcarès is Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport (PGF), located about 20 km (or 20-25 minutes by road). In high season, flights connect Perpignan to Paris and a few major European cities. From the airport, you can rent a car or take a shuttle/bus to the resort (direct summer line to Le Barcarès). Other more distant airports can also be considered, notably those of Béziers, Montpellier, or Girona (Spain), located about 1h00-1h30 away by road, or Barcelona at about 2h. They offer a wider choice of international flights if needed, to combine with an arrival by car or train to Le Barcarès.

By train

Le Barcarès does not have its own SNCF station, the nearest is Perpignan. TGV and intercity trains serve Perpignan (20 km away) from Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Barcelona, etc. Once you arrive at Perpignan station, several options are available: regional buses connect to Le Barcarès (line 13 “Leucate–Perpignan”, with stops at Le Barcarès, especially in summer), taking about 30 minutes. Otherwise, taxis and VTC services are available in front of the station for a direct transfer to your place of stay. Tip: in July-August, a special coastal shuttle is often set up on weekends to connect Perpignan to the main seaside resorts of the coast, including Barcarès.

By car

The car is a convenient way to get to Le Barcarès, especially if you are traveling with family or with a lot of luggage. From the A9 motorway (La Catalane), take exit n°40 “Leucate” if coming from the north, or exit n°41 “Perpignan Nord” if coming from the south, then follow the D83 towards “Le Barcarès”. The station is well signposted and easily accessible. On site, traffic is smooth off-season and a bit denser in summer during peak hours but remains reasonable. Many free parking lots are located near the beaches, the port, and the village, making it easy to park and enjoy each site. Having a car will also allow you to explore the surroundings (Côte Vermeille, Catalan hinterland) in complete freedom.

Getting around on-site

Once in Le Barcarès, you’ll discover a human-sized resort where it’s easy to get around without a car. On foot, you’ll easily reach the beaches, the port, the markets, and shopping areas from most accommodations while enjoying the summer atmosphere. Biking is also an excellent way to get around: a cycle path runs along the seaside and connects the different districts (Village, Port, Lido) offering superb views. Classic or electric bike rentals are available in the city center. In July-August, a free tourist train runs through Le Barcarès throughout the day, connecting the main parking lots, beaches, and attractions (handy for getting around with family without fatigue). Free shuttles may also be set up in the evening during major events (concerts, night markets) to facilitate travel. In summary, whether on foot, by bike, or thanks to summer transport, it’s very easy to enjoy every corner of Le Barcarès in complete tranquility.