🇫🇷France · Places to discover
What to see in Biarritz?
23 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Biarritz holds a singular position on the Atlantic coast: once a resort for European aristocracy, now France's surf capital. The Grande Plage and the Rocher de la Vierge structure the town around a permanent tension between Belle Époque heritage and surf culture. This blend gives the waterfront a character you won't find anywhere else in the South-West.
The best window to visit falls between May and June, before summer crowds double prices and clog terraces. Three days will let you explore the town on foot, the most coherent approach here. Don't concentrate your stay on the Grande Plage in August: the surf spots along the Côte des Basques, ten minutes' walk away, offer an atmosphere far more representative of what Biarritz actually is.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Hôtel du Palais de Biarritz
Former Villa Eugénie, summer residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, converted into a Belle Époque palace. Even without staying there, its imperial façade facing the Grande Plage and its royal heritage make it a monument in its own right.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Biarritz Lighthouse
Built in 1834, this 44-metre lighthouse stands at the heart of the city and offers a 360-degree view from its summit over the ocean, the Pyrenees and the Basque coast. The 248 steps are well worth the effort.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Landmark
Villa Belza
Perched on its rocky promontory above the Vieux Port, this nineteenth-century neo-medieval villa is one of Biarritz's most photographed silhouettes. It towers over the waves with the appearance of a Breton castle lost in the Basque Country.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Rock of the Virgin
Emblem of Biarritz, this rock linked to the mainland by a metal footbridge offers breathtaking panoramic views over the Basque coast and the Pyrenees in clear weather. Napoleon III had the passage built for Eugénie. Essential viewing at sunset.
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Landmark
Landmark
Les Halles de Biarritz
The covered market in the city centre, a true temple of Basque terroir: sheep's cheese, Bayonne ham, Espelette peppers, homemade Basque cake. On weekday mornings, this is where locals do their shopping – authentic atmosphere guaranteed.
Museums
2 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Biarritz Sea Museum
Housed in a 1930s Art Deco building overlooking the ocean, this museum showcases Atlantic and Bay of Biscay marine fauna. The shark tanks and seals make it a lively place, far from dusty museum fare.
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Biarritz Asiatica Museum
An overlooked yet remarkable museum housing one of France's finest collections of Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese art, assembled by explorer Michel Postel. A complete change of scenery just a ten-minute walk from the ocean.
Religious sites
2 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz
Built during the Second Empire at the request of Empress Eugénie, this neo-Gothic church overlooks the Fishermen's Harbour. Its austere interior contrasts with the richness of its imperial history, and its terrace offers an unobstructed view over the port.
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Imperial Chapel of Biarritz
A small Hispano-Moorish jewel commissioned by Napoleon III in 1864, this chapel blends Byzantine and Arab influences in a discreet setting of the town centre. Little known to hurried visitors, it bears witness to the grandeur of the imperial court in Biarritz.
Nature
2 places
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Nature
Nature
Lac Marion
Small natural lake in the heart of Biarritz's residential district, surrounded by lush vegetation. A green space overlooked by tourists where locals walk their dogs and picnic in the shade. A change of scenery guaranteed just ten minutes' walk from the centre.
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Nature
Nature
Biarritz–Bidart Coastal Path
This clifftop path runs along the coast from Côte des Basques to Bidart over several kilometres, revealing wild coves and panoramas inaccessible by car. The stretch between Biarritz and Bidart is the most spectacular.
Viewpoints
3 places
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Grande Plage View from Avenue Édouard VII
The avenue connecting the Casino to the seafront offers the classic yet always striking view of the Grande Plage framed by the municipal casino and the Hôtel du Palais. The Belle Époque architecture of the facades reinforces the sense of grandeur.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Port des Pêcheurs de Biarritz
Tiny sheltered harbour in a rocky cove at the foot of Sainte-Eugénie Church, with its colourful fishing boats and fishermen's huts converted into fish restaurants. One of the few places where Biarritz retains its soul as a fishing village.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Atalaye Plateau Cliff
This rocky plateau between the Vieux Port and the Rocher de la Vierge offers one of Biarritz's most wild viewpoints, with waves crashing directly below. An overlooked walking spot, far from the bustle of the Grande Plage.
Activities
4 places
15Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Activity
Casino Municipal de Biarritz
Art Deco building from the 1920s facing the Grande Plage, the casino is also a cultural venue with concerts and exhibitions. Its grand Belle Époque hall deserves a visit even without betting a single euro.
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Cité de l'Océan de Biarritz
Immersive museum dedicated to the ocean and surfing, designed by architect Steven Holl with spectacular wave-shaped architecture. Exhibitions on ocean meteorology and the history of surfing make it an educational and fun venue for all ages.
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Activity
Activity
Biarritz Producers' Market (Place Clemenceau)
Every Wednesday and Saturday morning, local Basque Country producers occupy Place Clemenceau: seasonal vegetables, sheep's cheese, honey, Jurançon wines. A lively market where people clearly know each other.
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Activity
Activity
Rip Curl School of Surf Biarritz
Taking a surfing lesson in Biarritz, the cradle of European surfing, is an almost mandatory experience. Beginner courses take place on the Milady beach or Côte des Basques depending on conditions, with passionate local instructors.
Beaches
3 places
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Beach
Beach
Milady Beach
Biarritz's southernmost beach, less crowded than the Grande Plage and favoured by families and beginner surfers for its consistent waves. Access via stairs carved into the cliff gives it a preserved wild character.
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Beach
Beach
Miramar Beach
Tucked between the Palais Hotel and the lighthouse, this quieter beach than the Main Beach is appreciated by regulars for its relative calm and views of the palace. Ideal for swimming without the summer crowds.
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Beach
Beach
Côte des Basques
The beach of Biarritz's surfers par excellence, framed by ochre cliffs and exposed due west. This is where surfing was introduced to Europe in 1957 by Peter Viertel. The atmosphere at sunset is unmatched along the entire coast.
More to discover
2 places
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Place
Place
Biarritz Olympique – Stade Aguiléra
The temple of Biarritz rugby, one of France's most decorated clubs. Attending a match at Stade Aguiléra is to immerse yourself in Basque rugby culture with a tribal and warm atmosphere that no broadcast can capture.
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Place
Place
Saint-Charles District and Rue Gambetta
The shopping quarter for locals in Biarritz, away from the tourist bustle of the seafront. Fine Basque groceries, independent bookshops, wine merchants and small local designer boutiques sit alongside each other in an atmosphere of human-scale living.
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