The 7 most beautiful beaches in the Basque Country

If you’re looking for a destination with sublime scenery and dream beaches, the Basque country is the place to go. Although its maritime surface area is particularly small compared with the French average, with just 35km of coastline, this doesn’t detract from the striking beauty of the scenery.

The Basque coast boasts a large number of nuggets, including the Grande Plage in Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz and Hendaye, and Les Sables d’Or in Anglet…

You’ll be spoilt for choice. So we’ve put together a selection of 7 beaches that you’re sure to love, not just for their beauty, but also for the activities on offer, whether with the family or on a surfing trip with friends!

Biarritz’s Grande Plage

This beach, extremely well known in Biarritz, is located along the promenade in the town centre, close to the many shops, the Belle Époque-style Biarritz Palace and the Casino. A golden sandy beach offering superb views of the ocean and the Biarritz lighthouse.

Activities

• The Biarritz municipal swimming pool is a seawater pool heated to 28°C in the Grand Bassin and 30°C in the Petit Bassin. There’s also a Jacuzzi, a Sauna and a Hammam.
• There are plenty of surf shops and oyster bars with panoramic terraces overlooking the blue sea.
• You’ll also find striped tents typical of the region, surf schools and clubs to keep the kids entertained.

Access

A free shuttle bus, city buses and underground car parks (3 Park Indigo) provide access to Biarritz’s main beach. The beach is generally supervised from April to November.

The Grande Plage at Saint Jean de Luz

Ideally located near Place Louis XIV and the port, this beach is protected by 3 breakwaters and is perfect for families with children looking for a place without strong currents or big waves. You’ll never tire of the view over the ocean and the typical Basque houses with their colourful shutters.

Activities

• Now’s the time to get in the water and teach your children to swim! Many clubs specialise in this activity.
• Diving boards and rafts will delight older children, teenagers and adults alike, while the more sporty can try their hand at sea kayaking, Hawaiian pirogues, flyboarding, towed buoys, etc.
• The jetty above the beach makes for a pleasant stroll, with the option of taking an ice-cream break or browsing the many shops on offer. Running parallel to the beach is the pedestrianised rue Gambetta, which is also the main street in the historic centre.

Hendaye’s Grande Plage

At 3.5km long, this is the largest beach on the Basque coast. Its gentle slope and relatively calm waters make it ideal for families. Its unspoilt natural setting adds to its charm, making it one of the most beautiful beaches on the Basque coast without any difficulty.

Activities

• Many beach sports can be practised on the Grande plage d’Hendaye: walking, beach volleyball, surfing, stand-up paddle, zumba, yoga, sandcastle competitions, etc.
• Beach tents and deckchairs for hire,
• Beach clubs for children.
• Ideal beach for surfing beginners.

View of…

• The 2 twins, 2 rocks off the beach,
• The bay of Txingudi, a protected natural site,
• The Spanish coast, this beach is the last of the French beaches before arriving in Spain.

Socoa beach (Ciboure)

This very popular beach is located on the outskirts of the town, with its fine sand and view of the fort. Also protected by dykes (3), the beach is open all year round and can be enjoyed by all the family.

Activities

• Sheltered from the wind and waves, children can swim in complete peace on this beach, where the sand is very pleasant: fine and soft.
• Children’s clubs and swimming lessons.
• Sailing, pirogues, jet-skis, parasailing, diving, towed buoys…

View of…

• The typical Basque houses of Socoa,
• The fort,
• The beach at Saint-Jean de Luz.

The Côte des Basques in Biarritz

This beach is a meeting place for surfers, but families also come here to settle down. It is the birthplace of surfing in France and local surfers are particularly attached to this beach.

Activities

The main activity on this beach is surfing, and there are no fewer than 8 surfing and equipment-lending schools, as well as cafés and restaurants, including the famous “Le surfing” with its terrace.

Parlementia beach – Bidart

A beach that has to be earned! Small access road, limited parking space, relatively rocky beach, but what a setting… Small in size, it’s a haven of peace even at the height of summer, given the limited number of places.

Activities

A circle of rocks forms a natural swimming pool in this beautiful environment, ideal for children. Surfing is of course practised on this beach, as well as crab fishing in the rocks.

View of…

The Basque houses of Bidart, the village and port of Guéthary.

Ilbarritz Beach -Bidart

In the commune of Bidart, this magnificent beach with its crystal-clear waters lies at the foot of the Ilbariritz manor house. Easy to get to, it is particularly popular with surfers, and competitions are regularly held here.

Activities

Surfing on the rollers, golf overlooking the beach, and 2 restaurants, all in a real little corner of paradise.

The beaches of the Basque Country will surprise you with the beauty of their shores. That’s why so many tourists flock to this region every year, whether or not you’re a surfing enthusiast. The quality of the water, the accommodation, the restaurants and the many activities on offer for young and old make the beaches of the Basque Country a dream holiday destination.