Côte des Basques
Surfing arrived in Europe on this beach in the 1950s, and it remains the most elegant place on the continent to fall off a longboard — green waves rolling in under Belle Époque villas, with the Pyrenees on the horizon.
- Best forSurfers · Couples · Foodies
- In February14°C · 10 rainy days · sea 13°C
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 40m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFrench
- Local time14:101h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+33
Why go
A wide, west-facing beach below a green cliff, with Belle Époque villas above and the Pyrenees visible down the coast on a clear day. European surfing began here in the 1950s and the beach has stayed a longboarders' beach: forgiving, slow-breaking waves, plenty of schools, and a crowd that treats falling off in public as a normal Tuesday. At high tide the sand vanishes entirely and everyone decamps up the steps.
Biarritz itself gives you a proper town around the surf, with a casino, a covered market, thermal-era grandeur and easy trains along the coast. Late spring and September are the sweet spots for warm water, smaller crowds and reliable swell; midsummer is busy and the waves often small. Anyone chasing powerful surf should look further south towards the Landes beach breaks instead.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Longboards, Belle Époque, Atlantic light
From our guides
It disappears at high tide, so lessons run around low water. The evening scene, all wet hair and citron pressé on the steps, is half the appeal.
Featured in Ten surf beaches where beginners actually stand up
Things to do
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Rocher de la Vierge
A rock islet linked to the headland by an iron footbridge attributed to Eiffel's workshop, with the statue at the end and swell breaking on both sides.
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Grande Plage
The town's main beach, framed by hotels and the casino, busier and more sheltered than the surf beach and better for a straightforward swim.
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Les Halles de Biarritz
The covered market and the bars around it are where the town eats, from Basque cheeses and piment d'Espelette to plates of ham at the counter.
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Phare de Biarritz
The lighthouse on the northern point has 248 steps and a view across the whole Basque coast, from the surf beaches to the mountains behind Spain.
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Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Twenty minutes down the coast by train, a sheltered bay with safe swimming, a fine church and the best Basque cake in a town full of contenders.
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Bayonne
Ten minutes inland, shuttered riverside houses, a Gothic cathedral, cured ham with its own appellation and a long chocolate-making tradition.
Getting there
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Fly to
Biarritz (BIQ)
The airport is on the doorstep.
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Then
To Biarritz
Biarritz (BIQ) is about 10 minutes by taxi or local bus from the town centre.
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On the ground
Getting around
The beach lies below the clifftop road about 20 minutes' walk south of the centre, with steps and a ramp down to the sand.
Public transport: Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne share a good local bus network, and TGV services reach Biarritz station.
Flights
Los Angeles Côte des Basques, Biarritz, France
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Roughly 11h 40m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 11°C in January to 25°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 24°C, coolest at 13°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
February14° · rain 10 days · sea 13°Cool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Belle Époque hotels, surf guesthouses, a lot of apartments and big campsites at Anglet and Bidart. Few chains beyond the mid-range, and no all-inclusive at all.
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Best base overall
Biarritz centre
Between the Grande Plage and the lighthouse, walkable to the surf schools, markets and bars. The steps down to the Côte des Basques are steep with a board, and parking is scarce.
Find stays in Biarritz centre -
Best for nightlife
Les Halles quarter
Around the covered market, where the tapas bars and pintxos counters run late in summer. Central, lively and correspondingly noisy on August weekends.
Find stays in Les Halles quarter -
Best value
Anglet
The neighbouring commune with a run of beaches, campsites and cheaper apartments, on the tram-bus line. Suburban rather than charming, and spread out.
Find stays in Anglet -
Quietest
Bidart
A clifftop village a few minutes south with quieter beaches and a village square. Limited nightlife, and you need the car or the bus for Biarritz evenings.
Find stays in Bidart
Worth knowing before you book: July and August fill early, and the surf festivals and Bayonne fêtes in late July take every remaining room for miles.
Search everything else in Biarritz by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Tides
- The beach disappears at high water, so surf lessons and sunbathing both revolve around low tide. Check the day's times before committing to an afternoon.
- Water temperature
- The Atlantic sits around 16–22°C through the year. Schools provide wetsuits and you will want one outside the height of summer.
- Surf etiquette
- The line-up is busy and crowded with beginners. Do not paddle for a wave someone is already riding, and keep hold of your board in the shallows.
- Getting there
- Biarritz has its own airport and the TGV reaches Bayonne, ten minutes away. A local train and bus network covers the coast well enough to skip a car.
- Language and border
- This is the French Basque Country; Basque signage sits alongside French. San Sebastián in Spain is under an hour away by road.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
San Sebastián
Spain · 38km away →
La Rioja
Spain · 152km away →
Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Spain · 165km away →
The Dordogne
France · 263km away →
Cares Gorge
Picos de Europa, Spain · 266km away →
Playa de Gulpiyuri
Asturias, Spain · 268km away →Elsewhere in France
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Côte des Basques?
Daytime highs run from about 11°C in January to 25°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 24°C, coolest at 13°C.
How long should I spend in Côte des Basques?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Côte des Basques?
Biarritz (BIQ) is about 10 minutes by taxi or local bus from the town centre.
Do I need a car in Côte des Basques?
No. Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne share a good local bus network, and TGV services reach Biarritz station.
What currency and language are used in Côte des Basques?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Côte des Basques best for?
Best for surfers, couples and foodies. In a phrase: longboards, Belle Époque, Atlantic light.