What's In This Article
GETTING TO BIARRITZ
FLY
The Biarritz – Anglet – Bayonne (BAB) Airport is located about 5 km outside the city centre (in the town of Anglet) and is easily accessible by taxi and bus. The later costs €1, one-way, and takes 10 minutes. Look for the Line C operated by the local bus company Chronoplus.
Many European cities have direct flights at least once a day to Biarritz Airport, such as Dublin, London, Stockholm, Bruxelles and Madrid.
TRAIN
Biarritz train station is about 3 km from the city centre and can be accessed by local buses for €1. Trains leave and arrive every day to/from Paris, Bordeaux, and nearby towns.
For other destination, you will more than likely have to change trains in Bayonne.
BUS
There isn’t a proper bus terminal in Biarritz but most of the long-distance buses will arrive close to the train station on avenue Charles Floquet. Bus companies such as Flixbus and Eurolines have arrivals from many national towns (Bordeaux, Lyon, Avignon, etc.) and European cities (Bilbao, Brussels, Lisbon, Madrid, etc.).
Local buses run daily from outside the city council offices to Bayonne and Saint-jean de Luz and vice versa.
STROLL TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
On the far north side of the Grande Plage – at the “pointe Saint-Martin” – the Lighthouse of Biarritz offers a splendid view over the town and the northern beaches. On clear days, you can even see the snowy Pyrenees in the background and sometimes the Spanish coast.
The 70 m tall lighthouse was installed in 1834 to guide fishermen and was fully automated in the ’80s. You can climb all the way up for €2.50 per person if you are up for almost 250 steps! For this, you will need to book your ticket on the tourism office website.
It is also a great spot to have a picnic and watch the sunset.
There are many things that you can do in Biarritz: definitively a hot touristic spot during the summer, and also worth visiting during the off-season. You will enjoy the quieter atmosphere and it will be easier (and probably cheaper) to stay in the city center and to visit the city’s historical sites.
WATCH THE SURFERS
It’s famous for its legendary surfing spots. If you’re thinking about giving it a try or just want to be surrounded by gorgeous surfers, no need to go all the way to Australia, this is the place to be.
Planning to visit multiple cities or countries in one trip can be a pain sometimes. With the Spanish frontier only 30 minutes away, you should definitively spend at least one day in San Sebastian.
WALK LA CÔTE DES BASQUES
Bordered by high cliffs and topped by beautiful villas, the Côte des Basques is a long and exposed beach very popular with surfers at low tide. It is said to be the first place ever surfed in Europe. A legend that nowadays attracts thousands of locals and international surfers from beginners to pros.
At high tide, the beach disappears and with it the surfers, but the bay remains a lovely place for a seaside stroll. Walk up the stairs to the park Saint-Jean Lasalle and admire the landscape from a bench. Very Peaceful.
CROSS THE BRIDGE TO THE ROCHER DE LA VIERGE
The Rocher de la Vierge holds its name due to the statue of the Virgin installed at its peak. It is believed that whalers would come to pray and reflect at the rock before heading out to the sea. Formerly a small peninsula, the “rock” was carved out under Napoleon III to create a sheltered harbour. The current bridge was made by Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the famous Parisian tower, to replace the original wooden bridge that used to link the solitary rock to the continent.
These days, you can walk through a nice park and cross the bridge to reach the rock. A small tunnel will take you under the Virgin to a large viewing platform where you will have a beautiful panoramic view of the coast with Port-Vieux and the Villa Belza to the left and the “plateau de l’Atalaye” and the Grande Plage to the right.
Private Guided Walking Tour GetYourGuide.
WHERE TO EAT IN BIARRITZ
These are the places that I recommend:
Miremont – for a hot chocolate
Bali Bowl – healthy smoothie and Acai Bowl
Bar Jean – Tapas with a great atmosphere and delicious plate to share
Le Surfing – hype and trendy decor with a beautiful view of La côte des Basques. Serves fish, meat and burgers
Le Corsaire – Fish restaurant in a Crampotte at the Port-Vieux
Chez Albert – Local Cuisine, excellent seafood but not a budget choice
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