Biarritz
The French Basque seaside resort beloved by Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie and the birthplace of European surfing, with dramatic sea views of the Rocher de la Vierge and the lighthouse, and Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz close at hand.
Biarritz lies on the Basque coast in France's southwestern corner, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, about 30 km from the Spanish border. In the mid-19th century Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie built a palace here, turning a small fishing village into a seaside resort for Europe's royalty and aristocracy. In 1957 surfing arrived in Europe here, and the town remains a top surf spot today. Jun–Sep is beach and surf season, with Jul–Aug the busiest and most expensive; in Sep–Oct the water is still warm, the waves are good and crowds thin out, making it the best time to visit; winters are mild and rainy, often with huge storm swells. Areas to explore: in Biarritz itself, a coastal walk links the lighthouse, the Grande Plage, the Port des Pêcheurs, the Rocher de la Vierge and the Côte des Basques beach; to the north are Bayonne's old town and the beaches of Anglet; heading south along the coast are Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, the Corniche Basque coastal road and Hendaye; inland, the Basque villages of Espelette, Ainhoa and Sare, along with the little train up La Rhune, make a great day trip by car. San Sebastián in Spain is only about 45 minutes' drive away (covered as a separate destination). Getting there: Biarritz Airport has flights from Paris, and the TGV from Paris takes about 4 hours; Txik Txak buses and TER trains serve the town and surrounding area, though a car is more convenient for inland villages. Plan on 3–4 days.
Top sights
- Rocher de la Vierge – The emblem of Biarritz: a rocky islet in the sea topped by a white statue of the Virgin Mary, linked to the shore by an iron footbridge des…
- Grande Plage de Biarritz – A half-moon beach in the heart of town, backed by the casino and the Hôtel du Palais. It is the main stage for surfing, sunbathing and suns…
- Saint-Jean-de-Luz – A seaside harbor town where Louis XIV held his wedding. It has a calm bay beach, a colorful fishing port and old Basque-style streets, abou…
- Biarritz Lighthouse – A white lighthouse 73 metres tall on Pointe Saint-Martin, where you can climb 248 steps for views over the Biarritz coast and the distant P…
- Cité de l'Océan – An ocean and surfing science museum designed by Steven Holl, with a wave-shaped plaza and interactive exhibits explaining the sea.
- Aquarium de Biarritz – An aquarium in an Art Deco-style building beside the Rocher de la Vierge, showing marine life from the Bay of Biscay to the Caribbean, with…
- Hôtel du Palais – A seaside palace built by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie, now one of France's most famous luxury hotels. You can admire it from outside o…
- Port des Pêcheurs – A small fishing harbour below the cliffs, where brightly coloured boats and fishermen's huts carved into the base of the cliffs have become…
- Plage de la Côte des Basques – The birthplace of surfing in Europe, where an American screenwriter first surfed in 1957. Its long, gentle waves suit beginners, and the cl…
- Russian Orthodox Church of Biarritz – An Orthodox church built in 1892 for Russian aristocrats holidaying in the area. Its blue onion domes stand out vividly against the seafron…
- Chapelle Impériale – A small chapel commissioned by Empress Eugénie in 1864, blending Roman, Byzantine and Spanish Moorish styles, with lavish interiors.
- Les Halles de Biarritz – An indoor food market in the city centre selling Bayonne ham, sheep's cheese and seafood, with small bistros nearby serving Basque snacks d…
- Bayonne Old Town & Cathedral – Half-timbered houses with coloured shutters along the Nive River and a Gothic cathedral. Known as the chocolate capital of France and the h…
- Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Bayonne – France's leading museum of Basque culture, showing farming, seafaring, pelota, dance and festivals, which helps visitors understand the Bas…
- Anglet Beaches – Chambre d'Amour – Eleven connected beaches stretching about 4.5 km north of Biarritz, with steady surf that young surfers and locals often prefer.
- Ciboure – A Basque fishing town across the river from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with red and white timber houses lining the harbour. It is the birthplace of…
- La Rhune Rack Railway – The wooden cog railway, dating from 1924, climbs 35 minutes to the 905-metre summit of La Rhune, with views of the Atlantic and the Pyrenee…
- Espelette – A Basque hill village famous for its red peppers. Its white houses with red shutters are hung with strings of drying chillies, making it th…
- Ainhoa – One of the most beautiful villages in France, with 17th-century Basque timber-framed houses in white along a single main street, close to t…
- Grottes de Sare – Caves in the Basque legends, where guided tours use light and sound to tell the story of prehistoric people and Basque myths. An outdoor pr…
- Château d'Abbadia – A neo-Gothic castle and observatory built by the explorer Antoine d'Abbadie on a cliff at Hendaye. Its interior is filled with Ethiopian mo…
- Corniche Basque – The clifftop coast road between Socoa and Hendaye, where flysch rock layers slant into the sea like pages of a book. It is the most spectac…
- Villa Arnaga – The villa of Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac. It is a Basque-style mansion with French and English gardens.
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – A walled town at the start of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, with rose-coloured sandstone gates, a stone bridge over the Nive Ri…
- Guéthary – A small fishing village between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with a tiny harbour, big waves over the reefs, and seaside bars with a rela…
- Fort de Socoa – A 17th-century round stone fort at the western entrance to the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, standing at the base of the breakwater. It is one…
Where to eat
- L'Impertinent – A Michelin-starred creative restaurant where chef Fabian Feldmann crafts dishes using seafood from the Capbreton fish m…
- Bar Jean – A historic 1930s bar next to Les Halles market, famous for pintxos, tapas, and Rioja wines.
- Léonie – A Michelin Bib Gourmand modern bistro featuring a blackboard menu that reimagines French classics using seasonal ingred…
- Chez Albert – A historic seafood restaurant in the Port des Pêcheurs operating since 1967, serving grilled fish and seafood platters…
- La Belloteka – A charcoal-grill restaurant and bar in the Les Halles area, featuring 60-day dry-aged Galician beef cooked in a Josper…
- Le Surfing – A beachfront bistro directly facing the surf spot of Côte des Basques, serving all day from breakfast to dinner with ap…
Itineraries
- Across the Pyrenees to San Sebastián – Crossing the Pyrenean passes from Toulouse, through Lourdes to the Basque coast.
- French & Spanish Basque Coast Car-Free – Cross the border from Biarritz to San Sebastián and Bilbao, connecting the Basque coast by train and bus.