Ultimate Guide to the Best Biarritz Beaches For Beginner Surfers

Bell | 03 August 24

Biarritz is THE surf hotspot in France and even all of Europe. From beginners to pros, surfers from all across the world flock here every summer to enjoy the impressive waves.

I only got back into surfing last September and rapidly fell in love with the sport. The beginning is hard, there is no way around getting smashed by waves over and over again. However, the fun begins once you start catching your first white water waves.

Biarritz has been on my list of places to visit for a while and when I managed to get a volunteering spot at the Biarritz Surf Hostel, I jumped at the chance to explore the famous French surf town.

I would class myself as a beginner, especially when I first came to Biarritz so I quickly learned about the best beaches for learners in the city. The following guide is from my own experience but also expert local input from my surf coaches and friends.

Table of Contents

Best Beaches in Biarritz for Beginner Surfers

Biarritz itself has 6 beaches that are considered to be part of the city itself and are pretty easily reachable when staying in Biarritz. Five of the beaches are considered surfable, the exception is Le Port Vieux beach which is a small bay in the centre and great for swimming as there are no waves.

Two of the beaches are great for beginners, but I will also list some options just outside Biarritz that are great for learning:

La Cote des Basques - The Ultimate Beginner Surfer Beach

I spent about 80% of my time surfing in Biarritz at this beach. It has a great variety of waves from tiny white water to small green waves and even some bigger ones, so it is perfect for all levels but especially beginners and improvers.

If you have never been in the water, look out for where the surf lessons are and go in the water there. This beach also disappears at high tide, so the rule is to go during low tide +/- 3 hours. You can look at Surfline to find the exact times.

In general, as a beginner, you want to go at low tide in Biarritz as waves are more manageable. For Cote des Basques, the further to the right that you are, the easier the waves usually are.

There is a tricky area between the two stairs that go to the beach, so make sure you watch the waves and level of surfers in there for a while before going in yourself. If you notice those around you are way better than you, it’s time to get out and reenter somewhere else.

Grande Plage - the tourist spot

For both Grande Plage and Cote de Basque, you don’t need to worry too much about angry locals in the water. They aren’t “local” beaches and you can get away with a few more mistakes in the water. However make sure to read up on surf etiquette as the French can be pretty strict with it.

This is THE tourist beach and has pretty manageable waves for beginners and intermediates. It is within walking distance of most central hotels and hence a favourite.

It does get pretty busy in summer, so an early morning or evening surf session may be a nice option too. The beach also doesn’t disappear at High Tide so it is a little more forgiving in when you go.

Advanced Beaches: Miramar, Marbella and Milady

These are all beaches that are known for more challenging waves as well as more locals in the water. That means if you don’t know what you are doing you not only put yourself in danger but also stand the chance of being told to leave by an angry Frenchman.

That being said, I personally surfed at Marbella a few times when I was able to catch tiny waves. There is a surf school there too that runs lessons at Marbella even for beginners, so it is an option depending on the waves and how busy the other beaches are.

The other two beaches are quite advanced so I would refrain as a beginner.

Beginner Beaches near Biarritz: Hendaye and Bidart Plage

These beaches are a 15-30 minute drive from Biarritz and accessible via public transport too. Both are known for having nice and easy beginner waves as well as not too much localism.

They may also be a good option in high season (July and August) when Biarritz gets absolutely overrun by tourists.

How to get to Biarritz

Biarritz does have an airport, however it is pretty small and only has a few airlines flying in and out. That means it can get somewhat expensive.

I found that the cheapest airport to fly into was Bordeaux, from which you can get a train for 15-30€ or a bus starting from just 5€ (if you book well in advance). Check out BlaBla Car and National Express for times and exact prices.

Bilbao and Toulouse are also within 3-4 hours by bus from Biarritz.

Where to stay in Biarritz

Best surf hostels in Biarritz:

Biarritz Surf Hostel – I volunteered in this hostel for a month and miss it dearly. The place is super clean (trust me, I know the cleaning process inside out), the staff and guests are so friendly and there is always something going on. There’s also a WhatsApp group chat that is amazing for making plans or finding a surf buddy. Surfboards are free but you need to rent a bike in order to get it to the beach – if you are only surfing for an hour or less I’d recommend to just rent a board at the beach directly.

Nami House – I also heard good things about this hostel while staying in Biarritz. It’s well-located and super welcoming.

Best hotels in Biarritz:

Hôtel Le Garage Biarritz – If you fancy staying somewhere slightly more luxurious, this hotel is a great choice. With delicious breakfast and a pool on offer, its location is unbeatable.

Hotel Edouard VII – Another super centrally located hotel that is very fairly priced. Beaches are a 5-minute walk away and they even have breakfast included too.

Can you swim in Biarritz?

Biarritz’s beaches aren’t only for surfing, but also swimming. The best one is Port Vieux Beach as it is located in a bay in the middle of town with no waves.

Cote des Basques and Grande Plage are also often frequented by swimmers, though you may just need to keep an eye out for beginner surfers and their out-of-control boards.

Just to note that Biarritz is located on France’s West Coast where the sea is known to be on the cold side. Biarritz is in pretty shallow water so it does get around 25 degrees over summer, but it isn’t tropical water. Surfers will wear a wetsuit all year round usually.

When to surf in Biarritz?

Biarritz is technically a year-round surf destination, though as a beginner surfer you may want to stick to June-August where the swell is smaller and waves are easiest for learning. That being said, this is peak time in Biarritz and the line-up can get pretty intense.

I personally went in early June and found the waves easy enough for learning while the water wasn’t quite as packed yet.

If you are looking to surf bigger waves, March to May and September to November are perfect. The city and surf are also much less crowded then. The biggest waves come over the winter months when you will find more expert surfers in the water.