Biarritz

Surf beaches, belle époque architecture and a day trip to San Sebastián across the Spanish border.

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Biarritz is a seaside town on the Basque coast of southwestern France, a few kilometers from the Spanish border. In the mid-1800s, Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, turned it into a bathing resort. Its belle époque villas, grand hotels and seafront promenade still line the coast. Surfers come for the waves, and surf schools teach lessons from the beaches.

Biarritz has its own airport, and trains run from nearby Bayonne. Most visitors add day trips: Bayonne for its old quarter and cathedral, Saint-Jean-de-Luz about 20 kilometers up the coast, and San Sebastián about 20 kilometers south across the border. Two or three nights suit a trip built around beaches and surf lessons. A longer stay leaves time for the Basque villages inland. Summer brings the busiest beaches, while spring and fall are milder and quieter.

Biarritz in five

Pick the beach for the swell and the crowdThe Grande Plage sits at the center and is the easiest, while the Côte des Basques is the surf beach. Surf schools run lessons in the main season; check conditions and tide before you go.
Know where the train station really isBiarritz's main station is outside the center, so you need a bus or taxi into town. Plan time for it, especially with luggage.Getting around France
Go in shoulder season for calm and swellJune and September give warm days and quieter beaches than July and August. The Atlantic stays cooler than the Mediterranean, so bring a layer for evenings.
Link to Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz by bus or trainBayonne is a short hop inland and Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a bigger beach town to the south. Use regional trains or buses and skip the car, since parking is hard in summer.French Basque Country
Arriving from outside Europe? Expect EES at your first stopIf you land in Paris, EES registration happens there, before the train to Biarritz. Allow extra time on short connections.EES explained

Things to do in Biarritz

See all attractions in Biarritz

a group of people walking on a beach next to the ocean

Beach · BiarritzLa Grande PlageParking: some spaces are free for up to an hour, and paid Indigo managed car parks are also available.

Landmark · BiarritzRocher de la ViergeCheck the weather before you go. The footbridge closes in high wind, and after storms the waves can splash over the ledge, so keep back from the edge.

Beach · BiarritzBeach Cote des Basques

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BiarritzPut the places you like in Biarritz on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ), small, with flights from Paris and Europe
Getting there: TGV from Paris about 4.5–5 hours, direct or via Bayonne
Getting around: Walkable center; buses and trains to Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Best base: Near the Grande Plage and the old port, or the Côte des Basques for surfers
Time needed: 2–4 days with the Basque coast

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cool, wet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, wet
MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, quiet
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Spring, open
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, calm
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, surf
JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Peak, busy
AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Peak, busy
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, swell
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, quieter
NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Cool, rainy
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, rainy

Average daily high and low in Biarritz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Biarritz

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 9°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Biarritz

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today14°8°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue12°7°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Wed15°6°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
Thu16°5°14%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 14%.
Fri16°6°11%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 11%.
Sat18°6°11%Saturday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 11%.
Sun22°14°41%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 41%.

Updated 07:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Biarritz

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Jul–AugFêtes de BayonneBayonne, a day trip

Day trips by train

Bayonneabout 10–20 min by bus or trainA river old town with arcades and chocolate shops.Read the guide
Saint-Jean-de-Luzabout 20–30 min by trainA calm bay and a covered market near the seafront.Read the guide
San Sebastián, Spainabout 1 hour by roadPintxos bars and a beach city across the border. Bring your passport.

Before you go to Biarritz

TGV to the Basque coastDirect TGVs from ParisRead the guide

Stays near the Grande PlageFrom small hotels to seafront roomsCheck availability

eSIM for the Basque coastData for tides and bus timesRead the guide

Insurance for beach tripsSurf, theft and delay coverRead the guide

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Rules for Biarritz, checked

Non-EU visitors must meet France's Schengen entry rules, including passport validity and visa status. Check your nationality on france-visas.gouv.fr before you book.Source
Non-EU travelers are registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which records fingerprints and a photo.
Swim only between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards are on duty. Check the flag color before you go into the water.
The EU emergency number 112 works across France. Police is 17, ambulance is 15. Save them before you arrive.
Customs allowances for goods such as tobacco and alcohol apply to travelers entering France. Check the current limits on douane.gouv.fr before you travel.Source

Plan around Biarritz

French Basque Country

Biarritz in context: villages, ports and trails

Read the guide Bayonne

Chocolate, ham and a river old town

Read the guide Saint-Jean-de-Luz

A beach town with a sheltered bay

Read the guide Collioure

The Catalan coast on the other side of France

Read the guide Schengen 90 in 180 explained

How your days count across Europe

Read the guide All of France

Regions, cities and train routes

Read the guide

Biarritz FAQ

Is Biarritz worth visiting?

Yes, for beach and surf time in an elegant coastal town. It is less about museums than the sea, the light and nearby Basque villages. Allow two to four days with day trips.

How many days do you need in Biarritz?

Two days gives you the Grande Plage, the Rocher de la Vierge and a surf lesson. Three or four let you add Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and an excursion into the hills.

How do you get from Paris to Biarritz?

By TGV in about 4.5–5 hours, usually to Biarritz or Bayonne. Flying is faster but check the schedule for your date. The train station is outside the center, so budget a local bus or taxi.

When is the best time to visit Biarritz?

June and September for warm beach days without peak crowds. July and August are the busiest, and winter is wet and quiet. Surf conditions change through the year, so ask a local school.

Is Biarritz good for beginner surfers?

Yes: schools run lessons on gentle beach breaks in season. Pick a school that supplies wetsuits and check the tide and conditions on the day.