Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Biarritz?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Biarritz?

Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Biarritz during their visit. The dynamic seaside town offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, the cuisine, the nightlife scene, and the many shops.

Biarritz is a beautiful seaside town along the Basque Coast in France. It has grown into a popular tourist town with many surfing schools and long sandy beaches. Whether you're interested in a surfing holiday or just a relaxing trip to the beach, this is a nice destination.

Do you have one or two days to visit Biarritz? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Biarritz?

The popular seaside town of Biarritz has many activities and attractions for visitors. Given only one day, you will likely be rushed to swim at the beach, dine out at amazing restaurants, take advantage of the local nightlife, and go shopping. To truly savor all that the seaside town offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for three to seven days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Biarritz

The beautiful beaches await you in Biarritz, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are plenty of sandy beaches near the town that offer great surfing. For calmer water you can head to some of the smaller bays. Some of the most popular beaches in the area include Le Grande Plage, Plage du Miramar, and Plage Port Vieux.

A few tour suggestions include:

Private Beginner Surf Lessons in the Basque Country ($82)
Outdoor Escape Game Biarritz - Beach Surfing and Spying ($16)
Discover Surfing on the beaches of Biarritz ($49)

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. The food is a delicious mix of French, Spanish, and Basque flavors. Seafood is an obvious influence, but you'll also find meat and bread in many dishes. Local specialties include the oysters, pintxos (a snack of bread topped with ham, cheese, or vegetables), and marmitako (tuna stew).

A few tour suggestions include:

Bayonne Food Tour: Journey Through Flavors (with food and drinks) ($97)
Pierre IBAIALDE: Guided Tour Ham Workshop, tasting ($5)
Biarritz Food Tour Gastronomique- Taste 10 Basque specialties ($77)

Biarritz is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the seaside town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city center is very walkable and you can reach many of the beaches on foot as well.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Biarritz?

With only a weekend, you might feel a bit pressed for time to enjoy the beach and the other activities in this seaside town. After all, As a popular seaside town, Biarritz offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Biarritz, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate three to seven days to swim at the beach, dine out at amazing restaurants, take advantage of the local nightlife, and go shopping. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

Biarritz, France

How to spend 2 days in Biarritz

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Biarritz will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the seaside town.

Shopping in Biarritz is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The town has many market halls, boutiques, and department stores. Head to Avenue de Verdun for some quirky local stores or Place Georges Clemenceau for more high end shopping.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city center has the most bars and clubs if you're looking for a party. Head to Port Vieux or Les Halles for some of the city's best nightlife. For a more relaxed night out, there are night markets as well as beach front terraces and rooftops where you can sip wine in a mellow atmosphere.

The public transit in Biarritz is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the seaside town quite easily and affordably. There are regional bus lines to nearby towns operated by Chronoplus and PESA.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Biarritz, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.