When to go to Hossegor and Capbreton?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: May to June and September to October
At a glance
Why go to Hossegor and Capbreton?
Hossegor and Capbreton sit side by side in the south of the Landes, half an hour from Bayonne, and together with Seignosse form one of Europe's great surfing hubs. The reason lies underwater: the Gouf de Capbreton, a submarine canyon that begins a few hundred metres from the shore and then plunges to more than 2,000 metres, concentrates the energy of the swell and produces powerful waves, including the one at La Gravière. Surfers from all over the world come in autumn, when the swells are at their most consistent.
But there is more to the place than surfing. Hossegor is a garden town of the 1920s and 1930s, built beneath the pines around a saltwater lake, with an architectural style all its own, the Basque-Landes style, which blends half-timbering with deep overhanging roofs. Capbreton, the older of the two, keeps a real harbour, the only one in the Landes open to the ocean, and a pier from which to watch the Atlantic. All around, the forest, the ponds and the protected marshes offer a natural world that contrasts with the bustle of the beaches in August.
It is a destination for surfers of every level, for families who enjoy the wave-free swimming of the lake, for groups of friends who come for the summer nights, and for nature lovers, who find reserves rich in birdlife at the Étang Noir and the Marais d'Orx. Spring and autumn, which are quieter, are the most pleasant seasons to discover it.
Map of Hossegor and Capbreton: what is where?
The map shows the 6 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- La Gravière beach
- Hossegor lake
- Capbreton pier
- Basque-Landes villas
- Étang Noir reserve
- Marais d'Orx reserve
How much does a trip to Hossegor and Capbreton cost?
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €55-80 per day | camping beneath the pines, markets and picnics, free beaches, lake, pier and nature reserves, board and bike hire. |
| Comfort | €110-170 per day | hotel or rental in Hossegor or Capbreton, one restaurant meal a day, oysters by the lake, group surf lessons. |
| Premium | €250 and up per day | boutique hotel on the lake shore or spa hotel beneath the pines, private surf lessons, the coast's best restaurants, a trip to Biarritz. |
Accommodation prices climb steeply in July and August and during the autumn surf competitions. May, June and September offer gentler rates, a pleasant sea and uncrowded beaches.
Is Hossegor and Capbreton safe?
The ocean is the main danger on the Landes coast. The baïnes, hollows between the sandbanks, create currents that drag swimmers out to sea, especially on a rising tide, and the shore break at La Gravière causes neck and back injuries every summer. Swim only in lifeguarded zones, between the flags, and choose the saltwater lake with young children. The waves at La Gravière are for experienced surfers only. In the forest, the fire risk is high in summer: do not smoke and respect any bans. Mosquitoes are plentiful near the ponds and marshes in the evening, and ticks are present in the forest. Finally, summer nights are lively: keep an eye on your belongings on the beaches and in bars.
What to see and do in Hossegor and Capbreton
- La Gravière beach
- Hossegor saltwater lake
- Capbreton pier
- Hossegor's Basque-Landes architecture
- Seignosse beaches
- Capbreton harbour
- Étang Noir nature reserve
- Marais d'Orx nature reserve
La Gravière beach
La Gravière is the northern beach of Hossegor's central stretch, and also the name of the wave that made it famous. It is a beach break, a wave that breaks over sand, but one of rare power: the nearby Gouf de Capbreton, whose edges rise close to the coast, lets the swell arrive with almost no loss of energy, and the sandbanks make it stand up abruptly into thick tubes a few dozen metres from the shore. In a medium swell the wave delivers some of the most sought-after barrels in Europe; in a big swell it becomes the preserve of a handful of specialists. The world surfing tour held a contest here every autumn for many years, and competitions still draw the crowds. For non-surfers, the dune overlooking the beach is a grandstand: people come at the end of the day to watch the sessions. Swimming here is dangerous, with a violent shore break and currents: choose the central beach or the lake instead. Surf schools do not take beginners here; they learn further north, in Seignosse, or further south, in Capbreton.
Hossegor saltwater lake
Lake Hossegor, about one square kilometre in area, stretches 2.3 kilometres from north to south and is 300 metres wide, behind the line of dunes. It is a remnant of the old Adour estuary, which flowed out here before being diverted towards Bayonne. A decree by Napoleon III dated 12 October 1868 authorised the digging of a canal to the ocean, begun in 1869, interrupted by the war of 1870 and completed in 1876 by a violent storm that opened the final breach. Since then the lake has filled and emptied twice a day with the tides, keeping its water salty and renewed, ideal for oyster farming, the lake's main economic activity. The growers' huts serve oysters on the shore, facing the water. Several sandy beaches, including the Chênes-Lièges beach and the Plage Blanche, are lifeguarded in summer, and their calm water makes them the favourite beaches of families. The lake is also listed as a natural area of ecological interest for its waterbirds and plants. Around it, villas from the 1920s and 1930s hide beneath the pines, and the golf course lies a few minutes from its shores.
