French Basque Country
The French Basque Country is the Basque coast and hill country of southwest France, where Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz sit on the Bay of Biscay.
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The French Basque Country lies in the west of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southwest France, on the Bay of Biscay coast, where it meets the Spanish Basque Country. It is also called the Northern Basque Country and covers the historic provinces of Labourd, Lower Navarre and Soule. The coast has the beach resort of Biarritz, which became fashionable from the 1850s, the old port city of Bayonne, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye, the latter on the Spanish border. Inland, the land stays rural, with villages where Basque is spoken most widely.
Travelers come for the surf and beaches, Bayonne ham and Irouléguy wine, and the Basque festivals and villages inland. The Bayonne-San Sebastián Euroregion links the region with Gipuzkoa, so a day trip across the border to San Sebastián is common. Biarritz Airport has some direct flights to other parts of France and Europe, and travelers also use the airports at San Sebastián, Pamplona, Bilbao, Pau and Bordeaux. Choose a base on the coast for the beaches, or inland for quieter villages and walks.
French Basque Country in five
- Choose a coastal base firstBiarritz suits surfers and promenade walks, Bayonne suits food and old-town streets, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz suits a calmer beach town with a harbor. All three are linked by train and bus.Biarritz travel guide
- Take the TGV to Bayonne or BiarritzDirect TGV services from Paris reach Bayonne and Biarritz in about 4.5–5 hours. Bordeaux is the easiest connection if you are coming from the Atlantic coast.Plan your rail trip
- Carry your passport when you cross to SpainFrance and Spain are both in the Schengen area, but temporary checks can still happen at the land border near Hendaye. Your 90 days in 180 count across both countries, so keep a record of dates.Schengen 90/180 rule
- Rent a car for the inland villagesThe Basque hills have small villages and walking routes with limited bus service. A car helps for hiking trailheads, and parking in summer coastal towns fills quickly.
- Check surf and swim conditions before you go inAtlantic waves and currents can be strong, even on a mild day. Follow local flags and lifeguard guidance, and pick a patrolled beach if you are not an experienced surfer.
Things to do in French Basque Country
See all attractions in French Basque Country
Need to know
- Airport
- Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ); Bordeaux and Bilbao as alternatives
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris about 4.5–5 hours; trains from Bordeaux
- Getting around
- Trains and buses on the coast; a car for the hills
- Best base
- Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz; Bayonne for food and old streets
- Time needed
- 4–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, surf swellsJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, surf swells
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Mild, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, freshMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, fresh
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Spring, showersAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, showers
- 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°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustClear11 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, surfOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, surf
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Biarritz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in French Basque Country
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 63%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
French Basque Country
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°0°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed9°1°3%Wednesday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu12°3°8%Thursday: Clear. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri14°3°8%Friday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat11°3°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun17°5°39%Sunday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 39%.
Updated 08:54 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in French Basque Country
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Jul–AugFêtes de BayonneBayonne, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Bayonneabout 10–15 min by train from BiarritzA walled old town with arcaded streets and a river harbor.Read the guide
- Saint-Jean-de-Luzabout 20 min by train from BiarritzA fishing port with a sheltered beach.Read the guide
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Portabout 1 hour by train and bus from BayonneA fortified village at the foot of the Camino route over the Pyrenees.Read the guide
- San Sebastiánabout 45–60 min by road from BiarritzA Spanish city across the border with famous pintxos bars.
Before you go to French Basque Country
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Rules for French Basque Country, checked
- Check entry rules for your passport on the France-Visas site before you fly. Schengen rules apply to most visitors from outside the EU.Source
- Check French customs rules for cash, alcohol and tobacco before you travel. Limits differ for travelers arriving from outside the EU.Source
- Beach flags show whether swimming and surfing are safe that day. Read the flags and posted signs at each beach, and follow lifeguard instructions.
Plan around French Basque Country
Regions, cities and how to plan the whole trip
Read the guideBiarritzSurf, promenade and the airport
Read the guideBayonneThe walled old town and its food
Read the guideSaint-Jean-de-LuzA harbor town with a protected beach
Read the guideSaint-Jean-Pied-de-PortThe Camino de Santiago start in the hills
Read the guideThe PyreneesMountains behind the Basque hills
Read the guideFrench Basque Country FAQ
Is the French Basque Country worth visiting?
Yes for beaches, food and hills in a compact area. Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are linked by train, and Spain is close if you want to cross the border.
How many days do you need in the French Basque Country?
Four days cover the coast and one inland day. A week lets you add the Pyrenean villages and San Sebastián. Choose one coastal base and take trains between towns.
Is Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz better for a stay?
Biarritz for a larger resort with surf and nightlife. Saint-Jean-de-Luz for a calmer harbor town with a sheltered beach. Both are about 20 minutes apart by train.
Do you need a car in the French Basque Country?
Not for the coast, where trains and buses link the main towns. A car helps for hill villages, trailheads and the Pyrenees, and costs extra for parking in summer.
Can you visit San Sebastián from the French Basque Country?
Yes, by train, bus or car. France and Spain are both Schengen, but temporary border checks can occur, so carry your passport. Days in both countries count toward your 90 in 180.