Bayonne
A Basque river city of chocolate, cured ham and a Gothic cathedral, where the Nive and Adour meet about 6 km from the Atlantic.
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Bayonne is a city in southwestern France, close to the Spanish border, in the French Basque Country. It sits where the Nive and Adour rivers meet, about 6 km from the Atlantic coast. The Nive divides the old town: Grand Bayonne holds the Gothic cathedral and most of the shops, while Petit Bayonne has half-timbered houses with red and green shutters along the water. Five bridges cross the Nive between the two quarters.
Food is a strong reason to visit. Local makers have produced chocolate for about 500 years, and Bayonne ham is seasoned with Espelette peppers. The Musée Basque covers the whole Basque Country, and the Fêtes de Bayonne run for five days each summer with parades, bull races and fireworks. Chronoplus buses link the city with Biarritz and nearby towns, and the airport shared with Biarritz and Anglet is close by. Lasting rain usually comes in winter, while summer rain tends to arrive as short, intense storms, and summer averages sit around 20 °C.
Bayonne in five
- Use Bayonne as the cheaper Basque baseRooms cost less than Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and buses and trains reach both within about 10–30 minutes. Compare rates, then book as the Fêtes dates approach.Biarritz
- Plan around the Fêtes de BayonneThe five-day festival around late July or early August fills every room and turns streets red and white. Check the official dates, book months ahead or choose another week.
- Eat ham and chocolate at the sourceLook for Bayonne ham and the old chocolate workshops in the old town. Many close on Sunday afternoons, so plan a morning visit.
- Take the TGV, then a local busParis Montparnasse to Bayonne takes about 4 hours by TGV. Local buses and regional trains reach Biarritz and the Basque coast.French Basque Country
- Cross to San Sebastián for tapasSan Sebastián in Spain is about an hour away by road or by rail via Hendaye. No routine border check applies, but your Schengen days still count.San Sebastián
Things to do in Bayonne
See all attractions in Bayonne
Need to know
- Airport
- Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ), about 10 min by road
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris in about 4 hr; regional trains from Bordeaux
- Getting around
- Walking in the old town; buses and trains to Biarritz
- Best base
- Grand Bayonne near the cathedral and station
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 to 3 as a Basque base
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, rainJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Mild, rainFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Spring startsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, greenAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Sea warms upJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Sea warms up
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Fêtes de BayonneJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fêtes de Bayonne
- AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Peak, packedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, packed
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Chocolate, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Chocolate, lights
Average daily high and low in Bayonne, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Fêtes de Bayonne · Aug Fêtes de Bayonne
Right now in Bayonne
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Bayonne
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°7°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°4°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed14°6°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu16°5°14%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Fri16°5°11%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat13°6°11%Saturday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun22°9°41%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 09:15 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugFêtes de BayonneBayonne
Day trips by train
- Biarritzabout 10 min by bus or trainSurf beaches, a lighthouse and a belle-époque seafront.Read the guide
- Saint-Jean-de-Luzabout 25–30 min by trainA fishing harbor and sheltered beach.Read the guide
- San Sebastiánabout 1 hour by road or rail via HendayePintxo bars, the bay and a Spanish city, across the border.Read the guide
Before you go to Bayonne
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Rules for Bayonne, checked
- Check entry rules for your nationality on the France-Diplomatie travel advice site before you fly or cross from Spain.Source
- Schengen short stays allow 90 days in any 180, and the count covers every Schengen country, including Spain.
- Carry your passport or national ID card, since police may ask to see it.
- Dial 112 for police, fire and ambulance anywhere in France.
Plan around Bayonne
The country overview and basics
Read the guideBiarritzThe surf resort, 10 minutes away
Read the guideSaint-Jean-de-LuzA fishing-port beach town on the coast
Read the guideFrench Basque CountryVillages, hills and the Pyrenees edge
Read the guideSaint-Jean-Pied-de-PortCamino starting village in the hills
Read the guideBayonne FAQ
Is Bayonne worth visiting?
Yes for a day or two. It has a compact old town, cathedral, markets and Basque food, and costs less than Biarritz.
How many days do you need in Bayonne?
One day covers the old town and cathedral. Two or three days works if you use it as a base for Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Basque coast.
Is Bayonne or Biarritz better to stay in?
Bayonne for a lower price and a city feel. Biarritz for beaches and surf at your door. They are 10 minutes apart.
When are the Fêtes de Bayonne?
Around late July or early August each year, for five days. Check the official dates. Book rooms months ahead, because the town fills.
Can you visit Bayonne from Paris?
Yes. The TGV from Paris Montparnasse takes about 4 hours. It is better as an overnight than a day trip.