Ultimate Biarritz Travel Guide: Sights, Surf, Eats & More

Important heads-up: do not surf here during high tide – the water rises and crashes on the big boulders, making getting in and out of the ocean super dangerous. Surf rental shops on the beach actually won’t rent boards during high tide for safety reasons.

Where to get a board/wetsuit? Rentals are available right on La Côte des Basques, but they come with a high price tag. For a (WAY) cheaper option, grab a board from Biarritz Paradise Surf School at the top of the cliff. We rented our boards and shorties from them the entire week and could not recommend them more – they were super chill with timing, friendly, and had affordable prices.

• Grand Plage

Another option is Grand Plage, but in June it was packed with swimmers and the waves were small and inconsistent. We only saw 2 people actually surfing when we walked by. That said, at other times of the year, this could be a great surf spot. Jump ahead in this guide to best time to go to check surf conditions depending on when you visit.

• Plage du Port Vieux

Plage du Port Vieux, pictured to the right, is a designated swimming beach. It’s small and centrally located, but offers a long spacious sandy area, free bathrooms, and a stone path perfect for jumping straight into the ocean.

Go for a long walk along the Biarritz coast

You are in one of the best food regions in the world! There is a wide range of restaurants in town, from Michelin Stars to a great burger. In the Basque Country, you don’t have to splurge to eat well – the region is world-renowned for its cuisine, from pintxos (small bar bites) to fresh seafood. Some seriously delicious meals can be found in casual local spots. If you want even more food spots, check out my 10 best restaurants in Biarritz guide.
✨Note: Biarritz takes their siesta seriously. We really struggled finding anything to eat except for pastry shops between the hours of 3-7pm.

• Saline Ceviche Bar
We’re suckers for fresh seafood whenever we’re by the ocean, and this spot absolutely delivered, everything we ordered was bomb but the Tataki Celine (thick seared slices of raw tuna served with crispy plantain chips) was my personal favourite. We also shared the Crispy Ceviche (my partner can never resist the golden, crispy, little rice cubes), and the Ceviche Nikkei (salmon ceviche topped with a big ol’ scoop of guac). Order a side of rice with the ceviche and you’ve got yourself a full meal.

• Les Contrebandiers
Here’s where you’ll find some of the best Basque pintxos in Biarritz. When we walked in at dinner time, the place was packed, so we ended up booking for the next night. Do yourself a favour: order the Pimientos de Padrón (Padron peppers) – they’re smoky, mild, salty. Then pick whatever other pintxos on the board call to you. You won’t go wrong.

• Nelly’s Biarritz 🍔
I know this is a well-known favourite, but it still deserves a spot on my list because we love a good burger after a surf. This one had the crispiest, thinnest double smash patties I’ve ever seen, layered on a soft brioche bun, and wow, it was low key the best smash burger I’ve ever had. We tried another burger in town at Le Cab (a super popular spot), but honestly, it didn’t even come close.

From top left to right: Saline Ceviche Bar, Extola Bibi, Nelly’s Biarritz, Crêperie Sarrasin Biarritz

Option 1: By Train 🚆

• Paris to Biarritz by train: The TGV is France’s high speed train and you can get to Biarritz from Paris in 4-5 hours on a direct train. We continued on to Paris after Biarritz and took this exact train and found it a seamless experience. If you are adding Paris to your itinerary, check out my Paris travel guide here (coming soon!).
• Bordeaux to Biarritz by train: You can also take the TGV from Bordeaux and it only takes around 2 hours!
• San Sebastian to Biarritz by train: You are crossing over the Spain/France border, so you do have to change trains once at the border. It is still a really quick journey taking only 1.5 – 2 hours.
• Compare prices between sites like Omio, Rail Europe and Trainline.

Option 2: By Car 🚗

• If you are doing a larger road trip, arriving to Biarritz by car is an easy option and there are no driving restrictions within the town.
• Check out my 2 week France roadtrip guide here (coming soon!)
• If you are from outside the Schengen countries, you will need an International Drivers Permit (IDP) to rent a car. (I got my IDP at our local CAA, where they also take the required photos. It cost around $40 and is valid for one year. If you apply in person at CAA, you receive your IDP immediately. If you need to mail in your application, make sure to do so at least 2–3 weeks before your trip.

Option 3: Flying in to Biarritz ✈️

• Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ) is just ten minutes from the town center and offers direct flights from major French hubs as well as several European cities, including London, Brussels, and Munich.

Option 4: By Bus 🚌

• By using a company like Flixbus, you can get to Biarritz by bus from ALL over Europe. This option will be cheaper, but longer than taking the train network.

Spring (March – May) 🌱

Spring in Biarritz is fresh, green, and way less crowded than summer. Temperatures sit in the mid-teens °C (high 50s–60s °F), and since it’s spring, you can expect occasional showers, pack a light rain jacket. Between the rain, you’ll also get long, sunny afternoons perfect for cliff walks or sipping coffee at a seaside café. This is also when the town really comes alive with colour: flowers are in full bloom, and hydrangeas in particular line gardens and streets, adding to the charm.

🌊 Biarritz Surf Conditions in Spring

Spring delivers consistent swells without the summer chaos. Average wave heights range from 1.5–2.5 meters (5–8 ft), which is perfect for intermediates and advanced surfers. The lineups are way calmer than in summer, and you’ll be wanting to wear a full wetsuit in the chilly water.

Summer (June – August) ☀️

Summer is peak season in Biarritz. This means hot beach days, festivals, and packed surf spots with small waves. Expect temperatures in the 20s °C (70s °F) and the warmest water of the year.

🌊 Biarritz Surf Conditions in Summer

This is the mellowest surf season and the best surf season for beginners. Swells shrink down to around 0.5–1.5 meters (2–5 ft) most days, which makes summer amazing for beginners or anyone wanting fun longboard sessions. Expect busy lineups, especially at Côte des Basques, with surf schools filling the peaks. If you’re hunting bigger waves, you’ll need a bit of luck or to drive further down the coast to other breaks. You could wear a shorty, or even just a bathing suit depending on your cold tolerance (us Canadians were fine in our bathing suits 😋).

Autumn (September – November) 🍂

Autumn is the sweet spot! The ocean is still warm from summer, the weather hovers in the comfortable 18–22 °C (mid-60s–low 70s °F) range, and the summer crowds start to thin out.

🌊 Biarritz Surf Conditions in Autumn

This is hands-down the best surf season in Biarritz. Average wave heights jump back up to 1.5–3 meters (5–10 ft), with consistent Atlantic swells rolling through. September and October bring the dream combo of warm water and powerful but clean waves. Lineups are still busy in early autumn, but by November, it’s mostly locals and advanced surfers left. At the beginning of fall you could get away with a shorty, but as it gets colder you will want to be transitioning into 3/2mm or 4/3mm wetsuits.