About Biarritz
Biarritz is a French Basque city less than an hour from the Spanish border (35kms) on the west coast of France. In the 11th century, it was a fishing village mainly occupied with whaling until Victor Hugo discovered it in 1843. Fame and fashionability followed when no less than Napoleon 3rd and his Spanish Empress visited in 1854. The town then became a popular winter destination for British royalty including Queen Victoria and Edward 7th. Nowadays it is still a premier tourist destination with the grand hotels and Casino, and the beaches are a magnet for surfers worldwide
Getting to Biarritz
Biarritz airport is just over 3km from the city centre. The Line C bus has a journey time of 14 minutes to the city centre. The airport is mainly for French regional services, especially Paris, although there are some flights from Stansted with Ryanair. There are excellent train connections from all parts of France. Bordeaux (2 hours), Toulouse (5 hours) and Paris (5 hours) by train. There are also autoroute connections from other parts of the country and Bilbao which is only 2 hours away.
With one of the main attractions of Biarritz being its beaches, here are the most popular:
Anglet beaches - To the North of the Biarritz lighthouse to the Adour river there are 11 sandy beaches in the 4km stretch, with emphasis on surfing and other sporting activities (including rugby in the summer on Sables d’Or beach). Most events take place between April and November, and the major ones in the high season of July and August. There a variety of cafes and bars along the seafront, but should you want an outside table, it is wise to book ahead, especially during the peak holiday periods. Les Sables d’Or restaurant and West Wind café have good locations overlooking the beach and reasonably priced food and drink.
La Grande Plage – Moving south past the lighthouse and towards the city centre, La Grande Plage is the central beach of Biarritz. This is the most popular beach and the one most likely to appear on postcards of the city. There are surf schools, and you can rent a tent for about 15€ a day. Places to eat closest to the beach are Dodin ( a tea room serving breakfast and brunch), Bleu Café (serving drinks, lunch and cocktails, an excellent place to watch the sunset) and Café de la Grande Plage (a traditional French brasserie with refined cuisine). Along from the Café de Grand Plage is the Casino. Housed in an Art Deco building by the beach, it is one of the landmarks of the city.
Plage Pêcheurs – A small beach between La Grande Plage and the harbour. A sandy beach with a good view back along towards the lighthouse.
Rocher de la Vierge (Rock of the Virgin) – This rocky outcrop is connected to the coast by a metal footbridge, a statue of the Virgin stands on top of the rock and has become a symbol of the city.
Plage Port Vieux – Situated around the corner from the Rocher de la Vierge, this beach is a favourite amongst the locals. It is protected from the wind and large waves, so it is a superb beach for children.
Plage de la Côte des Basques – This award-winning beach is only accessible at low tide. It is 1km long, and you can see the Spanish mountains in the distance. Bar de la Côte (owned by two ex-French international rugby players)is a beautiful restaurant for tapas and drinks beside the beach. Ideal to have a cocktail and watch the sunset!
Plage Marbella – One of the smaller beaches at only 300m long. A good choice if you are looking for a less crowded and more relaxed beach.
Plage Milady – This beach is next to the road heading out of town and is handicapped equipped with direct access to the sea.
Biarritz is a superb resort for outdoor activities or just lying on the beach relaxing. A favourite resort of the French and tourists from all over Europe and beyond.