Making the most of Port Vendres
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The Cruise Port of Port Vendres is situated close to the Spanish border, giving a temperate Mediterranean weather. The cruise wharf is situated in the main harbor. City center is about 1.5 km. Most cruise ships will be at anchor and will use tenders to bring you ashore to the center of town.
Map to take along.
A typical Mediterranean fishing port, situated near the Spanish border on the cote Vermeille in south west France, Port-Vendres is renowned for its numerous fish and sea food restaurants. You can watch the fishing boats arriving with their daily catch. It is also a major marina in the region.
Port-Vendres is one of the few deep-water ports in this part of the French Mediterranean coast. It takes freighters and cruise ships, as well as large and small fishing boats.
Getting around
If you wish to see the town with an aid of a tour guide, the tourism of Port Vendres provides this kind of tour throughout the summer.
There is a little tourist train that takes tourists to Collioure and around the hilltop vineyards. The train stop is less than 100 yards from the gangway.
Nearby places
Port-Vendres provides the opportunity to visit some of the prettiest areas of France. It serves as a convenient starting point for trips to Perpignan, Roussillon's historic capital; Collioure, a picturesque harbor filled with brightly colored fishing boats; Banyuls, famous for its sweet wine and as the birthplace of sculptor Aristide Maillol; and the medieval town of Carcassonne.
Food and shopping
There is an indoor fish market, with some food stalls to sample the fresh catch.
Money
Euro
Staying connected
Local emergency number: 112
Opening Hours and
Most shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks in France stay open all day. The exceptions are the smaller shops and enterprises, which may close for lunch sometime between 12.30pm and 2pm. Basic hours of business are from 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday for the big shops and Tuesday to Saturday for smaller shops (some of the smaller shops may open on Monday afternoon). You can always find boulangeries and food shops that do stay open, however, on days when others close – on Sunday normally until noon.