The Perfect French Basque Country Road Trip Along Its Beautiful Coast

Last Updated on the 24th of September, 2025

The magnificent stretch of the Basque coast that curves from one charming fishing village to another and brings glimpses of the glistering ocean, the kind you can rest your eyes upon for hours, made us excited about returning to France.

Located between the majestic Atlantic Ocean and the craggy foothills of the Pyrenees, the French Basque Country is a hidden gem bursting with vibrant culture, natural beauty and fascinating heritage dating back thousands of years.

The Basques have been a self-governing nation for much of their history, which has a lot in common with the neighbouring Basque regions of Spain.

The fiery people of the Basque Country are proud of their culture and history, whether it’s their passion for cultivating the Espelette pepper or playing pelota – a traditional sport known for its high-energy matches and fast pace.

The largest city in the French region is the surfing hotspot of Biarritz, but the nearby Bayonne – famous for its delicious chocolates and distinctive Bayonne ham is deemed the true heart of the Basque Country.

While the biggest part is indeed found on the Iberian Peninsula, let’s not forget that the Basque Country is made up of seven provinces, three of which are in southwestern France and are filled to the brim with rich natural wonders, dramatic Atlantic coastline, cultural traditions, and pretty towns.

Bayonne is a well-preserved medieval town with Gothic cathedrals.

Road trip details & essentials

This blog post covers a road trip from Biarritz to Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Capbreton and Hossegor and is perfect for those who love the ocean, good food, wine and small towns.

Rather than bomb through the area in a couple of days, we dedicated 10 full days to allow us to slowly cherish its charming towns and peaceful pine forests.

While you can access some cities via public transport, there are a lot of incredible small towns to visit during this itinerary. Having a car is the most convenient way to explore this part of France.

Renting a car and driving around the Basque region is a real joy as the roads are in great condition and are often dotted with viewpoints. You’ll find plenty of car rental companies at Biarritz Airport.

Beautiful views out to the sandy shores of La Grande Plage in Biarritz

Road Trip Basque Country – Overview

Duration: Seven to ten days

Total Distance: 113 kilometres

Suggested Stops: Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, Capbreton, Hossegor

Region covered: Nouvelle Aquitaine

Best for: Sightseeing, landscapes, nature, surf towns, good food

Day 1 | Start off by exploring Biarritz

Biarritz – the surfing capital of France – is the best option as a starting point for visiting the French Basque Country.

Though the town’s reputation has often been illustrated as a place for wealthy aristocrats and trademarked by the passage of Napoleon III, Biarritz lovingly endorses voyagers with varied life stories.

Guys with low-maintenance haircuts and surfboards under their arms keep the town young and fluidly blend with fast-speeding Maserati cars and shops selling Chanel and vintage Hermès.

Biarritz might be one of the most glamorous places on the French Atlantic coast, but what really makes it a spectacular destination is the scenery.

The Bay of Biscay is stunning, and going for a walk along the coast is the best way to experience it all!

Top things to do in Biarritz

Visit Biarritz Lighthouse | The lighthouse has been greeting local fishermen since 1834. For a small fee, you can climb to the very top to enjoy incredible views over the city and the surrounding coastline.

Learn to Surf | Biarritz is known as a surfing paradise, and if you wish to feel the power of the ocean under your feet while having heaps of fun, sign up for a surfing lesson at one of the surf schools. Learning to surf is a time-consuming process, but once you know the basic technique, you can start practising.

Explore its markets | Stop at L’Ecaillerie and join the queue for a glass of wine and their famous oysters or other shellfish coming straight from the Bay of Biscay. Or, pop into another part of the Les Halles market for fresh bread and cheeses.

Day 2 – 3 | Biarritz to Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Distance – 17.8km Time without stops – 26 minutes

Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a lovely fishing village located at the mouth of the Nivelle River, just 18km from Biarritz and at first glance, it feels like a world away.

