Major city · France
Biarritz
Give Biarritz 2–3 nights: surf and swim in the morning, walk the coast path at low tide, and use it as a base for Bayonne and the Basque villages.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for swimming and surf; May, Jun and Sep for fewer crowds
- avoid Jul–Aug (peak crowds and prices), Nov–Mar (many seafront places shut)
- Airport
- BIQ
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Biarritz is a surf town that grew into a resort: a sheltered bay, a headland lighthouse, and a casino-and-palace seafront, all walkable in half an hour. It is small enough that two nights covers the town, and it works best as a base for the Basque coast — Bayonne is 15 minutes away, the Spanish border 30 minutes. Come for the sea and the food, not for a checklist of sights.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Biarritz, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyBiarritz is a safe, well-lit resort town; the real risks are the cold Atlantic, rip currents at the surf beach…
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBIQ Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (About 3 km from the centre; bus line C links the airport with the town and Bayonne, taxi about 10 min).BIQ Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (About 1.9 mi from the centre; bus line C links the airport with the town and Bayonne, taxi about 10 min).
- Getting aroundThe centre, both main beaches and the headland are walkable in 20–30 minutes, but the town is hilly.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a seafront café€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerPintxos or a plate of tapas€3–6 (≈ US$4–7) each
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxi€15–20 (≈ US$18–25)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum or aquarium entry€6–15 (≈ US$7–18)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
- High-end bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €220 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BIQ Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (About 3 km from the centre; bus line C links the airport with the town and Bayonne, taxi about 10 min)BIQ Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (About 1.9 mi from the centre; bus line C links the airport with the town and Bayonne, taxi about 10 min)
Weather and climate
Biarritz: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C54°F
5°C41°F
14 rd
Feb
13°C55°F
5°C41°F
12 rd
Mar
15°C59°F
7°C45°F
12 rd
Apr
17°C63°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
May
20°C68°F
11°C52°F
12 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
16°C61°F
9 rd
Aug
26°C79°F
17°C63°F
9 rd
Sep
24°C75°F
15°C59°F
10 rd
Oct
20°C68°F
12°C54°F
12 rd
Nov
15°C59°F
8°C46°F
13 rd
Dec
13°C55°F
6°C43°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre, both main beaches and the headland are walkable in 20–30 minutes, but the town is hilly. Chronoplus buses cover Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne on a flat fare, with a day pass and a 10-journey ticket sold at kiosks and tobacconists rather than on the bus. Trains from Biarritz station reach Bayonne in about 10 minutes and the Spanish border at Hendaye in about 30.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30 min
Train from Biarritz station, about 10 min, or Chronoplus bus
Cathedral, riverside market and chocolate shops; half a day is enough.
Hendaye and the Spanish border
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Train along the coast, about 30 min
Long beach and a ferry across the bay to Hondarribia.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
goDoor to door: About 1 h 45 min
Train from Bayonne, about 1 h 10 min
Start of the Camino Francés; go early and walk the old walls.
Sare and the Basque villages
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min by car
Car or the Petit Train de la Rhune area buses; no direct train
Hard without a car; the Rhune rack railway runs in season.
Bidarray
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car via the Nive valley, about 45 min
River swimming and rafting; a car makes it worthwhile.
Lescun
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
Car via Pau and the Aspe valley, about 2 h 30 min
Pyrenean hiking village; too far for a day return.
Pau
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Train from Bayonne, about 1 h 30 min
Château and mountain views; a long half-day.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Grand Plage and the casino seafront
Steps from the beach and the thalasso centres; the most expensive beds in town.
Côte des Basques and Boulevard du Prince de Galles
Surf hostels and board rentals; a 10–15 min walk up from the centre.
Port Vieux and the old port
Quiet, sheltered swimming beach and seafood restaurants; central but calm.
Biarritz station (La Négresse)
Cheapest beds, 3 km inland; bus line 2 or C into town.Cheapest beds, 1.9 mi inland; bus line 2 or C into town.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–95 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
- Mid
- €95–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
- High
- €160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, 2- or 3-star1 × 2 nights × €130 | €260 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €110 | €440 |
| Chronoplus 24-hour pass, one day2 × €2 | €4 |
| Chronoplus 10-journey ticket2 × €8 | €16 |
| Train Biarritz → Bayonne, one way2 × €3 | €6 |
| Airport bus into town, one way2 × €2 | €3 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €76 |
| Trip total≈ €209 per person per day, bed included | €835≈ US$1,000 |
2026 estimate in euros; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a seafront café | €2–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Pintxos or a plate of tapas | €3–6 (≈ US$4–7) each |
| Plate of seafood or a fish main | €16–28 (≈ US$19–35) |
| Menu du jour at lunch | €18–26 (≈ US$25–35) |
| Beer: draught / supermarket can | €5–8 (≈ US$6–10) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Surfboard and wetsuit rental, half day | €25–40 (≈ US$30–50) |
| Thalasso half-day pass | €17–40 (≈ US$20–50) |
| Museum or aquarium entry | €6–15 (≈ US$7–18) |
| 5 km taxi | €15–20 (≈ US$18–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Atlantic is cold and the surf break at Côte des Basques is for experienced surfers at low tide: swim between the flags at Grand Plage or Port Vieux.
- Parking near the beaches fills by mid-morning in July and August; the town is easier without a car.
- Many seafront restaurants and hotels close from November to March: check before booking a winter trip.
- Biarritz station is 3 km from the centre, not in it — allow 15 minutes by bus or taxi.Biarritz station is 1.9 mi from the centre, not in it — allow 15 minutes by bus or taxi.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BiarritzBiarritz
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassies in Biarritz; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in Paris. The nearest consulates are in Bordeaux and Toulouse.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → town centre, bus: about €1.50 (≈ US$2), 15–20 min
- Biarritz station → centre, bus: about €1–2 (≈ US$2–3), 15 min
- Train Biarritz → Bayonne: about €3 (≈ US$4), 10 min
- Taxi airport → centre: €15–25 (≈ US$18–30)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello / Good day (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART)
- Où est la plage ? — Where is the beach? (oo ay la PLAHJ)
Tipping: service is included by law; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Biarritz. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep for swimming and surf; May, Jun and Sep for fewer crowds · avoid Jul–Aug (peak crowds and prices), Nov–Mar (many seafront places shut) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BIQ: last bus and taxi fallback, plus the 3 km station transfer.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Grand Plage and casino, Port Vieux and old port, Côte des Basques, station and La Négresse.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (lighthouse, Musée de la Mer, Hôtel du Palais exterior, thalasso centres) and eat pages with last orders.
- Surf-school and board-rental fixtures with seasonal opening dates so the surf cluster can go green.