Best Daytrips from Biarritz (2024)

Bell | 14 August 24

I spent a month living and working in Biarritz this summer and it quickly became one of my favourite places in Europe. Not only is there always something going on in the city, but the options for day trips are extensive and one more fun than the next.

Biarritz is easily the most fun work for accommodation placement I have had. It is a surf town and so vibes are always high and everyone is just there to enjoy life.

The city itself is really cute with Basque-style architecture, small local shops and beautiful beaches. There is always something to do, from surfing to the endless festivals every evening.

If you do end up bored one day or want to explore more of the Basque region, this is the guide for you. I have summarised all of my favourite day trips from Biarritz as well as how to get there and anything else you need to know.

Table of Contents

The best day trips around Biarritz

Savour pintxos in San Sebastian

San Sebastian is probably the most well-known daytrip from Biarritz and for good reason. It is not only a beautiful city with a rich culture and history, but also a foodie heaven.

Not only does the city have the highest number of Michelin Star restaurants per capita in the world, but it also is the city of pinxtos. Pinxtos are like tapas but smaller and local to this region of Spain. There’s a Pinxto bar at almost every corner here, serving delicious and affordable local delicacies.

San Sebastian also offers beautiful beaches and even surfing when the waves are right.

To get here, you can either drive or get a bus (Flixbus or BlaBlaCar). Make sure to check bus times prior to your trip as there may be no buses back to Biarritz in the later evening. It is worth staying a night in San Sebastian if you have the time, but it can easily be done as a day trip too.

You can also go by train via Hendaye, though this takes a little longer than by bus or car.

Best Sunset Spot

My favourite sunset spot in San Sebastian is Urgulleko Polboriña bar which boasts stunning views over San Sebastian while watching the sun dip into the ocean. You have to walk up the hill for around 10 minutes to get there, but it is well worth it!

Stroll through St Jean de Luz

My personal favourite day trip is St Jean de Luz, I think I went there four times during my month in Biarritz. The city is super cute with tons of local food and clothing shops along Rue Gambetta and their Grande Plage beach which is perfect for tanning and swimming. My personal favourite area for a stroll is the port area just past the main shopping street.

I can also highly recommend checking out their “Les Halles”, the food market hall that every French city has. The market in St Jean de Luz offers lots of Basque delicacies as well as freshly made takeaway food outside. The market halls are open every day from 7 am to 1 pm, the food stalls outside only on Tuesday and Friday mornings, as well as Saturday mornings in July and August.

To get here, it is only a short 15-minute train ride that costs around 4 Euro return.

Hike La Rhune in Ascain

La Rhune is a beautiful hike in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques that boasts stunning views over the Basque coast at the top. It is about a 45-minute drive from Biarritz or reachable via local buses (Bus 45 from St Jean de Luz).

We started from the village of Ascain where we walked to the car park that marks the beginning of the route. There are several different trails of varying difficulty and I would highly recommend doing your research on where to go beforehand – check out this map. We got pretty lost and had to ask a local. Once you are on the trail, there are signs pretty regularly that are easy to follow.

One of the highlights of the hike were the hundreds of wild horses we encountered. Don’t worry – they won’t approach you if you leave them alone.

The hike takes about 2-3 hours one-way. There is also a cog railway that goes up and down (35 minutes each way) if you don’t want to hike or are too tired to hike back down (like we were). It is somewhat pricy at 24 Euros but has gorgeous views and is a cool experience. You can buy a one-way ticket at the top but it costs almost the same as a return, which is just something to keep in mind.

Go sightseeing in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is the closest big city near Biarritz, about 2 hours by train, 3 hours by bus (FlixBus, BlaBlaCar) and somewhere in the middle if you are driving. This is where locals go to do their big shops or sample some fine wine.

I did one of the free walking tours (you tip at the end) when I was here and learned a lot about Bordeaux’s history and culture, but you can also do the tour by bike or boat as seen below.

I think you can get a good overview of Bordeaux in a day, from the historical buildings to the wine the city is so famous for. After all, it is the largest fine-wine producing region on earth. Don’t miss the Cité du Vin museum to learn about everything wine.

Explore the Basque architecture of Bayonne

Bayonne is located only a short bus ride away from Biarritz and is the capital of the French Basque country. It is the perfect day trip from Biarritz, from the gorgeous traditional timbered houses to the famous Bayonne ham.

We spent hours just strolling through the city before sampling some local delicacies in one of the restaurants along the river.

Hidden Pleasures

Bayonne is also France’s capital of chocolate. Due to its proximity to Spain, which brought it from Mexico, it was one of the first places in Europe to make chocolate as we know it today. To this day, chocolate plays a big part in this city and chocolate shops are found around every corner.

Hop over to Hondarribia

Hondarribia is the first town you encounter when crossing the border into Spain along the coast. You get there by taking a train to Hendaye (which is great for surfing by the way) and then getting a small boat across the border to Hondarribia. The boat is cash only and costs 2.50€ each way. You can find it in the harbour of Hendaye, it departs every 30 minutes.

Hondarribia is another one of my favourite day trips from Biarritz, it’s such a pretty and friendly town. Its medieval Old Town is fascinating and the main street is full of delicious food and bars.

Drive to Hossegor for world-class surfing

Hossegor is the host to the Quicksilver Pro France surf championship every year and a surf hot spot for pros year-round. There is a trench just off the coast here which makes for particularly good (but challenging) waves.

The town itself is about 4km inland and a surf town through and through. It features local cafes, surf shops and bars. The perfect day trip for surf enthusiasts!

It’s pretty difficult to get here from Biarritz without a car, so I would recommend renting one if you want to visit.

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.

How long do you need in Biarritz?

If you only want to see Biarritz and maybe do some surfing, 3 to 4 days are enough. However, to get more out of your trip and the best potential for great surf days, as well as head on some day trips, I would recommend 1-2 weeks.

Biarritz really sucks you in with its culture. There is always a fun festival on, the evenings are spent watching sunsets with a glass of Sangria and everyone is there to surf and enjoy life. Every person I met wished they were able to stay longer in this town.

Where to surf in Biarritz?

I have written a full guide on surfing in Biarritz which you can find here.

The summary is:

Beginner Surfing: La Cote des Basques, Grande Plage
Intermediate: Miramar, Marbella and Milady
Beaches outside Biarritz: Hendaye and Bidart Plage

Is Biarritz expensive?

I spent a month living and working in Biarritz this summer and I’d say it is on the expensive side, especially during high season.

Hostels can be up to 50 Euros per night during that time and hotel prices soar. That being said, food prices are reasonable, and renting surf equipment is pretty average.

If you can, I would highly recommend visiting just before or after peak season to get more bang for your buck. That means mid-May through June or from September onward.