Biarritz in 4 days
Three kilometres of ragged Basque coastline, from a Grande Plage shaped by the Second Empire to the Côte des Basques, where surfing reached Europe in 1957. The town is best read on foot: cliffs, footbridges, a tiny fishing port and noisy covered markets. The Atlantic here is unforgiving to careless swimmers.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- Morning
Biarritz covered marketfree · about 30 minTwo halls facing each other, one for fishmongers and cheesemakers, the other for fruit and vegetables and counters serving oysters, ham and txakoli.
- Afternoon
Grande Plagefree · half a day600 metres of sand between the 1929 Art Deco casino and the Hôtel du Palais; the town's widest, most sheltered beach, packed in August.
Day 2
- Morning
The fishermen's portfree · about 30 minTwo tiny basins walked round in ten minutes, with moored boats, lobster pots, drying nets and tables set right on the quay.
- Afternoon
Musée de la Mer aquariumabout 1 h 30An Art Deco aquarium facing the Rocher de la Vierge, devoted to the Bay of Biscay, with grey seals and a rooftop view.
- Late afternoon
Rocher de la Viergefree · about 30 minReached through a tunnel and over a windswept footbridge to the statue, with surfers on one side and the town's white roofs on the other.
Day 3
- Morning
Côte des Basques beachfree · half a dayWhere surfing arrived in France in 1957; the town's learner beach, with gentle, even waves and around ten surf schools from April to October.
Day 4
- Morning
Marbella and Milady beachesfree · half a dayMilady has lawns, showers, lifeguards and places to eat; Marbella, down a stairway from the road, has none of that and is much quieter.
- Late afternoon
Pointe Saint-Martin lighthouseabout 1 hLit in 1834, 44 metres tall and 73 metres above the ocean; 248 steps up to a gallery overlooking the whole bay to La Rhune.
Where to sleep in Biarritz
- Le Petit Hôtel · €85 a night
- Maison Atalaye · €90 a night
- Hôtel Les Alizés · €95 a night
- Hôtel Cosmopolitain · €160 a night
- Hôtel Saint-Julien · €140 a night
- La Maison du Lierre · €140 a night
- Hôtel du Palais · €600 a night
- Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa · €340 a night
- Hôtel de Silhouette · €220 a night
Plan this trip
Hotel prices per room per night, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.