Capbreton pier
The pier, or estacade, is Capbreton's landmark: a jetty on stilts about 190 metres long that protects the harbour entrance and juts out into the ocean. The first one, built of wood, went up under Napoleon III, when the emperor revived the port, which had declined ever since the Adour was diverted towards Bayonne in 1578. Razed by German troops in 1943, it was rebuilt on a concrete base, and a small lighthouse marks its tip. The walk to the end is a ritual: you watch the surfers on the neighbouring beaches, the fishing boats and pleasure craft crossing the channel, and the sun setting over the ocean. Just offshore begins the Gouf de Capbreton, a submarine canyon more than 150 kilometres long and over 2,000 metres deep, one of the deepest in Europe. This feature explains both the power of the waves along the coast and the presence of a sheltered harbour that remains accessible in heavy weather. In a strong swell, access to the pier may be closed, and the waves crashing over it make an impressive spectacle from the beach.
Hossegor's Basque-Landes architecture
Hossegor was born as a seaside resort in the early 20th century, first frequented by Parisian writers and intellectuals. In the 1920s, the creation of a garden town beneath the pines gave regional architects the chance to invent a style: Henri Godbarge, one of the first theorists of the neo-Basque style, and the brothers Louis and Benjamin Gomez were its main craftsmen. The style borrows from the Labourd farmhouse of the Basque Country and from the Landes house their half-timbering, wide overhanging roofs and whitewashed façades, with painted woodwork and asymmetrical volumes, while adapting them to holiday villas and public buildings. The Place des Landais, built by the Gomez brothers around the turn of the 1930s with its row of villas, and the Sporting Casino, built in two phases between 1927 and 1931 by Godbarge and the Gomez brothers, listed as a historic monument in 1991 and decorated with bas-reliefs by Lucien Danglade, are its masterpieces. The avenues leading to the lake and to the golf course, created in the same period, are lined with dozens of villas in the same spirit, often hidden behind hedges.
Étang Noir nature reserve
The Étang Noir, between Seignosse and Tosse, a few kilometres from the ocean, is one of the oldest national nature reserves in Aquitaine, created on 2 July 1974. Over 52 hectares it protects a back-dune pond and the swamp forest around it, a habitat that has become rare on the Landes coast, where most wetlands have been drained. A wooden boardwalk raised on stilts crosses the reserve without disturbing the wildlife, among alders, willows and tall ferns. The flora is varied, with small peat bogs where the round-leaved sundew grows, a carnivorous plant that traps insects. The fauna is just as rich: many birds, dragonflies monitored by the reserve's managers, the European pond turtle, a protected freshwater species, and two discreet mammals, the otter and the European mink, one of the most endangered on the continent. The reserve is run by a joint local authority and is part of the Natura 2000 network. The walk takes less than an hour and suits children; early in the morning, the silence and the light on the black water alone make the detour worthwhile.
Marais d'Orx nature reserve
The Marais d'Orx, straddling Labenne, Orx and Saint-André-de-Seignanx, about fifteen minutes south of Capbreton, is the last large protected wetland on the Aquitaine coast. It was formed where an ancient geological ridge, remnants of the Adour's old bed and a lagoon closed off by the dunes meet. Drained under Napoleon III to be farmed, it was reclaimed by the water and designated a national nature reserve on 8 February 1995, covering 775 hectares. Today it is a major stopover for migratory birds on the Atlantic flyway: spoonbills, greylag geese, ospreys, herons, ducks and waders can be seen depending on the season, with spectacular gatherings in autumn and winter. The reserve is also home to the European mink and the pond turtle. Access is open, free and possible at any hour: a discovery trail with a hide, boardwalks and information panels starts from the Maison du Marais, where you can hire binoculars and see a permanent exhibition. Dogs, even on a lead, bikes and drones are banned so as not to disturb the birds. Guided visits and activities run all year round on booking.
How many days, and which itinerary?
