Getting Around Perpignan

Perpignan, France

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Getting Around Perpignan

Perpignan is a compact southern French city at the foot of the Pyrenees, a short way inland from the Mediterranean and the last major French city before the Spanish border. For a visitor, that compactness is the key to getting around: much of the centre is pedestrianised, and the main arrival points — the railway station and the central bus station — sit right beside each other on the western edge of the old town.

On Foot

Walking is the simplest and often the best way to see Perpignan. The town centre is compact and much of it is pedestrianised, so you can move between the historic core, the shopping streets and the riverbanks on foot without needing any transport at all. The old centre preserves an extensive network of picturesque streets and alleys stretching between the banks of the Têt and its tributary, the Basse, and these are best explored slowly.

One practical caution: driving in the centre is best avoided. Especially in summer, the streets are congested and central car parks fill up. If you are arriving by car, plan to leave it and walk.

Trains and the Railway Station

Perpignan's railway station, the Gare de Perpignan, is the city's main rail hub and a landmark in its own right — Salvador Dalí proclaimed it the "Cosmic Centre of the Universe" after a vision there, and the station is decorated with paintings in his style. It sits at 1 Place Salvador Dali.

From the station you can reach a wide range of destinations. High-speed TGV services run from Paris, Lyon and Marseille via Narbonne, and continue south toward Girona, Barcelona and Madrid. Trains also connect Perpignan with Toulouse, Nîmes and Montpellier via Narbonne. Regional trains run regularly toward Cerbère and Portbou — the old cross-border route into Spain, immortalised in a Dalí painting, and still a viable way to travel that way.

Useful practical details for rail travellers: the station has car hire and a small shopping mall called "Centre del Món." If you need to leave bags, luggage can be stored temporarily at the Hotel PB at the east entrance of the station for a small per-piece fee.

Note that Perpignan's public transport is built around buses rather than a metro or tram network — there is no metro or tram system to plan around. Rail is for reaching the city and the wider region, not for moving around within it.

Buses and Public Transport

Local buses are operated by Sankeo. The Sankeo website is the place to start: it provides a route planner, timetables and maps, and the network extends beyond the city to nearby towns. This makes Sankeo the practical tool for any trip that is too far to walk.

For longer-distance and intercity travel, the central bus station is on the west side of the railway station, so bus and rail connections are made in the same spot. Flixbus runs daily direct services from Paris (continuing to Barcelona), and other services from Paris involve a change in Lyon. Blablabus ride-shares are often the most convenient way to reach Girona, Barcelona and cities in southern France. Local buses also run to nearby destinations including Argelès-sur-Mer, Thuir, Ille-sur-Têt, Le Boulou and Quillan.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Taxis wait at both the airport and the railway station, which makes them a straightforward option when you arrive with luggage or at an awkward hour. Firms based in town include Accueil Perpignan and Alternative Taxi. Ride-sharing services such as Blablabus are also worth checking for longer intercity journeys, particularly toward Spain and other cities in southern France.

Arriving by Air

The nearest airport is Perpignan–Rivesaltes Airport, on Avenue Maurice Bellonte. It is small, with daily flights by Transavia from Paris Orly and by Ryanair from the UK and Morocco. To get into town from the airport, Bus 6 runs roughly every half hour from Monday to Saturday; outside those times, a taxi is the alternative. Taxis wait at the airport.

Because Perpignan's own airport serves only limited European destinations, many visitors fly into a larger airport and continue overland. Several airports are within about an hour's drive: Girona-Costa Brava, Carcassonne and Béziers. Further afield, and offering more international flights, are Toulouse-Blagnac and Barcelona El Prat. All of these are reached by motorway — the A9 corridor along the coast, linking onward to the Spanish AP-7 toward Barcelona and Girona, or the A61 toward Toulouse.

Arriving by Road

If you are driving, the A9 motorway (La Catalane, tolled) follows the coast and connects Perpignan with Barcelona and Montpellier. From the north it can be joined off the A7 near Orange, passing Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers and Narbonne. From Bordeaux and Toulouse, follow the A62/A61 to Narbonne to join the A9. From Spain, follow the AP-7 past Barcelona and Girona.

The toll-free D900 is the old north–south road replaced by the A9; it runs through Perpignan city centre and is often congested. The D117 follows the north edge of the Pyrenees and is an alternative approach from the west, while the N20/D66 is the route from Andorra.

Once in the city, expect parking to be paid and in demand. Options include the open-air Parking Square François Arago; the underground Q-Park Perpignan République on Place de la République; and the open-air Parking François Palmarole and Parking Poncet, both of which are free on Saturdays. Given summer congestion and full central car parks, it is usually easier to park and continue on foot.

Practical Summary

Sources

  1. Perpignan
  2. Wikivoyage: Perpignan

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