It’s where the houses have a distinct architectural style, where the steep coastal cliffs give way to the craggy foothills of the Pyrenees and where a deep-rooted pride in being French-Basque is evident in the friendly conversations you’re bound to have with the locals.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz offers pretty beaches, heaps of history and a beautiful old quarter. The village is located only 10km from the Spanish border, so it makes for a great day trip if you are on holiday in San Sebastian.

While you can find many similarities when compared to Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a much more relaxed and family-oriented place to celebrate special moments, big or small.

If you’re a beach person, you can easily spend a full day in St. Jean-de-Luz enjoying the beach and the promenade.

*Did you know that in 1660, the town hosted King Louis XIV and Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain’s wedding due to the ideal location right on the border of France and Spain?

Top things to do in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Old Town | Walk around the old town and admire beautiful half-timbered houses built by wealthy merchants and shipowners. Feast your eyes on romantic windows and gauzy blinds and try to imagine what life was like here back in the 17th century when Saint Jean de Luz was the centre for Basque corsairs.

Beaches | One of the town’s main attractions is its beautiful beaches. They are clean, wide and perfect for families with young children. Go for a walk along the Promenade and take in the views of the crescent-shaped bay and pretty houses.

Rue Gambetta | The main pedestrian street in town is filled with shops selling local produce, sweets and chocolates.

Day 3 – 4 | Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Bayonne

Distance – 26, 7km Time without stops – 30 minutes

If you’re exploring the Basque Country, you can’t miss Bayonne – the capital of the French side of this incredible region.

Situated on the banks of the Adour River just a few kilometres from Biarritz and surrounded by the Pyrenees mountain range, Bayonne is a wonderful cluster of walkable streets, timber-framed house fronts, gourmet restaurants and busy bars.

It’s where you can feast on chocolate and aged cured ham – jambon de Bayonne – two delicious regional specialities.

If this is your first time in Bayonne, make sure you stop at the Tourist Information Bureau to pick up a few maps and tips.

Top things to do in Bayonne

Sainte Marie Cathedral | Given that the cathedral is a UNESCO site, it should not come as a surprise that this was the most beautiful place we had a chance to visit in Bayonne. The imposing spires reaching high up in the cloudy spring sky as we approached one of the narrow streets left us feeling intense excitement.

Château-Vieux | Not too far from the cathedral is Château-Vieux (“Old Castle”). Although this place isn’t open to the public, you can still view it from the outside just to see what a former residence for the governors of the city looks like.

Les Halles | Discover the local produce that Bayonne has to offer by visiting the Les Halles market. Here, under one roof, you’ll find fish, meat and tasty gâteau Basque (“Basque cake”). Make sure you visit early in the day because the markets close around 1.30 pm.

Jardin Botanique | Located next to a tourism office is Bayonne’s botanical gardens – relatively small yet beautifully laid out and perfect if you need a few minutes of rest. Admission to the Jardin Botanique is free of charge, and here you’ll find a lovely Japanese garden as well as a children’s playground.

Day 4 -5 | Bayonne to Capbreton

Distance – 23.2 km Time without stops – 21 minutes

Located at the point where the river Adour ends its passage to the sea, Camperton is a small albeit lovely resort, best suited to visitors who wish to spend a lot of time on the beach.

From its seaside allure, semi-submerged Second World War bunkers and traditional fish markets, there are also the barrelling waves of La Piste and a very photogenic wooden pier built by Napoleon III’s orders.

When it comes to sightseeing, in Capbreton you won’t find big tourist attractions. Instead, it’s a place to relax and appreciate those little things in life.

An eerie sight of abandoned blockhouses from Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall

Top things to do in Capbreton

Go surfing | For experienced surfers – to make the most of your surf session, get advice from the locals. For learners & beginners- rent your board from a qualified surf school and learn to catch your first waves under supervision.

