The short version
- The fastest TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Biarritz in 4 hours 6 minutes, and Bayonne in under 4. Air France and Transavia fly from Paris in about an hour and a half.
- Txik Txak buses link the airport, Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. A single is €1.40, or tap your bank card on board, and a day pass is €3.80.
- The Grande Plage has lifeguards from April to October. The Côte des Basques is the surf beach, and it disappears at high tide.
- Bayonne is a short bus ride from Biarritz: the cathedral, the river quays and the Musée Basque, closed Monday.
- The La Rhune rack railway runs from late March to November 1. It is €26 round trip, and you book online.
- San Sebastián is a day trip: train to Hendaye, then the Euskotren across the border. The Pass Bask return is €14.40.
What to see
In Biarritz, walk the seafront from the Grande Plage past the old fishermen’s port to the Rocher de la Vierge, a rock with a statue of the Virgin, reached by a footbridge. It is free and open every day.
The Aquarium de Biarritz on the same stretch is open all year and costs €17. The Cité de l’Océan, an ocean science center by the beach, is €15; a combined ticket is €28.
Spend a day in Bayonne. The Gothic cathedral’s cloister is free, and the Musée Basque on the quay is €11, free on the first Sunday of the month. Buy the ham and the chocolate before you leave.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a fishing port with a sheltered beach and a food market at Les Halles every morning. Louis XIV married here in 1660, and the house where he stayed is open April to November 1.
Inland, Espelette hangs its red peppers on white house fronts from late summer. Take the rack railway up La Rhune for the view over the coast and into Spain: 35 minutes each way, with about an hour and 20 minutes at the top.
Getting there and around
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse runs to Biarritz, about nine trains a day, some direct and some with a change at Bordeaux or Dax. Biarritz station is at La Négresse, outside the center; take Txik Txak bus 5 or 12 into town. Bayonne station is just across the river from the old town.
Biarritz airport is 3 to 4 kilometers from the center. Bus 3 runs from the airport to Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz every 15 minutes on weekdays.
You don’t need a car on the coast. Buses connect the towns, buses 44 and 45 go to La Rhune, and the trains run on to Hendaye and the Spanish border.
- Euskopass, €6.50 return. Bus to Hendaye, then the Euskotren to San Sebastián.
- Pass Bask, €14.40 return. SNCF train to Hendaye, then the Euskotren. Valid one day or two days in a row, sold at the stations in Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye.
When to go
June and September are the best months. The beaches are staffed, the sea is warm enough to swim, and the July and August crowds are gone.
July and August are busy. The Fêtes de Bayonne take over the town from July 14 to 18, 2027.
Autumn brings bigger waves for experienced surfers. From November, La Rhune, the Louis XIV house and the lighthouse close or open only on weekends, and the Cité de l’Océan opens afternoons only.
Swim only where and when there are lifeguards. The beaches are staffed from April to October, and outside those dates the town warns that swimming is dangerous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Paris to Biarritz?
The fastest TGV from Paris Montparnasse takes 4 hours 6 minutes, and most take about 4 and a half. Some are direct; others change at Bordeaux or Dax. Fares start at €25 one-way when booked early.
Should I stay in Biarritz or Bayonne?
Stay in Biarritz for the beaches and the seafront. Stay in Bayonne if you are coming by train and want day trips inland, since the station is across the river from the old town and the bus to La Rhune leaves from there.
Can you visit San Sebastián from Biarritz?
Yes, as a day trip. Take the train or bus to Hendaye, then the Euskotren across the border. The Pass Bask covers the round trip for €14.40, and the Euskopass for €6.50 uses the bus instead of the SNCF train.
When is surf season in Biarritz?
There are waves all year. Summer waves are smaller, which suits lessons, and the surf schools at the Côte des Basques take beginners. Autumn and winter swells are bigger and better for experienced surfers.
Is there a tour I can add on the way?
Yes. The TGV to Biarritz goes through Bordeaux, so stop for a day. Our Bordeaux wine tour meets in the center of Bordeaux for Saint-Émilion and three classified-growth châteaux, eight guests at most, daily except Monday from April to October.
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