12 Things to do in Biarritz, France – popular attractions, landmarks and places of interest
Once a place of royalty with summer retreats and now a popular resort destination, Biarritz is also the birthplace of surfing in Europe. Visiting Biarritz offers a laid back and casual lifestyle amid fashionable and upscale digs and luxury venues and nature inspired beaches and coastline. I love to visit Biarritz and enjoying the stunning landscapes, hip downtown scene with a fashionable and chick vibe and lifestyle that is shown throughout the seaside community.
With a regular population of 25,000 people, the city has a wonderful small-town vibe but can swell up in size with visitors coming in to experience the oceanside lifestyle here. Coming to enjoy the beach and ocean lifestyle along with beautiful and upscale digs, shopping, eating and outdoor adventures around the coastal community.
A top tourist destination on the French side of Basque Country, the relaxed country lifestyle covers daily jaunts to the beach, enjoying local food, restaurants, shopping and local sightseeing. You’ll get to see most of the city, through the main city promenade and along the coastal beach walk which is the typical daily visit along the coastline.
I’ll share some of my favorite places to visit, hang out and other cool venues to explore in town.
When is the best time to visit Biarritz?
Biarritz has a peak season that starts from May to September timeframe. Located on the Atlantic side of France, temperatures tend to be cooler and mild compared to other warm beach destinations around the country. There tends to be more precipitation with rainfall happening even though it’s warm compared to various parts of the country.
The most popular time for European vacations really begins from August when the area is crowded when families head out here to enjoy a holiday experience.
Best 12 Things to do in Biarritz, France
With mostly things centered on coastal lifestyle and outdoor activities, we cover the top things to do in Biarritz, travel tips, discoveries and things you can’t miss in Biarritz. The small town is easy to cover on foot and you’ll see all the main sights and landmarks in no time for your visit.
.
1. Visit Grand Plage
The Grand Plage of Barritz is quite scene and expansive just to the outside areas of the harbor area of town. Walk along the coastal promenade to the west coast of Biarritz will bring you to the beach with colorful beach tents and cabanas you can rent for the day.
Along the promenade, you’ll find fantastic shops, restaurants and cafes all along the main Grand Plage of Biarritz
The many beaches around Biarritz are large or smaller cove areas that are fun to explore, but if you want to experience the main Grand Plage, then save a nice sunny day to have the best experience here.
2. See Plage du Port Vieux
A smaller beach in the Port Vieux section is IG/picture perfect with its horsehoe shaped beach and sheltered with nice cliffs that protect from the big and damaging waves. Perfect for swimming, surfing or water sports, you can enjoy the outdoor recreation or just find a wonderful cafe hugging the cliffsides with gorgeous views and delicious specialty foods from the area.
3. Enjoy some fun Shopping
You’ll find that walking the many promenades in town filled with specialty shopping venues pumping out local goods, surfing shops and locally made textiles and popular espadrilles and polos.
Also, are popular designer brands like Longchamps, Hermes and Galeries Layafette to do more fun shopping. Window shopping is definitely a refined art here in Biarritz.
4. Surfing on the Côte des Basques
Biarritz is the birthplace of surfing in Europe and a fun adventure experience for advanced or even beginner surfers. With the first surfers arriving in 1956 on Côte des Basques, the surfing culture here is strong and popular with friends or family flocking to the region to enjoy the outstanding wave action in the various beaches that really create a fun adventure culture.
If you enjoy or want to experience surfing first hand, check out these experiences and surfing classes below.
Biarritz : Cours de surf sur la côte Basque
Surf Lessons in Bidart/Biarritz – All Equipment Included
5. Enjoy the local food & restaurants
The thriving and popular food scene here combined with outdoor dining and enjoying traditional French and Basque cuisine specialties really elevate the cuisine and dining culture.
You’ll find fantastic coastline cafes, traditional tapas bars serving pintxos and satisfying bocadillos. In town are stylish bakeries, cafes, bars and restaurants catering to all different audiences and food tastes worth experiencing.
6. Visit the historic churches of Biarritz
Biarritz has a handful of striking churches that reflect its blend of coastal charm and cultural depth. The most notable is the Russian Orthodox Church, with its blue onion dome and golden accents, built in the early 20th century for the Russian aristocracy who vacationed here. Nearby, the Church of Sainte-Eugénie, perched above the old port, offers panoramic sea views and a peaceful interior with stained glass and neo-Gothic touches. There’s also the Église Saint-Martin, the town’s oldest church, dating back to the 12th century, with a simpler, more austere beauty. Each of these churches adds a quiet, historic layer to Biarritz, away from the surf and seaside buzz.
7. Visit the Maritime Museum at Biarritz
The Maritime Museum in Biarritz, also known as the Musée de la Mer, offers a thoughtful look into the town’s deep connection with the ocean. Housed in an Art Deco building overlooking the Bay of Biscay, it combines exhibits on local marine life, Basque fishing traditions, and the region’s naval history. Inside, you’ll find tanks with species native to the Atlantic coast, from colorful fish to seals, along with old fishing gear, ship models, and displays about whaling, which was once a major industry here. It’s compact but well-curated, making it an easy and worthwhile stop if you’re interested in the sea and how it’s shaped Biarritz over the centuries.
Check out the o
8. Stroll through Port des Pêcheurs
The small harbor area of Port des Pecheurs located below Sainte-Eugenie Church where you can take the pathway down to the marina. You’ll find lots of small restaurants serving fresh seafood and other local specialty dishes. Along the way, you’ll also see the small fishermen huts called “crampottes” along your walk
Enjoy your visit and check out the local outdoor and seafood restaurants in the area.