Sign up for yoga | Reward yourself with a relaxing yoga session to improve your flexibility and balance, and increase your muscle strength. Yoga is a great activity for your whole body, and it’s one of the ways to improve your health.

Go cycling | Stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful landscape while biking through one of the many cycling paths around Capbreton. While cycling is yet another great way to keep fit, one of its benefits also includes improved mental well-being. So, rent a bike, spend some quality time outdoors and see the world from a different perspective.

Day 5 – 6 | Capberton to Hossegor

Distance – 4.7 km. Time without stops – 10 minutes

Hossegor, a beautiful beach resort only 30 km from Biarritz, is a world-renowned surfing mecca, and the town’s main attraction for locals and visitors alike is surfing.

Divided into three areas – La Centrale and the beachfront, Hossegor town and the lake and Soorts-Hossegor and a commercial zone about 4 km inland – Hossegor can easily become your favourite town.

Think French bakeries with amazing pastries, plenty of surf shops, fantastic bike paths and surf events.

Hossegor’s well-earned reputation among the world’s best surfers brings them together on Quicksilver Pro France, where spectators can rub shoulders with the world’s surfing elite.

Enjoying ice cream in one of the Hossegor cafes

Top things to do in Hossegor

Surf | Hossegor in France isn’t known as a surfing mecca for nothing. Wherever you go on the coast, which is known for being the longest uninterrupted stretch of sandy beach in Europe, you’ll find fantastic surf spots suited for beginners and more experienced surfers. For beginners, Les Estagnots and Les Bourdaines offer easy access and plenty of equipment rentals; for advanced, check out La Nord or La Gravière.

Shop | Stroll through the town centre along the Avenue Paul Lahary and Avenue du Touring Club, and you’ll find Billabong, Quicksilver and other famous surf brand outlets selling the latest fashion trends and surfboards. Check out Collective Soul, located on 93 Avenue des Tisserands in Soorts-Hossegor, for decorations, vintage and upcycling.

Bike | For non-surfers, biking is a fantastic way to explore the area. In Hossegor, you can rent a Fat Bike or even an electric bike for very fair prices and discover the beauty of the Landes region.

Day 7 | Head Back To Biarritz

Distance – 40,4 km Time without stops – 38 min

On your last day, have a relaxed breakfast at your hotel before heading back to Biarritz or Biarritz Airport.

As our flight was late in the evening, we stopped by Biarritz to enjoy a relaxing final afternoon. We went for a walk, had lunch and visited the Biarritz Aquarium.

Alternatives to This Itinerary Around the French Basque Coast

You can also start your road trip in Spain. If you fly into San Sebastian, its airport, Donostiako Aireportua, is only 8 km from the French border.

However, if you arrive and rent a car in Spain, you have to make sure that your rental company allows you to cross the border into France and vice versa.

If you have more than a week to spare, you could steer inland towards the Pyrenees and visit some of the most beautiful mountain villages.

Espelette is best known for its strings of red peppers drying on the façades of its buildings and the Espelette Pepper Visitor Centre, which explains the origins of this tradition.

Then there’s the wonderful Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port village, where streets are lined with pink sandstone houses and where pilgrims check into the town’s hostels on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

Our Advice For a Successful Road Trip

Allow at least a week to see all the main points of interest on this 113 km route.

This itinerary is obviously very flexible. You can extend your stay in each place for as long or as little as you want.

If you have more than a week, why not add Spain and visit places like San Sebastian, Pamplona and Bilbao?

If you prefer staying in one place, you can see all the villages on day trips as they are clustered close together.

Summer is ideal for enjoying the beaches and hiking trails, but the weather remains comfortable come early autumn. Make sure to catch the Espelette chilli festival at the last weekend of October.

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Now, over to you!

Have you been to the French Basque Country? Let us know in the comments!

Let us know if you are planning a visit to the French Basque Country and have travel-related questions

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The Perfect French Basque Country Road Trip Along Its Beautiful Coast – OUR CROSSINGS