Biarritz in a day
A one-day plan for Biarritz: the lighthouse at Pointe Saint-Martin, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Grande Plage, the Rocher de la Vierge, the Biarritz Aquarium and the Port des Pêcheurs, then the Côte des Basques beach and the Cité de l'Océan et du Surf. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Biarritz in 1 day
Day 1
Phare de Biarritz (Pointe Saint-Martin)
Lighthouse of 1834 on the headland north of the town, with gardens and wide views along the coast.
Russian Orthodox Church, Biarritz
Small Russian Orthodox church built in the 1890s for Russian visitors to the resort, topped by a blue dome.
Grande Plage
The main sandy beach in the centre, lined by the casino and the Hôtel du Palais, popular for swimming and surfing.
Rocher de la Vierge
Rock in the sea topped by a statue of the Virgin, reached by an iron footbridge, with views over the coast.
Biarritz Aquarium (Musée de la Mer)
Art Deco aquarium of 1933 above the old port, with Bay of Biscay fish, seals and sharks.
Port des Pêcheurs
The small old fishing port below the cliffs, with colourful huts, seafood restaurants and views of the rocks.
Église Sainte-Eugénie
Neo-Gothic church above the fishing port, named after Empress Eugénie, who made Biarritz a fashionable resort.
Côte des Basques beach
Long beach below the cliffs south of the old port, where surfing in Europe began, with views along the coast towards Spain.
Cite de l'Ocean et du Surf Must see
Museum of the ocean and surfing south of the centre, with hands-on exhibits on waves, marine science and the Atlantic coast.
Watch: Biarritz
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Biarritz
June to September is warmest, and July and August are busy with French holidaymakers, so book rooms early. Spring and early autumn are milder and calmer, and autumn brings some of the best surf. The Atlantic climate is mild but rainy, with the wettest weather from late autumn to winter.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Biarritz on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Biarritz on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Biarritz on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Biarritz with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Biarritz with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
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Tips for Biarritz
- The footbridge out to the Rocher de la Vierge can close in rough seas; the view of the waves from the shore is worth it either way.
- The lighthouse at Pointe Saint-Martin can be climbed for views along the Basque coast; opening times are shorter outside summer.
- Swim only between the lifeguard flags on the Grande Plage; Atlantic waves and currents can be strong.
- Parking in the centre is hard in summer; the plan walks along the seafront, with a short bus or taxi ride to the Cité de l'Océan at the end.
- Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are short train or bus rides away and make easy half-day trips.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Biarritz Aquarium (Musée de la Mer): A1AA1A, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cite de l'Ocean et du Surf: Arno8892, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grande Plage: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Phare de Biarritz (Pointe Saint-Martin): D Villafruela, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Port des Pêcheurs: Gordito1869, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rocher de la Vierge: Jörg Braukmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Église Sainte-Eugénie: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