9. Take the Petite Train
If you’re short on time (or just fancy a fun drive around town like me), catch the Petite Train down at the Grand Plage near Dorin cafe. Not only is this fun for kids, the 30 minute journey passes by the top sights in Biarritz. The 7 euro ticket includes an audio guide that gives information about each place. You can also choose the longer itinerary for 8 euros that goes all the way to lighthouse. See more information about routes and the schedule.
10. Coastline promenades of Biarritz
The coastline promenades of Biarritz are one of the best ways to take in the town’s dramatic ocean scenery and relaxed vibe. Starting from the Grande Plage, a broad, lively stretch of sand backed by elegant old hotels, the path winds past rocky outcrops, sea-sprayed cliffs, and tucked-away coves. Along the way, you’ll come across iconic sights like the Rocher de la Vierge—a statue-topped rock reached by a footbridge—and the old Port des Pêcheurs, where small boats bob in sheltered waters. The promenade connects beaches, viewpoints, and cafés, making it ideal for a leisurely walk at any time of day, especially around sunset when the sky and Atlantic light up in soft colors. It’s a favorite not just for visitors, but for locals who walk, jog, or just sit and watch the waves roll in.
11. Walk to the Rocher de la Vierge
This iconic rock with the virgin sitting majestically on top is called Rocher de la Vierge and also historically a lookout point and whale watching spot. Sitting on top of the rock since 1865, the Virgin statue sits and is a landmark vista for whalers to guide them back to the port. You can cross a metal footbridge and pass a small cave to get to the observation area.
You’ll enjoy all the fantastic views and photo moments here and worthwhile visit to Rocher de la Vierge
Up close view to the Virgin statue
12. Enjoy local food specialties of the area
Sure! Here’s an outline of local food specialties to try in the Biarritz area:
Seafood & Coastal Favorites
- Chipirons (Baby Squid): Often grilled or cooked in garlic and parsley; a local favorite.
- Moules-frites: Mussels served with fries, especially popular in seaside brasseries.
- Ttoro: A hearty Basque fish stew made with various seafood, garlic, tomato, and peppers.
- Seafood platters: Fresh oysters, clams, langoustines, and prawns served chilled.
Basque Classics
- Piperade: A mix of peppers, tomatoes, and onions, often served with eggs or Bayonne ham.
- Bayonne Ham: Air-cured and delicately flavored, this ham is a must-try on its own or in sandwiches.
- Axoa: A veal or beef stew with Espelette pepper, onions, and herbs—simple and full of local flavor.
- Basque Chicken (Poulet Basquaise): Chicken cooked with peppers, tomatoes, and Espelette pepper.
Cheese & Charcuterie
- Ossau-Iraty: A smooth, nutty sheep’s milk cheese from the nearby Pyrenees.
- Charcuterie boards: Often featuring Bayonne ham, local sausage, pâtés, and regional cheeses.
Sweet Treats
- Gâteau Basque: A dense cake with either cherry jam or pastry cream filling.
- Macarons de Saint-Jean-de-Luz: A softer, almond-based macaron with a long tradition in the region.
- Chocolates from local shops: Biarritz has a rich chocolate-making history, with small artisan boutiques throughout town.
Drinks
- Izarra: A herbal liqueur made in the Basque region, available in green or yellow varieties.
- Basque cider (Sagarnoa): A tart, naturally fermented cider, often poured from a height.
- Irouléguy wine: Local red, white, and rosé wines from the nearby Basque vineyards.
How to Get to Biarritz
Biarritz is served by two airports: San Sebastian Airport (EAS) and Biarritz (BIQ). Biarritz is smaller and regional compared to San Sebastian which is about 30 minutes away.
Getting to Biarritz is pretty straightforward whether you’re coming by train, bus, or plane.
By Train
Biarritz is well-connected by rail, with regular TGV (high-speed trains) and regional TER services. The main train station is Gare de Biarritz, located a few kilometers from the city center. From Paris, the TGV takes around 4 to 5 hours, and there are direct routes from cities like Bordeaux and Toulouse as well. A short taxi or local bus ride gets you from the station into town.
By Bus
Several long-distance bus companies like FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, and Eurolines operate routes to Biarritz from major French and Spanish cities. Buses are usually more budget-friendly than trains and arrive at central points in town or at the nearby La Négresse district, which connects easily to local transport.
By Plane
Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ) is just about 3 km from the town center and has flights from Paris, London, Madrid, and other European cities. Budget and national carriers fly here, especially in summer. From the airport, you can grab a taxi, use local buses (like bus line 36 or C), or rent a car for onward travel.
Let me know if you want tips on getting around Biarritz once you’re there too.
Guided tours to Biarritz and Basque Country
Check out these easy and fun guided tours to the area and this fantastic city.
From San Sebastian: Biarritz and Bayonne Minibus Tour
No Diet Club – Amazing local food in Biarritz
Check out these other posts to visiting Basque Country
12 day tours from San Sebastian
: Is San Sebastian worth visiting?
Conclusion on 12 Things to do in Biarritz, France
Thanks for checking out these top 12 things to do in Biarritz, France We hope that this post on visiting Biarritz has been worthwhile, and you’ll consider doing any of these fun places, landscapes and foodie places to plan and visit eventually.
Thanks for checking out Visit Spain and Mediterranean and this post. We hope you check out all the other posts to explore all around the country for inspiration.
Disclosure – some of the links above to various tours, transportation and hotels are affiliate links that benefits our site if you book here and we appreciate your support. The links are competitive, and you are not paying above what other affiliates provide.