A long weekend is enough for Hossegor, Capbreton and a day on the beach. Allow a week to take surf lessons, explore the nature reserves and venture on to Biarritz, Bayonne or the inland Landes.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Hossegor and Capbreton guide (PDF) · 🌍 All of France
weekend (2 days)
Day 1: arrive via Dax or Biarritz, the Place des Landais and Basque-Landes villas in the morning, oysters by the lake at lunchtime, a swim in the lake in the afternoon, sunset from the dune at La Gravière. Day 2: Capbreton, the pier and harbour in the morning, the beach in the afternoon, head home.
4-5 days
Day 1: Hossegor, its architecture and saltwater lake. Day 2: surf lesson in Seignosse, Les Estagnots beach at sunset. Day 3: Capbreton, harbour, pier and market. Day 4: the Étang Noir reserve in the morning, a forest cycle path in the afternoon. Day 5: the Marais d'Orx at dawn for the birds, then home via Bayonne.
one week
Days 1 to 3: Hossegor, Capbreton and Seignosse, with two surf lessons. Day 4: the Étang Noir and a forest bike ride to Vieux-Boucau. Day 5: the Marais d'Orx and the beaches of Labenne. Day 6: Bayonne and Biarritz, half an hour away. Day 7: a last session at La Gravière watched from the dune, oysters by the lake, departure.
Getting there and getting around
The TGV links Paris-Montparnasse to Dax in about 3h30 on the fastest trains, followed by a 40-minute drive to Hossegor; Labenne station, served by TER regional trains between Dax and Bayonne, is closer. Biarritz airport is about 35 minutes away by road. By car, the A63 motorway runs a few kilometres from the coast.
Once there, cycling is the best way to get around: cycle paths link Capbreton, Hossegor, Seignosse and the neighbouring villages through the pine forest, over almost flat terrain. A local bus network also connects the coastal towns.
A car is useful for the Marais d'Orx, Bayonne or Biarritz, but parking near the beaches and town centres becomes difficult in summer, and is often paid. Park once and get around by bike.
Where to stay in Hossegor and Capbreton?
Budget: the southern Landes coast has plenty of campsites beneath the pines, in Seignosse, Capbreton, Labenne and Hossegor, often a few minutes from the beaches, and a few simple hotels in Capbreton stay under €100 out of season. Hostels and surf camps also welcome solo travellers.
Comfort: resort hotels around the Place des Landais and the lake in Hossegor, and in central Capbreton, at €110-180 in summer. Villa and apartment rentals are plentiful; book early for July and August.
Our pick: a room in a hotel on the shore of Hossegor's saltwater lake, for a sunrise swim when the lake is full, or a spa hotel beneath the pines, a few minutes' cycle from La Gravière. September offers the best combination of prices, weather and swell.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Hossegor and Capbreton?
Oysters from Lake Hossegor, eaten at the growers' huts on the shore with a glass of white wine, are the local experience not to miss. Fish from Capbreton harbour turns up in the restaurants of the Boucarot quay, grilled a la plancha or fried.
Landes cooking is generous: duck in every form, magret, confit, foie gras, salade landaise, plus produce from the neighbouring Basque Country, Bayonne ham, Espelette pepper, sheep's cheese and gâteau basque. The markets in Hossegor, Capbreton and Seignosse bring the producers together.
Tursan wine and other South West wines accompany meals, and armagnac, the brandy of nearby Bas-Armagnac, rounds off dinners. Beach bars and the café terraces of the Place des Landais liven up summer evenings.
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Frequently asked questions about Hossegor and Capbreton
Can you learn to surf in Hossegor?
Yes, but not at La Gravière. Surf schools teach on the more manageable beaches of Seignosse, northern Hossegor or Capbreton, from April to October, in group or private lessons.
Where can families swim in Hossegor?
In the saltwater lake, whose lifeguarded beaches offer calm, wave-free water in summer, ideally at high tide. In the ocean, only in lifeguarded zones, because of the baïnes.
When is the best time to visit Hossegor?
June and September for the beach without the crowds, September and October for the swells and surf competitions, July and August for the summer buzz, at the cost of heavy crowds.
How do you get to Hossegor without a car?
By TGV to Dax, then by TER train to Labenne or by coach to the coast, or fly to Biarritz. Once there, a bike is all you need thanks to the cycle paths between Capbreton, Hossegor and Seignosse.
How many days should you spend in Hossegor?
A long weekend for Hossegor and Capbreton, a week to add surfing, the Étang Noir and Marais d'Orx nature reserves, and a day in Bayonne or Biarritz.
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