Biarritz Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Biarritz. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Biarritz and the French Coast from San Sebastian or Bilbao

• Biarritz, Saint Jean De Luz, and San Sebastian

• Private Cultural Tour: Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, and Hondarribia

• Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and San Sebastián from Bilbao

• Biarritz and French Basque Coast Private Tour from San Sebastian

There’s no fee to visit Biarritz, as it’s a small French city that sits within the political boundaries of the Basque Country. What you spend will really depend on how you get there and what you do once you arrive; tours to Biarritz (as well as other Basque Country highlights, such as Bayonne and San Sebastián) start from US$80. You should also factor in snacks and souvenir shopping.

Yes, if you're in the Basque Country—especially Spanish Basque Country—it's totally worth visiting Biarritz to get a feel for the French side of the region, especially as it's an easy trip across the border. However, because you potentially have to navigate a change of country, as well as transportation, it can be a good idea to take an organized tour that includes all of the above, as well as a guide who will provide local insight.

Per one customer who booked the Biarritz and the French Coast from San Sebastian or Bilbao, "Javier conducted a wonderful tour. He provided interesting insights and history about Biarritz and Bayonne. He was very flexible with what we wanted to do and helped us navigate to the shops and things we wanted to see most! I really appreciated his promptness, insights, and flexibility. The trip is just enough to get a little taste of France!"

Biarritz Pays Basque Airport is the main airport servicing Biarritz. There are regular flights from other parts of France and some other European cities exist. From Paris, a high-speed TGV train to Biarritz takes about 4.5 hours. By car, Biarritz is about 1.5 hours from Bordeaux and 1.75 hours from Bilbao in Spain.

Biarritz has long been a popular—and busy—tourist destination, but there are a few good alternatives nearby if you’d prefer somewhere more low-key. Hossegor, north of Biarritz, has a nice lake near the sea. Inland Bayonne has more cultural attractions. Saint-Jean-de-Luz, to the south, is a fishing village with authentic charm.

Both Biarritz and San Sebastian are beautiful—which you prefer depends on your interests. Biarritz is much smaller, but it’s more touristy. Both places have good beaches, but some people consider the coastal development at Biarritz to be rather ugly. San Sebastian also tends to be cheaper than Biarritz. If you’re a surfer, don’t skip Biarritz.

Yes, Biarritz is an expensive travel destination. It’s long been a popular spot with royalty and “old money.” Accommodation is costly in Biarritz—the city has even been deemed the most expensive destination in France in the past. Cheaper alternatives can be found up and down the coast of France and neighboring Spain.

These days, Biarritz is famous for its beaches and surf. It was a playground of European royalty from the mid-19th century and still contains some glamorous old palaces. After the construction of casinos, it became popular with big-time gamblers and Hollywood stars. Now, it’s dubbed the surf capital of Europe.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Biarritz. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in the Basque Country:

• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

• San Sebastian Old Town (Parte Vieja Donostiarra)

• Miramar Palace (Palacio de Miramar)

• Mundaka

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in the Basque Country.